16
July
2006
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam
The "UTAH Grand Prix" of Salt Lake City: Pirelli and Aston Martin dominate in GT1
Salt Lake City (USA), 16th July 2006- Two weeks after the
brilliant victory at Lime Rock, the couple Aston Martin-Pirelli
wins again in the USA, coming out top in today's Utah Grand Prix,
Round 5 of the American Le Mans Series. The Tooele track, near Salt
Lake City, is the longest US road course (4.5 miles) and the
windblown sand and salt rendering the asphalt deceptively slick
make it even more challenging.
Despite these objective difficulties, the official Aston Martin DBR9s driven by Enge-Turner and Sarrazin-Piccini on their Pirelli P Zero Racing tyres dominated the scene in both qualifying and the race. With Tomas Enge and Stphane Sarrazin, the British coups monopolized the first row in the GT1 category, coming then first and second at the finish. The Aston Martin number 007 led from start to finish, while the twin car (009) was relegated fourth behind the official Corvette C6Rs after the second pit-stop. Sarrazin came again second behind the winning Enge's DBR9 after the two American cars stopped for refuelling.
After the final sprint victory at Lime Rock, two weeks ago, thanks to the Sarrazin-Lamy's DBR9, today's double is the first Pirelli Competizioni and Aston Martin Racing registered earnestly working together for the significant US GT series. Andrea Piccini, the Italian driver sharing the second-placed Aston Martin on Pirelli with Sarrazin, said "our P Zero Racings undoubtedly stood out on a track made slick by the sand and whose asphalt hit 50 C shortly before the start. To sum up, the new solutions suggested by Pirelli for this race, on a really driven track consequently not so easy in terms of tyres, together with some technical developments, further improving the Aston Martin competitiveness, made the difference. I am personally satisfied to have made my debut in an international epoch-making championship like the American Le Mans Series with a podium".
Peter Tyson, Vice President Communications of Pirelli Tyres, comments on the "Utah Grand Prix" results stating that "P Zero Racings clear success in such a back-breaking race, disputed in extreme heat conditions and on a track sand, salt and residues made insidious, confirms Pirelli tyres high competitive level. Among the crucial P Zero Racings qualities, it is important to point out performance consistency and wear resistance - two aspects that have made the difference compared to other competing products".
Final Results, GT1 Class:
1 Enge-Turner (Aston Martin DBR9), in 2h48'22''685;
2 Sarrazin-Piccini (Aston Martin DBR9), +1 lap;
3 Fellows-O'Connell (Corvette C6-R), +1 lap.
For more information and pictures on Pirelli's motorsport activities visit: www.pirellicompetizioni.com
Download the PDF (PDF, 72,2KB)
Despite these objective difficulties, the official Aston Martin DBR9s driven by Enge-Turner and Sarrazin-Piccini on their Pirelli P Zero Racing tyres dominated the scene in both qualifying and the race. With Tomas Enge and Stphane Sarrazin, the British coups monopolized the first row in the GT1 category, coming then first and second at the finish. The Aston Martin number 007 led from start to finish, while the twin car (009) was relegated fourth behind the official Corvette C6Rs after the second pit-stop. Sarrazin came again second behind the winning Enge's DBR9 after the two American cars stopped for refuelling.
After the final sprint victory at Lime Rock, two weeks ago, thanks to the Sarrazin-Lamy's DBR9, today's double is the first Pirelli Competizioni and Aston Martin Racing registered earnestly working together for the significant US GT series. Andrea Piccini, the Italian driver sharing the second-placed Aston Martin on Pirelli with Sarrazin, said "our P Zero Racings undoubtedly stood out on a track made slick by the sand and whose asphalt hit 50 C shortly before the start. To sum up, the new solutions suggested by Pirelli for this race, on a really driven track consequently not so easy in terms of tyres, together with some technical developments, further improving the Aston Martin competitiveness, made the difference. I am personally satisfied to have made my debut in an international epoch-making championship like the American Le Mans Series with a podium".
Peter Tyson, Vice President Communications of Pirelli Tyres, comments on the "Utah Grand Prix" results stating that "P Zero Racings clear success in such a back-breaking race, disputed in extreme heat conditions and on a track sand, salt and residues made insidious, confirms Pirelli tyres high competitive level. Among the crucial P Zero Racings qualities, it is important to point out performance consistency and wear resistance - two aspects that have made the difference compared to other competing products".
Final Results, GT1 Class:
1 Enge-Turner (Aston Martin DBR9), in 2h48'22''685;
2 Sarrazin-Piccini (Aston Martin DBR9), +1 lap;
3 Fellows-O'Connell (Corvette C6-R), +1 lap.
For more information and pictures on Pirelli's motorsport activities visit: www.pirellicompetizioni.com
Download the PDF (PDF, 72,2KB)