Nous attendions avec impatience de connaître le nom du premier team à engager la Lola B08/60, nous l'avons. Il s’agira du Charouz Racing. Et pour sa deuxième saison en endurance, on peut dire que l’équipe tchèque a mis les petits plats dans les grands : engagée en Le Mans Series et aux 24 Heures du Mans, la toute dernière Lola sera propulsée par un moteur Aston Martin, le V12 de la GT1, et sera pilotée par Stefan Mücke, Tomas Enge et Ian Charouz. Et comme il faut y ajouter les pneus Michelin, tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour obtenir un cocktail qui promet d'être explosif !

Précisons que Aston Martin Racing travaillera en collaboration avec Lola pour reconditionner le moteur et la transmission dans la toute dernière B08/60. En plus du V12 dernière génération, celui utilisé par les DBR9 Officielles en juin dernier, le Charouz Racing recevra le soutien de Aston Martin Racing sur chaque course. Avec ce package, et des pilotes talentueux, nul doute que Lola Cars pourra fêter dignement ses 50 ans.

George Howard-Chappell, Team Principal Aston Martin Racing : « Le V12 a déjà prouvé qu’il était à la fois suffisamment performant et endurant pour gagner Le Mans. Nous sommes désormais impatients de relever ce challenge, qui est de le reconditionner dans un châssis plus léger, et de voir son niveau de compétitivité en prototype. Ce sera une belle et nouvelle expérience, pour moi et l’ensemble du team Aston Martin Racing ».

Révélation de la saison 2007, le Charouz Racing avait réussi ses premiers pas en Le Mans Series, avec notamment un podium à Valencia, et des prestations toujours remarquées en qualifications. Le team a décidé de passer à la vitesse supérieure, avec un châssis dernière génération et un moteur qui fera ses débuts dans le monde des prototypes. Exit la Lola B06/10 et son moteur Judd, bonjour la B08/60 et son V12 Aston Martin.

Antonin Charouz : « Notre coopération avec Prodrive et Aston Martin Racing a été longue et fructueuse. Nous sommes heureux d’être parvenus à une relation encore plus étroite pour la saison à venir. Alors que les moteurs des GT1 sont basés sur ceux des voitures de série, AMR a montré à quel point ils pouvaient être compétitifs en tant que concepteurs de moteurs de course pour l'endurance. Je pense que la combinaison de l’expérience de Prodrive, particulièrement au Mans, avec le palmarès du V12 Aston Martin, devrait nous permettre d’avoir un package très compétitif pour 2008 ».

Du côté des pilotes, il n'y a guère de surprise. A une exception près, il s'agit en effet de l'équipage présent en 2007. Alex Yoong, qui devrait s'impliquer dans un projet Malais, sera remplacé par Tomas Enge. Un choix logique, dans la mesure où Antonin Charouz est le manager du pilote tchèque, et que ce dernier a déjà roulé pour Aston Martin Racing. Ses deux coéquipiers ont partagé le volant de la B06/10 en Le Mans Series. A l'image du team, ils ont été convaincants pour leurs premiers pas dans la discipline. Preuve de la bonne relation entre Enge, Charouz et Mücke, les trois pilotes rouleront pour la même équipe aux 24 Heures de Daytona. Mais ils ont d'autres points communs : ils sont jeunes, talentueux, et un brin fougueux !

Tomas Enge : « Je suis très heureux de piloter de nouveau pour Aston Martin Racing, et également de faire partie d’un nouveau projet dans lequel Prodrive et le Charouz Racing sont impliqués. Notre voiture sera toute nouvelle, donc il y a beaucoup de travail devant nous, mais je suis impatient. Il s’agit d’un véritable défi. J’ai toujours souhaité être au volant d’une puissante LMP1, et je m’attends à une grosse bagarre avec les 'Diesel' ».

