Top 5 finish at Le Mans 2009

Aston Martin Racing Team head the race for the top petrol-engined cars at a memorable Le Mans for Gulf.

GULF WOWS THE CROWDS AT LE MANS

The 77th running of the Le Mans 24 hours, the jewel in the crown of the world of motor racing, has proved to be a memorable weekend for Gulf both on and off the track.

The Gulf sponsored Aston Martin Racing team finished the race as it started, the fastest of all of the petrol engined runners at Le Mans. The blue and orange 007, 008 and 009 cars took the fight to the nine diesel-engined racers of Audi and Peugeot with great gusto, coming tantalisingly close to a podium finish. The 007 car of Tomas Enge, Stefan Mücke and Jan Charouz came home a superb fourth overall, only three laps shy of the number 1 Audi at the end of the 24 Hour race.

For half the race, 007 ran in tandem with its sister 008 car crewed by Jos Verstappen, Darren Turner and Anthony Davidson. The two Gulf machines were often only separated by a matter of seconds, as pictured, until two stop-go penalties dropped 008 down the field, the car eventually coming home in 13th place overall and 11th in LMP1.

The 009 car, driven by Peter Kox, Harold Primat and Stuart Hall fought back through the field after an early alternator problem dropped it to 49th out of the 54 cars entered, to run in the top half of the field. Unfortunately, an accident forced its retirement with only five hours remaining - driver Harold Primat, emerging, thankfully, unhurt.

The race itself took place in dry and sunny conditions almost throughout, which prompted a party-like atmosphere with a quarter of a million spectators on site to witness one of the most competitive Le Mans 24 Hours in recent times.

"The 2009 Le Mans has been an amazing event for Gulf," comments Gulf Oil Vice President International, Alain Dujean. "Our Gulf distributors who have joined us here this year - some for the first time - have been amazed at how, even more than last year, Gulf seems to be everywhere; on clothes, on posters, in the press and on TV. I have lost count of the number of cars I have seen sporting the brand - someone even painted a London double deck tour bus in Gulf livery. I think you have to see it for yourself to believe, how much affection the public has for Gulf. It is truly amazing."

The 007 car ran almost faultlessly during the race on its way to fourth place. It was, however, able to make the start only after a huge effort from Aston Martin Racing, who rebuilt the car overnight after it had sustained considerable damage during Thursday's final qualifying session.

Aston Martin Racing's Team principal, George Howard-Chappell, paid tribute to his crew. " The boys have been working almost around the clock to be here with three cars. It is an amazing achievement by all of the guys - and to bring a car home in fourth place is a fantastic job."

Alain Dujean echoes these sentiments. "I have to thank everyone at Aston Martin Racing so much for all the efforts they have made - both on the track and around Le Mans. I know how hard they have worked over many, many weeks now, to give us something to really be proud of here at Le Mans."

The Gulf-sponsored cars now return to Aston Martin Racing to be rebuilt for the next round of the Le Mans Series where, after a win and a third place, the team will continue with its challenge for outright victory in the series.

For any further information on Gulf's motorsport sponsorship program with Aston Martin Racing please contact the Gulf Oil International marketing department: soh@gulfoil-aus.com.au