Peugeot 908 HYbrid4 'diva'.

Will she or won't she? If the 908 HYbrid4 actually takes the Le Mans circuit on the 24th April, it will undoubtedly be the other star of the test day alongside the Audi R18.

At least we can say is that Peugeot has truly created a stir by unveiling the new hybrid variation (after the 908 HY for the 1000 km of Silverstone 2008) at the last Geneva Motor Show, in the wake the presentation of the new prototype 908.

Probably not to reveal too much to opponents Audi, we know little about the 908 HYbrid4. Already used by Porsche brilliantly last year at ILMC races, Petit Le Mans and Zhuhai, the hybrid technology to recover energy during braking (60 kW or 80 hp in addition to the 550 engine in the case of the 908 HYbrid4). Olivier Quesnel, head of Peugeot Sport, simply stated that the 908 uses a system similar HYbrid4 System Kinetic Energy Recovery used in Formula 1. One thing seems granted: we will probably not see it in competition this year.

In any case, the beautiful know how to be desired: surprise presentation, sparse information , seductive in white ... will undoubtedly be a real star, if present at Le Mans Test Day!

The official test day of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be held on the 23rd April

INFO: Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo: GENEVA SHOW (SWITZERLAND), 1 March 2011. An aura of mystery still surrounds the participation of the Peugeot 908 HYbrid4 at the Test Day on the 24th April.

Brilliant maiden GTE-Qualifying for Young Driver AMR

Tomas Enge took second place in Le Mans Series-Qualifying

Paderborn / Le Castellet, 02.04.2011. [Le Mans Series]

The first qualifying of the new Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin Vantage at the Le Mans Series season opener in Le Castellet/France could have only hardly be better. Tomas Enge (CZE) qualified in the maiden qualifying session of Young Driver’s latest addition to the stable, the Aston Martin Vantage GT2, in second place in the highly competitive GTE-Pro-class. Enge will share the Aston Martin Vantage with Christoffer Nygaard (DAN) and Alex Müller (GER) in the 6-hour endurance race on Sunday.

Enge was immediately up to speed in the Aston Martin Vantage during Qualifying. After his first flying lap, he was second and even bettered the time in the following lap. Earlier in the morning, Enge scored also the fastest time during the third practise session. “We are not surprised about our good performance here”, Enge said after the Qualifying session. “After the test we had here a couple of weeks before, we knew we had a quick car and my best time in the free practise confirmed this. The performance during the qualifying session was very promising, but our main goal here is still to prepare for a possible start in the 24h of Le Mans. The most important thing is that we finish the race and collect experience with Le Mans-style racing. I hope the race will be as good as our Qualifying, then we have a fair chance for a podium finish.”

“I’m really happy with our performance here so far”, Young Driver AMR-team principal Hardy Fischer said. “The first two days at Le Castellet were very productive, now we cross the fingers for the race.”

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Start of the race is Sunday at 12.00 hours, the race will be shown live on Motors TV.

Schedule Le Mans Series 6h Le Castellet:

Sunday, 03. April
09.00 – 09.20 Warm-Up
12.00 – 18.00 RACE (6 hours)

About Young Driver AMR

Young Driver AMR was founded by Hardy Fischer and his friend and long-time associate Jan Struve in late 2009 and is representing Aston Martin as one of only two teams in the FIA GT1 World Championship with two Aston Martin DBR9. The abbreviation AMR in the team name stands for Aston Martin Racing, Young Driver AMR is the only official German partner team of Aston Martin Racing. Young Driver AMR is a sister-team of Fischer Racing and based in Paderborn. In it’s first racing season 2010, Young Driver AMR took three victories in the FIA GT1 World Championship and finished on the class podium in it’s first ever outing in the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans in France.

Info/Foto - Young Driver AMR GmbH

Several teams invited to the next 24 Hours of Le Mans will be seen this weekend at the Paul Ricard circuit in the opening round of the Le Mans Series.

HPD Honda Performance Development will attempt to retain their crown Le Mans next June. To achieve this, the research department of Virgin F1 Racing has worked on various developments described as "a great step forward" by engineer Nick Wirth. After eight seasons with Lola, RML changed track and joined Strakka Racing in the HPD camp.

Oreca The first LM P2 chassis designed by Oreca embodies the technical knowledge accumulated by the men who led the Peugeot 908 to its first title in LMS last year. Race Performance, Boutsen Energy Racing and TDS Racing will make their first steps in LM P2 this weekend. At Le Mans, they will be joined by Signatech and the official Oreca team.

Lola The new Lola B11/40 entered by Pecom Racing is prepared by a major name in endurance: AF Corse. The Italian team, have been at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in GT since 2007, but this time with V8 Judd BMW instead of Ferrari power.

Zytek Formula Le Mans title holder Gary Chalandon rejoins Greaves Motorsport (ex Team Bruichladdich) with whom he finished 10th in 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010 (5th in LM P2). This winter, the integration of the Nissan V8 in the Zytek chassis was particularly careful ... And for good reason: the Japanese manufacturer's engines are built at Zytek!

Norma In pole position in the list of prototype 'reserves' for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nantes team Extrême Limite still has a chance to take part. In any case, the dream of young Fabien Rosier (ACO 2006), will make his debut in LM P2 this weekend!