Jan Charouz : « C’est une belle opportunité pour moi. Conduire pour une marque comme Aston Martin Racing est un grand honneur. L’an dernier, pour ses débuts en Le Mans Series, le Charouz Racing a prouvé qu’il était déjà rapide. Même si la voiture est nouvelle, je pense que l’implication de AMR et de Prodrive rendra le team encore plus fort. Je dois dire que la dernière saison en le Mans Series m’a enchanté, et je suis très heureux de continuer dans ce championnat, avec un si bon team, et des coéquipiers très rapides comme Tomas Enge et Stefan Mücke. Je pense que nous pourrons nous battre aux avant-postes ».

Stefan Mücke : « Je suis très content de faire partie d’un projet aussi unique. Je pense que nous avons un bon package, que ce soit au niveau des pilotes, de la voiture et du moteur. Je suis confiant quant à nos chances de réussite. Comme Jan Charouz, j’ai fait mes débuts en Le Mans Series l’année dernière, et le championnat m’a également bien plu ».

La saison 2008 s'annonçait passionnante. Elle le sera. Certes, Audi et Peugeot sont deux constructeurs, mais ils devront se méfier d'une horde de teams privés plus affamés les uns que les autres. Avec le dernier châssis conçu par Lola, le moteur et le soutien d'un constructeur tel que Aston Martin, le Charouz Racing sera certainement l'un des plus sérieux outsiders.

Terminons enfin par un petit mot sur Aston Martin. Les Britanniques viennent d'annoncer un partenariat avec Gulf, qu'ils souhaitent sur le long terme. Dans le même temps, un moteur est placé dans une Lola fermée, engagée par un team compétent. Tous les voyants sont au Vert pour qu'un projet de LMP1 Evo voit le jour...

Citations issues du communiqué du team (voir ci-dessous),

Anthony Megevand

Le Mans Series : Charouz LMP gets Aston Martin power in 2008

Charouz Racing Systems will compete with Aston Martin engines at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and in the Le Mans Series (LMS). Charouz Racing Systems and the Prodrive-run Aston Martin Racing team are taking advantage of new LMP regulations for 2008, which allow the use of a GT1 engine in a prototype chassis. 

The team will use a new closed cockpit Lola chassis for 2008, fitted with the latest specification Aston Martin six litre V12 unit, which was used in the 2007 GT1 class winning DBR9.  Aston Martin Racing will work with Lola to repackage the engine and drivetrain for the new chassis, while engineers from Aston Martin Racing will support the car on event.

Aston Martin Racing has contracted Tomas Enge, Stefan Mücke and Jan Charouz for the 2008 season. All three have been placed with Charouz Racing Systems and will race the Michelin-shod Lola/Aston Martin at Le Mans and in the LMS.

George Howard-Chappell, team principal for Aston Martin Racing, said:  “The V12 unit has already proven that it has the performance and endurance to win at Le Mans.  We are now looking forward to the challenge of repackaging it in a new lighter chassis and seeing how competitive it can be in the prototype class.  It will be great new experience for me and all the team here at Aston Martin Racing.”

Antonin Charouz said: “Our cooperation with Prodrive and Aston Martin Racing has been a long and fruitful one.  We are very happy that we have found an even closer relationship for the upcoming season.  While GT1 engines are based on those from the road car, Aston Martin Racing has proven how competitive they can be as an endurance race engine. I believe the combination of Prodrive’s extensive racing experience, particularly at Le Mans, and the Aston Martin V12 engine’s pedigree, should make for a very competitive package in 2008.”

