Silverstone LMS Finale for Team Modena

The final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series season is at Silverstone, Northants, this weekend, and Team Modena head into their home race on a high after success at the Nurburgring last month. Having dominated the LM GT1 class with their Aston Martin DBR9 and winning in Germany by 32-laps, the rapid duo of Tomas Enge and Antonio Garcia will be aiming for their third win in the five race series to close the team’s 2008 LMS campaign in style.

“We are looking forward to Silverstone,” says Team Principal Graham Schultz, “it is always good to be taking part in your home round of the series. The car is running well and with the pace Antonio and Tomas showed in Germany we are hoping for a strong finish.

“We have around 200 guests coming to the race, and will also be visited by the Aston Martin Owner’s Club – so it should be a memorable weekend.”

The full race distance is 195-laps round the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, with a maximum duration of six hours racing. The regular opposition in the LM GT1 class comes from the Chevrolet Corvettes and the Lamborghini Murcielago, and Team Modena still have a chance of taking the teams and drivers titles, but nothing less than a win would do it with rival cars retiring.

“I think our car will be good at Silverstone,” says Antonio. “The Corvette has been quick all season, but we have been quick and competitive and if all goes well like it did in Germany then we will be in a strong position.

“Silverstone is a quick circuit and enjoyable in a GT1 car, the weekend will be good for us and I am confident and relaxed.”

Silverstone was the circuit where the team’s Aston Martin, chassis 101, the first of the customer DBR9s built, made its race debut in August 2005, finishing fourth in class in a rain soaked race. The car was soon up to pace, taking its first win less than a month later at the Nurburgring and going onto taste victory in the FIA GT series and the Mil Mihas race in Brazil as well as further LMS success. The car has completed three Le Mans 24-Hour races, finishing ninth in 2006, never failing to finish the French endurance race.

The 1000km race is scheduled to start at 11.20 on Sunday morning, with a 20-minute qualifying session at 13.15 on Saturday. Prior to that, the teams have three one-hour free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning to tune their cars to Silverstone’s mix of quick and technical corners.

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