After a few years in an Aston Martin DBR9 and two victories (2007 and 2008) in a row in GT1 at Le Mans, Darren Tuner is gearing up to race in LMP1. Aston Martin indeed decided to build a petrol-engined prototype to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Darren, as a factory driver, followed the British car-maker to LMP1. He gave us his first impressions about the car after the Le Mans Series Test days.
Darren, first of all, can you explain me why I could read that it was the first time that you have driven a LMP1 on Sunday? If I can remember, you tested the Audi R8 in 2004?
“I did actually. I was on the line-up to drive the Veloqx Audi R8 in 2004, so I did about 20 laps with the car, but another driver was chosen. So it was not really my first time but I haven’t driven a LMP1 for a while.”
And… was it your first time with the Lola-Aston Martin LMP1?
“I could drive a few laps in England about ten days before the Test Days, but… with no bodywork! We just aimed to check the engine and the gearbox. It was funny because I could see the tires for the first time while driving and weird because of aero! My first “real” laps took place at the Paul Ricard.”
You have been driving a GT1 for a while now, is there a big difference between a GT1 and an LMP1′s speed?
“For sure: a huge difference especially in fast corners and straights, even if you get used to it very quickly. The first laps are really impressive and a prototype is physically demanding. I thus need to be fit because I will have to drive several stints in a row at Le Mans. I ride mountain bike and run almost every day (Ed. Darren enters the London Marathon in April) to be on top.”
About speed, what do you think about your lap-times at the HTTT?
“Of course we were not the quickest ones in the field, but the car was brand new and it abided by 2009 regulation, whereas some other cars didn’t! We have to wait until Barcelona to know exactly where we are because of that. But we didn’t have any technical problem, which is encouraging for the coming-up races, and didn’t make any mistake. We amassed as much data as we could in both days, so we know what we shall do before Barcelona!”
What is your goal for the 2009 season?
“Do our best! This is a new challenge for the team and for me! We won’t be in Sebring and no testing has been scheduled before Barcelona, so we’ll see… I can’t wait for it! The car seems competitive and it has to be reliable for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I am confident even though I think diesel will stay in front of us.”
Have you already met your teammates – Harold Primat and Miguel Ramos – before the Test Days?
“This is the first time I have worked with them. They are experienced and competitive, but the main current issue is… Harold’s size! He is about twenty centimeters more than I am and I was driving with his bucket seat at the HTTT, so I was not really comfortable in the car! We need to find a compromise then we can all feel easy behind the wheel.”
Darren is a busy man in 2009 because he enters the whole Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Lola-Aston Martin LMP1 and 4 rounds in FIA-GT with Gigawave to develop the new Nissan GT-R in GT1.
Cécile Bonardel