Blundell & Brundle form new team
Racers target Le Mans - is the DBR9 the weapon of choice?
Former Grand Prix stars and Le Mans 24 Hour winners Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell announced today that they are joining forces with David Price to create a brand new team, with the aim of racing in the 2006 FIA GT Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours.
All three, who have many years of successful sports car racing experience between them, previously worked together at the Brabham Formula One team, while Martin and Mark also drove together at Ligier. The two drivers are presenters on multi award winning show ITV-F1.
The project will fulfil a long-held ambition for the two ‘MBs’ to share the same car at Le Mans and other selected races. As the venture is at a very early stage, details regarding additional drivers and personnel, along with the team location will be released at a later date.
Martin said of the project, “Mark and I share a burning desire to race again. I have never hung up my boots, but have simply been too busy these past three years to get my adrenaline fix at the wheel. We both still have plenty to offer on the track, and with the right car and sponsors, together with David Price, we can build a great team and television programme around this project.”
Mark added, “Our preferred option would be to run the works Aston Martin DBR9, a beautiful car which, with the planned development programme, is sure to be competitive. Aston Martin enjoys a great sports car and Le Mans heritage, and our combined experiences, particularly with Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Bentley, will be invaluable. The FIA GT Championship travels around the globe, which will be both interesting to the sponsors and a great challenge for us as drivers. My motivation to race is as strong as ever, and the friendly but ever-intense competition between Martin and myself will drive us both on!”
David Price commented: “When Mark suggested the idea of us getting together again it sounded very appealing. We all have a good personal and professional relationship, and I genuinely believe that the three of us are capable of taking on the best in the world.”
Brundle (45) competed in 158 Grands Prix with 10 podium finishes. He was the 1988 World Sportscar Champion, also winning the Daytona 24 Hours that year. He won the Le Mans 24 Hours with Jaguar in 1990, and led the race as recently as 2001 with Bentley. He has won two highly coveted RTS awards for his television work and the prestigious Seagrave Trophy for outstanding achievements by land, air or water.
Blundell (38) competed in Formula One for five seasons, with three podium finishes. He participated successfully in the US CART series for a further five years with three victories. Mark won the Le Mans 24 Hours with Peugeot in 1992 and finished second for Bentley as recently as 2003.
Price is one of the most popular and highly respected characters in the motorsport industry. After making his name as a team owner in the British and French F3 Championships, he transferred his team management and engineering skills to international sports car racing with teams such as Mercedes, Nissan, McLaren and Panoz. During this time, teams in which he was involved won three sports car/GT Championship titles.
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steve_D said:
I was going to take a break from visiting Le Mans next year, but this may change things a little.
Hope you enjoy it there. Pity MB & MB won't be there.
They are planing for 2006.
Steve
Although, as is stated elsewhere, the plan for AM is to do Sebring and Le Mans in 2005, as a run up to full assault in 2006. So, more than likely, they will be there.
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