Text: Julien Hergault, Photo: Paul Ricard HTTT, OFFICIAL TESTING FOR LE MANS SERIES, March 12, 2011. The RML team seemed in difficulty with the HPD during the first official practice. / Acreditated and Autorized Media Press.

Debut race for Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin Vantage

Le Mans-preparations at Le Mans Series season opener in France

Paderborn / Le Castellet, 30.03.2011. [Le Mans Series]

Young Driver AMR debuts its new Aston Martin Vantage in the GTE-class of the Le Mans Series season-opener at the HTTT Paul Ricard in Le Castellet/France. In the maiden race of the Young Driver AMR-GTE-class entry, Tomas Enge (CZE), Alex Müller (GER) and Christoffer Nygaard (DAN) will drive the V8-powered car. The debut race of Young Driver AMR with the Vantage is part of the preparation for a possible entry in the 24h hours of Le Mans in June.

For Young Driver AMR, this week is probably one of the busiest of the season. Without rest, the team travels from the first race of the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship to the south of France for the first race of the Le Mans Series. At the HTTT Paul Ricard, Young Driver AMR enters for the first time a car in the GTE-class (former GT2-class). The 460 HP strong Aston Martin Vantage is based on the V8-powered „V8 Vantage“, the little brother of the V12-powered and 600 HP strong Aston Martin DBR9, that Young Driver AMR campaigns in the GT1 World Championship. Young Driver AMR entered the GTE-Pro class for professional drivers with the Vantage and will compete against works-supported Ferrari and Porsche Teams.

The Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin Vantage had it’s first public outing during the Le Mans Series official test day earlier this month, the 6 hour race on Sunday will be the maiden race for the car. The race will be part of the Le Mans-preparation of Young Driver AMR. Although Young Driver AMR hasn’t a confirmed place on the grid for the world’s most famous endurance classic yet, the team will also enter the official Le Mans test day on the Easter weekend for the best possible preparation.

„We still hope that we get a Le Mans entry for this year’s race after our Le Mans debut is year was quite successful, when we finished on the podium“, Young Driver AMR team principal Hardy Fischer says. „In case we can secure a Le Mans-Entry, we will be prepared in the best possible way. The Le Mans Series season opener is a crucial part of our preparation, as we have to learn fundamental things about the car and also the Le Mans-style racing rulebook.“

Young Driver AMR is proud that ski manufacturer Zai (www.zai.ch), sportswear company Kjus (www.kjus.com), Edmiston Luxury Yacht Charter (www.edmiston.com), Malts of Scotland (www.malts-of-scotland.com), Union Engineering (www.union.dk) and Zegg Watches & Jewellery (www.zegg.ch) support the Le Mans Series effort.

Driver Quotes before the race:

Tomas Enge: „During the Le Mans Series test day, our new Aston Martin Vantage was quick right out of the box. Aston Martin Racing put a lot of development into the car during the off-season. Unfortunately, Young Driver AMR has not yet a place in the grid of the 24 hours of Le Mans. But if we will receive one, we will be prepared in the best possible way.“

Alex Müller: „The Le Mans Series race at Le Castellet is a very good preparation for Le Mans. Mainly it is a learning weekend for us, but we are also there for racing and would also like to show a good performance. At the official test day, the car quite impressed me, I’m very anxious about the first race.“

Christoffer Nygaard: „I can’t wait to get in the car at Le Castellet. Beside our brief test with the car earlier this month, it will be the first time after the winter break, that I will be in the car. At the test day, I had the chance to get a little familiar with the car, during this weekend our focus is to learn and get experience with the car.“

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One picture for editorial use only in the attachment, copyright Le Mans Series/DPPI

Schedule Le Mans Series 6h Le Castellet:

Friday, 01. April
11.55 – 12.55 Free practise 1
16.30 – 17.30 Free practise 2

Saturday, 02. April
09.00 – 10.00 Free practise 3
13.34 – 14.05 Qualifying GTE

Sunday, 03. April
09.00 – 09.20 Warm-Up
12.00 – 18.00 RACE (6 hours)

About Young Driver AMR
Young Driver AMR was founded by Hardy Fischer and his friend and long-time associate Jan Struve in late 2009 and is representing Aston Martin as one of only two teams in the FIA GT1 World Championship with two Aston Martin DBR9. The abbreviation AMR in the team name stands for Aston Martin Racing, Young Driver AMR is the only official German partner team of Aston Martin Racing. Young Driver AMR is a sister-team of Fischer Racing and based in Paderborn. In it’s first racing season 2010, Young Driver AMR took three victories in the FIA GT1 World Championship and finished on the class podium in it’s first ever outing in the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans in France.

Further information’s
Young Driver AMR www.youngdriver-amr.com
Le Mans Series www.lemansseries.com
Aston Martin Racing www.astonmartinracing.com
Alex Müller www.alex-mueller.net
Christoffer Nygaard www.christoffernygaard.dk
Tomas Enge www.tomas-enge.cz

With best regards from Paderborn

Young Driver AMR GmbH
Max-Planck-Str. 3a
D-33104 Paderborn / Germany

phone: +49 5254 93 06 295
Phone media: +49 176 222 18 308
email: oliver@youngdriver-amr.com
www.youngdriver-amr.com
Www.fischer-racingteam.de

Director: Erhard Fischer

Info: Young Driver AMR GmbH
Foto: copyright Le Mans Series/DPPI
Acreditated and Autorized Media Press.