Team, Drivers Prepare Aston Martin Vantage GT Cars For Classic Event In March
SEBRING, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2014) – TRG-AMR continued its momentum toward the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida after a strong performance during testing Feb. 20-21 at Sebring International Raceway.
TRG-AMR CEO Kevin Buckler Instructs David Block, James Davison, Al CarterThe team worked both days at the legendary Florida circuit to develop its Aston Martin Vantage entries in the GT Daytona class of the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and GS class of the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. Both teams will race March 12-15 at Sebring in one of the classic North American endurance races and the second event of their respective 2014 seasons.
James Davison, David Block and Al Carter guided the No. 007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 car to the top five on the speed charts in nearly all of the sessions on the challenging, 17-turn, 3.74-mile circuit. The team’s best lap was 2:05.153, with top times from two other sessions within five-tenths of a second of that quickest lap, showing the consistent speed of the car. TRG-AMR’s sister No. 009 car is also scheduled to compete in the 12-hour endurance classic at Sebring. The team still is working on its driver lineup for that car.
“Fantastic test for us,” TRG-AMR CEO Kevin Buckler said. “I’m really, really proud of the boys in the 007. James is doing a good job, as usual. David and Al turned some great laps this morning.
“We’re all in on the car. We’re running toward the front, which is where we want to be. We’re P1 to P5. The car is really capable. We’re pushing the envelope; that’s what we’re supposed to do here. I’m really excited about the Twelve Hours. I think we have a good shot.”
Davison and veteran driver but team newcomer Kenneth Greenberg turned laps in the team’s No. 09 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 car in Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge GS class testing, with a best lap of 2:18.846. Their quickest lap was produced in the final session of the two-day test Friday afternoon as the TRG-AMR team dialed in setups for the upcoming Sebring race.
“It was great that Kenneth (Greenberg) decided he wanted to run at the last minute,” Buckler said. “He knows this track really well, and he’s doing great out there first time in that car here at this track.”
The 12-hour TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race at Sebring takes place Saturday, March 15, with the 2.5-hour Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge event Friday, March 14.
CHECKERED FLAG FAST FACTS:
Race: Sebring Test
Date: Feb. 20-21
Track: Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla. (17 turns, 3.74 miles)
Best Lap: No. 007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 (David Block, Al Carter, James Davison), 2:05.153 in IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GT Daytona class; No. 09 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 (James Davison, Kenneth Greenberg), 2:18.846 in IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge GS class.
Next: Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida, March 12-15, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.
No. 007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 In Sebring PitsTwitter: @theracersgroup
POST-TEST QUOTES:
KEVIN BUCKLER (TRG-AMR CEO): “Fantastic test for us. In the GS car, it was great that Kenneth (Greenberg) decided he wanted to run at the last minute. He knows this track really well, and he’s doing great out there first time in that car here at this track. Of course, James is doing a good job, as usual. I’m really, really proud of the boys in the 007. David Block and Al (Carter) turned some great laps this morning. They’re getting sub-(2:)10s, which is fantastic. We’re all in on the car. We’re running toward the front, which is where we want to be. We’re P1 to P5. The car is really capable. We’re pushing the envelope; that’s what we’re supposed to do here. I’m really excited about the Twelve Hours. I think we have a good shot.”
CAR NO. 007 DRIVER QUOTES:
DAVID BLOCK: “It was a really great two days with the team. There were big improvements for myself and the team overall. The car has been handling great. We have a great crew. I’ve been learning a lot from my co-drivers, getting a lot of coaching and really making big strides personally. I think the team is in great position for the Twelve Hours now.”
AL CARTER: “It was a good test for this Aston Martin team. The drivers, the three of us, are starting to jell and learn from each other. I’m really pleased with our performance and my performance. Sebring is a tough track, so this is a great place to test because it challenges you in all the braking zones and all of the exits. We’re getting the car worked out, and I’m looking forward to the race as well as the rest of the season. I think our car will be competitive.”
JAMES DAVISON: “This Sebring test has been highly beneficial for us going into the Twelve Hours weekend both from the Continental and the TUDOR series side. I’ve been able to work with my new teammate in the GS car, Kenneth (Greenberg), getting him up to speed, and continuing to work with Al (Carter) and David (Block) in the GTD car. Both of them have done a great job, and I certainly feel confident for both races. Daytona was a great result on the Conti side, and certainly this track will suit our car a little better. In the Rolex 24, we had all of the performance but just had a few mishaps that we have prepared for by doing this test. I look forward to getting a result in the GTD car at Sebring.”
CAR NO. 09 DRIVER QUOTE:
KENNETH GREENBERG: “It’s great to get back into the car. It’s great to be back at Sebring after an absence of seven years. There’s acclimatization, both with the car and with the circuit. But my times were coming down as I was getting more comfortable with the car.” (About his lighthearted personality blending with the team): “I’m really focusing on being a part of the gang. I can kid when I’m outside the car. But inside the car, it’s all business. I just have to focus, focus, focus, and that’s what I do.”