Tomas Enge: “I am very excited to be driving for Aston Martin Racing again and also to be part this new project where both Prodrive and Charouz Racing System are involved. Our car is a brand new one, so there is a lot of work ahead but I am already looking forward to it. It is a real challenge for me. I always wanted to drive a powerful LMP1 car and am looking forward to a strong fight with our diesel-powered competition.”
Internet: www.tomas-enge.com

Jan Charouz: “It is a great opportunity for me. To drive for a brand like Aston Martin Racing is a big honour for me. Charouz Racing System has already proven it was quick last year during its debut season in the Le Mans Series and even though the car is new, I believe the involvement of Aston Martin Racing and Prodrive will make the team even stronger. I must say that the last Le Mans Series season enchanted me a lot and I am pleased to continue there. I am very happy that I will race in such a good team and with quick team-mates like Tomas Enge and Stefan Mucke I believe we can fight at the front.”
Internet: www.jan-charouz.cz
 
Stefan Mücke: “I am very happy that I will be part of this unique project! I think that it is a good package of drivers, car and engine and I am confident that we will be able to be successful. Like Jan Charouz, I made my debut in the Le Mans Series only last year and the championship attracted me as well.”
Internet: www.stefan-muecke.jgsm.de

Introduction of the Charouz Racing System-Lola/Aston Martin team drivers:

Tomáš Enge (CR)
Tomáš is the most experienced and most successful driver in Antonín Charouz’s racing team. The son of an elite touring car driver, Břetislav, he had always been close to motor sports, but before getting behind the wheel had tried ski jumping and ice hockey. Once he had set his sights on car racing, he soon began rewriting Czech history. Tomáš was the first Czech driver in Formula 1, F3000, and Indy Car Series; he was the first to win a formula series abroad (Formula Ford 1996), and the list goes on. A relentless fighter, he also continued to prove his versatility, a rare commodity in today’s motor racing world. The Liberec native is one of the world’s best formula car drivers on both circuits and ovals, driving sports cars masterfully and holding a qualification record for the number of consecutive pole positions in the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours. He has also made rally specialists work hard during his several starts in rallies.

Career:
Born: 11 September 1976 in Liberec
1992 – Ford Fiesta Cup
1993 – Ford Fiesta Cup – 16th
1994 – Ford Fiesta Cup – 9th, 5 wins
1995 – Formula Ford Zetec Cup, Eifelland Racing, 3rd, 4 wins
1996 – Formula Ford Zetec Cup, Eifelland Racing, 1st, 4 wins
1997 – German Championships, Opel Team BSR, 12th
1998 – German Championships, Opel Team BSR, International F3000 Championships, Auto Sport Racing, 1 point, 5 races
1999 – FIA F3000 International Championships, WRT Rafanelli, 10th, 6 points, official test driver for F1 Jordan Team
2000 – FIA F3000 International Championships, mySAP.com team, 6th, 15 points, 1 win, official test driver for F1 Jordan Team
2001 – FIA F3000 International Championships, Coca-Cola Nordic Racing Team, FIA F1 International Championships, Prost Acer Team, 3 Grands Prix
2002 – FIA F3000 International Championships, Arden Team International, 3rd, 3 wins – A1-Ring, Silverstone, Magny Cours, Le Mans 24 Hours, Team Ferrari Prodrive, 1st in the GTS category qualification, American Le Mans Series, Team Ferrari Prodrive, Sebring, Laguna Seca, 1st, Miami, 3rd, Petit Le Mans, 2nd
2003 – Le Mans 24 Hours, Veloqx Prodrive Racing, Ferrari 550 Maranello, 1st in the GTS/GT category qualification and race, American Le Mans Series, Team Ferrari Prodrive, Petit Le Mans, 2nd, Mosport, 2nd, Grand Prix Americas, 2nd, FIA Grand Turismo, Team Menx, Ferrari 360 Modena
2004 – Le Mans 24 Hours, Prodrive Racing, Ferrari 550 Maranello, 1st in the GTS/GT category qualification, FIA F3000 International Championships, ma-con Dark Dog Charouz, 4th, Indy Car Series, Patrick Racing, 2 races
2005 – Indy Car Series, Panther Racing, Le Mans 24 Hours, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin DBR9, 1st in the GT1 category qualification, A1 GP, Sepang, 3rd in the main race, Dubai, 3rd in sprint
2006 – Le Mans 24 Hours, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin DBR9, 1st in the GT1 category qualification, 6th in the race, 2nd in the GT1 category, American Le Mans Series, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin DBR9, 2nd in LM GT1, A1GP, Brno, 2nd in the main race, Shanghai, 1st in the main race
2007 – Grand Am, Daytona 24 Hours, Samax Motorsport, Pontiac Riley, 6th, 1000 km Salt Lake City, 2nd, American Le Mans Series, Petersen Motorsport/White Lighting, Ferrari 430 GT, Salt Lake City, 1st in the LM GT2 category, FIA Grand Turismo, Scuderia Ecosse, Ferrari 430 GT, Zhuhai, 3rd in the GT2 category, A1GP, Le Mans 24 Hours, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin DBR9, 9th, 4th in the LMGT1 category
Internet: www.tomas-enge.com

