24h Le Mans
For his third season with Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Rees, age 31, will drive one of the cars entered in LM GTE Pro by the British manufacturer. He talks with us about the 2016 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans coming up.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans has denied Aston Martin several years running in LM GTE Pro (in 2013, a win in LM GTE Am, but otherwise the last victory at Le Mans dates back to 2008 with the Aston Martin DBR9s entered in GT1). So for 2016, the Brits are taking advantage of the new regulations that allow for more freedom aerodynamically to present a more radical looking car which could prove victorious. Fernando Rees: "Several things were overhauled on the car for this 2016 season, with of course the 24 Hours of Le Mans as main objective. In particular, we made a lot of effort to provide a more compact car, more concentrated, tailored for high speeds. It's an area in which we had a few problems last year at Le Mans."
Rees was the fastest Aston Martin driver last June, with a flash top speed of 300.5 km/h during the race. But the Corvettes, Ferraris and Porsches did better more regularly -a real problem for a circuit like Le Mans at which straights are primordial. "At the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, we did well in the last part of the circuit, and namely in the Porsche curves. We had good speed in the turns, but the time we were able to save there was invariably lost in the straights. It was a game with the Corvettes which, in a lap, were faster in the straights but less so in the curve areas, and that allowed us to stay in contact."
This year the British manufacturer will be at the start with four cars, including two in LM GTE Pro. That is one car less than last year, but it shouldn't be interpreted that there is any less ambition. On the contrary, according to Rees: "I think Aston Martin will be stronger than ever at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There will be fewer cars than in the past, but everything has been done to make the whole stronger, more efficient. The car, the drivers, the team, I feel like we have a truly reinforced ensemble." In 2015, the Brazilian won at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in LM GTE Pro, but was unable to do so in any other championship race. At Le Mans, Rees, Alex MacDowall and Richie Stanaway finished sixth. At his debut at Le Mans (he was unable to take the start in 2014 following an incident during the free practice), the driver gained experience and feels ready for battle: "Personally, I learned a lot in 2015, and I think I am better prepared for this edition, but it is also the one looking tighter in GT than it has in several years with a very full field."
Ford's arrival, the launch of a new Ferrari, Corvettes defending their title and fast Porsches...the competition doesn't scare him. "I think we really need to concentrate on our work and preparation, and avoid distractions," explains Rees, already very focused at the Prologue and clearly looking to do well at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Geoffroy Barre - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: Fernando Rees begins his third season with Aston Martin Racing, and is looking to capitalize on his experience at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans to dominate in the LM GTE Pro class.
