Gulf / AMR Announcement 2009

Gulf in all out Le Mans attack!

Gulf is proud to announce that two Aston Martin Racing works LMP1 cars will spearhead an all-out attack on both the Le Mans 24 Hours and Le Mans Series in 2009.

The two brand-new Aston Martin prototype racers, liveried in Gulf's iconic blue and orange racing colours, will contest the top LMP1 category at the legendary French endurance race, as well as at all of the five races that comprise the 2009 Le Mans Series.

For 2009, the ACO, which organises Le Mans, has introduced new regulations aimed at balancing the performance of petrol and diesel engined prototypes, making the LMP1 category more appealing and relevant to Aston Martin. In what is the fiftieth anniversary of the marque taking overall victory at Le Mans, it also marks forty years since Gulf took its second victory at the French classic.

"2009 is a hugely significant year at Le Mans and the challenge of reclaiming victory in this famous race for Aston Martin was simply too great to ignore," said Aston Martin Chairman, David Richards.  "However, we do not underestimate the task.  While we have won the GT1 class for the last two years, competing against the proven speed and endurance of the diesel-powered cars, with all their years of winning the prototype class, will be a massive undertaking.

Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer commented: "Racing has been, and still is at the heart of Aston Martin. I am happy that we have found partners who, with their support, will enable us to compete at the highest level of endurance racing."

"The partnership between Gulf and Aston Martin Racing took Gulf's motorsport programme to an entirely new level, last year," enthuses Gulf's Vice President International, Alain Dujean. "The reaction to the Gulf-sponsored DBR9s, even before

the win at Le Mans, was incredible - both from the industry and the public. It really gave our global network something inspirational.. This new programme is a whole step forward again - something which can only be a great asset for Gulf and all of its businesses in these tough times."

The first of the new Aston Martin prototype race cars (an artist's impression of which can be seen in the attached picture), will be seen running at the official Le Mans Series test at Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France on March 8/9.

2009 Provisional Programme

8-9 March - Official Test Days - Paul Ricard (F)

3-4-5 April - 1000 Km of Catalunya (E)

8-9-10 May - 1000 Km of Spa-Francorchamps (B)

13-14 June - LE MANS 24 HOURS (F)

31 July -1/2 August - 1000 Km of Algarve (night race) (P)

21-22-23 August - 1000 Km of Nürburgring (D)

11-12-13 September - 1000 Km of Silverstone (GB)

Aston Martin Racing Works drivers, Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas Enge (CZ), and Stefan Mücke (DE), who raced the Charouz car last year, will renew their relationship with the team along with Darren Turner (GB), who was part of the winning DBR9 GT1 crew in 2007 and 2008. Harold Primat (CH) joins the team for the first time in 2009 with the remaining driver to be announced imminently.

For more information about Gulf's 2009 motorsport programme with Aston Martin Racing, please contact Sam Cork: on +44 (0) 207 321 5531 or email sc@gulgoilltd.com