Jan Charouz (ČR)
Jan started racing at the age of seven. He drove a Comer 80 go-kart. The son of Antonín, race car driver and manager, he had always been close to motor sports. After graduating from karts, he and Erik Janiš, in a Ford Fiesta, became the youngest winners of the International Czech Republic Circuit Championships. They were both just fifteen years of age. Jan attained his biggest formula success in 2006, winning the F3000 International Masters series. He also won the newcomer category and the Czech team ruled the roost. Jan became the official test driver for Lola in 2007. Joining the Škoda Charouz Racing System – Lola/Judd Team, he soon became one of the fastest racers in the Le Mans Series. The highest placing of he and his team mates Stefan Mücke and Alex Yoong was second in the 1000 km Valencia. The crew finished the famous Le Mans 24 Hours marathon in eighth place, fifth in the royal LMP1 category. The UK magazine Autosport recognised Jan’s achievements by ranking him 9th best LMS driver.

Career:
Born: 17 July 1987 in Prague
1999 – International Championship of the Czech Republic – Karts, Comer 80, 2nd, International Championship of the Czech Republic – teams, 1st
2000 – ICCR – teams, 2nd
2001 – ICCR – Karts, ICA-J, 3rd and winner of the Autoklub Cup
2002 – CoCR Open 2002 – Karts, 2nd, ICCR – Karts, FA, 3rd
2002 – Ford Fiesta Cup – Ford Cup, 2nd
2002 – ICCR, circuit car series, Ford Fiesta, 1st, the youngest champion in its history
2003 – Formula BMW Eifelland Racing
2004 – Formula BMW Rosberg Racing
2005 – F3000 Euro, ICCR Mercedes Benz AMG CLK DTM Charouz Racing
2006 – F3000 International Masters, 1st, Spa 24 Hours, Zakspeed, Saleen S7R, ICCR Mercedes Benz AMG CLK DTM Charouz Racing
2007 – LMS, Škoda Charouz Racing System-Lola/Judd, 5th, Le Mans 24 Hours, 8th, Petit Le Mans, Zytek 07S/2 Zytek, 4th, 3rd in LMP2, Daytona 24 Hours, Farnbacher Loles Porsche GT3 Cup, Spa 24 Hours, S-Berg Racing, Lamborghini Gallardo GT3, ICCR, Mercedes Benz AMG DTM Class C
Internet: www.jan-charouz.cz

Stefan Mücke (GER)
The twenty-six-year-old Berliner Stefan Mücke came to the sports car scene following his five seasons in the prestigious DTM touring car series. In addition to his successful tenure in the Škoda Charouz Racing System – Lola/Judd Team in the Le Mans Series, he also made his mark in the FIA Grand Turismo championships. He and his French team mate Christophe Bouchut won the race in Zhuhai, China. As in the case of Jan Charouz, his stellar performance was acknowledged by the Autosport experts. They ranked him the 6th best LMS category driver. Stefan has been fast since the very start of his career. He won the Formula BMW in 1998 and then shone bright in Germany’s Formula 3, becoming runner-up in 2001. His father, Peter, was well known to motor sport enthusiasts in the former Czechoslovakia, racing there on circuits and in autocross. He has been the head of the successful Mücke Motorsport team (www.muecke-motorsport.de) since 1998. The team has drivers and cars in the DTM, F3 ES and Formula BMW. The team’s Formula 3 drivers who have later gone on to become F1 drivers include Robert Kubica, Sebastian Vettel, Christan Klien and Markus Winkelhock.

