Virtual AMR Race Day Download
TORA Endurance Championship: Round 1 - Sebring

Entries:

LMP
Lola Aston Martin
#007
Dan Austins
Chris Ford
Ian Maughan
Matt Hunter

GTE
#004
Daniel Grain
Christian Rose
Chris Siddall
Chad Wilson

Pre-race concerns about the pace of the Aston Martin DBR9 proved to be unfounded as, despite additional performance balancing measures by the organisers, the #004 car held on to pole position in GTE until the dying seconds of the final session with the Rebellion Ford GT nabbing first place away by just 0.2s.

In LMP the #007 Lola Aston Martin was rolled out once more following it's championship winning 2012 ISCC season, and in the hands of reigning champ, Dan Austins the car would start a respectable 7th.

Stint 1 (2pm-4pm)
Drivers:
LMP - Austins
GTE - Grain

The start of the race always sees close action and the opening phase of the 3rd TORA Sebring 12hrs was no different.
Kinfaun inherited pole position for the race with the news coming that Rebellion would not take the start. Grain in the #004 made a strong start and retained the lead for the first hour with the F4H Porsche and MKR Corvette in hot pursuit.
An enormous crash for the LMP 'Red Sonia' F4H car at Turn 11, however, caught up the GTE leaders as the car bounced back onto the track and into their paths. With the #004 pitting for repairs, Grain dropped down the field with a big fight needed to regain the lead. His valiant efforts recovered first place with 15 minutes of the stint remaining.
In LMP, Austins enjoyed a quiet first stint, battling with the Gulf Team and CQRish Dyson Lolas.

Stint 2 (4pm-6pm)
Drivers:
LMP - Maughan
GTE - Rose

Ian Maughan put in an excellent stint to maintain 5th place in class, narrowly behind the CQRish Dyson Gulf Team battle that had raged throughout the opening phase.
All was not well with the #004 as a technical issue struck the car late into the fourth hour of the race. Rose managed to get to the pits but remedial work was required and #004 was taken behind pit wall, losing more time.

Stint 3 (6pm-8pm)
Drivers:
LMP - Austins
GTE - Grain

With the diesel battle hotting up at the front, Austins jumped back into the #007 for his second stint of the race. It's key to remember that Austins had planned to take a sabbatical this season but the lure of his championship winning car and drives with his cherished brand proved too good to ignore! He was right back on the pace and fighting hard for the lead of the 'petrol class'. This would clearly be a drawn out fight with Dyson and Team Gulf.
Grain in the #004 enjoyed a trouble free stint at last and put in a huge performance to haul the car back into contention.

Stint 4 (8pm-10pm)
Drivers:
LMP - Hunter
GTE - Siddall

Hunter enjoyed a solid stint in #007 and was aided by issues befalling the Dyson Lola late into their stint. An initial battle with Team Gulf fizzled out as Hunter settled into the car and produced consistant laps. The key, simply to stay out of trouble and put in the miles. The opportunity to lap some of the other LMP competitors was too good to miss, Status GP and Yagamura being some of the vital scalps claimed as night drew in.
Siddall took to the track in #004 hoping to continue the upward trend for the car as the fightback from early issues drew on. Sadly, contact with a prototype as they attempted a pass forced Siddall to race on with damage to the car, heavily
affecting his pace.

Stint 5 (10pm-12am)
Drivers:
LMP - Maughan
GTE - Wilson

In LMP, things really began to hot up as Maughan continued the solid run for #007 putting the car dangerously close to a podium position. Fourth place at midnight was a fantastic result. Main rivals, Team Gulf dropped by the wayside during this stint and #007 was there to capitalise on the mistakes from others as tiredness begain to kick in for all the competitors. The fight was well and truly on for best in petrol class and also the last spot on the podium.
Wilson put in a sterling performance in #004 but as the race drew on it was clear this was now a damage limitation effort as the works BMWs and Jaguars drew clear at the front of the class.

Stint 6 (12am-2am)
Drivers:
LMP - Austins
GTE - Siddall

As the race drew to a close it was clear there were real chances for V-AMR to claim a podium. With the top 5 runners on the same lap it was all to play for. Austins returned to the track now under floodlights to take the fight to the diesels ahead.
Putting in some strong laps in the cooler conditions, Austins pushed on with an extremely small gap between the Aston Martin and the Yagamura Lola the race was on. Both cars began to draw in the Peugeot in ahead as the two Audis marched onward.
At the flag only the Ullman Straight separated #007 from a podium position. 5th place and second in the 'petrol class' was a fantastic result for the team who had only brought the car out of 'retirement' one week before qualifying.
Chris Siddall would bring the GTE Aston Martin effort home 12th in class. The battle scarred #004 team had fought valiantly throughout the race and the pace shown in the early stages gave glimpses of what could have been. With the next round of the TORA GT World Championship taking place at the Florida circuit, hopes will be high for a strong result. 12hrs of solid 'testing' should be sufficient!

V-AMR will be back in endurance racing action for TORA's Le Mans 24hr 29th-30th June 2013.