Career:
Born: 22 November 1981 in Berlin (FRG)
1998 – Formula BMW ADAC, 1st
1999 – German F3
2000 – German F3, 5th (two wins)
2001 – German F3, 2nd (two wins)
2002 – DTM (AMG Mercedes Benz)
2003 – DTM (AMG Mercedes Benz)
2004 – DTM (AMG Mercedes Benz), 15th, the best driver of one-year-old cars
2005 – DTM (AMG Mercedes Benz), 18th
2006 – DTM (AMG Mercedes Benz)
2007 – LMS, Škoda Charouz Racing System-Lola/Judd, 5th, Le Mans 24 Hours, 8th, Petit Le Mans, Zytek 07S/2 Zytek, 4th, 3rd in LMP2, FIA Grand Turismo, Lamborghini Murcielago, 1st in Zhuhai, 3rd in Bucharest, ICCR, Mercedes Benz AMG DTM Class C, 3rd
Internet: www.stefan-muecke.jgsm.de

Le Mans Series 2008
Testing – Le Castellet, 2 – 3 March
1000 km Barcelona – 4 – 6 April
1000 km Monza – 25 – 27 April
1000 km Spa – 9 – 11 May
1000 km Nürburging – 15 – 17 August
1000 km Silverstone – 12 – 14 September
One race to be announced

Le Mans 24 Hours – 12 – 14 June

History of LMS

This year marks the fifth season of the Le Mans Series. Despite its “youth”, its prestige is constantly increasing. The main reason is simple: Endurance races of powerful and beautiful sports cars are enjoying unprecedented growth. Just look at last year’s start list – it included some 50 entrants, 26 sports prototypes, and 25 Grand Turismo cars. The competition will be even tougher this year, not least because the Audi Sport team has returned.
Internet: www.lemans-series.com

History of Le Mans 24 Hours

The race on the La Sarthe circuit is considered one of the most difficult and famous in the world, together with the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Monaco F1 Grand Prix. First held in 1923, this motoring marathon is now in its 75th year. It was conceived as a trial of reliability and endurance, with mostly production cars circling the track. Over time, the 24-hour race became a prestigious occasion for the world’s best racers and cars. About a quarter of a million spectators gather at the circuit every June, and it has been broadcast live on TV for years. Besides many firsts, the race also holds a tragic record. Pierre Levegh’s accident in 1955 killed the driver and 85 spectators, while another hundred fans suffered serious injuries. The sheer scale of the tragedy shocked the whole world – Switzerland forbade circuit racing on its territory in response.

The Škoda Charouz Racing System-Lola/Judd Team was the first Czech participant in the top category (LMP1) last year. Upon its premiere, the team was placed 8th overall and 5th in its class. Other significant Czech successes at Le Mans include the achievements of Tomáš Enge and the František Sutnar-Otto Krattner pair. Enge won the GTS category in 2003 and came tenth overall (having the Dutchman Peter Kox and Briton Jamie Davies as team mates for the Ferrari 550 Maranello). He holds the record of five pole positions in the LM GT1 (formerly GTS) class. Sutnar and Krattner, in an Aero Minor, won their 750 ccm category and, based on the index, were placed second overall in the first post-war race, in 1949. The most successful driver in the race’s history, Denmark’s Tom Kristensen, won the marathon seven times. When it comes to constructors, Porsche heads the field with 16 wins.
Internet: www.lemans.org