The legendary Nürburgring circuit in Germany hosts the fourth round of the 2009 Le Mans Series this weekend with eight Lola LMP sports cars entered in the 1000kms endurance event.

After scoring at least one podium position in each of the three rounds already contested, Lola customer teams will once again be targeting success and major points scoring in this, the penultimate round of the five race series. Lola were also the first ever sports car manufacturer to score a double class win when the Aston Martin Racing and Racing Box teams took wins in the first round of the series at Barcelona in April.

LMP1 Aston Martin Racing has entered three Lola B09/60 LMP1 cars in this weekend’s event, adding the #008 Huntingdon designed and built sports car to its usual brace of LMP1 challengers.

The Banbury based team has been the undoubted pace setter during the season so far and the addition of the 008 Lola Aston Martin is set to help their title push. The #007 car of Stefan Mucke, Jan Charouz and Tomas Enge is just four points behind the Pescarolo pairing of Christophe Tinseau and Jean Christophe Boullion with two rounds to go.

The #008 Lola Aston has on board former Lola LMP2 driver Chris Buncombe making his LMP1 debut this weekend. The 28 year old from Somerset joins Miguel Ramos and Stuart Hall in the V12 powered Lola. Darren Turner and Swiss racer, Harald Primat, will again drive the #009 Lola-Aston.

Speedy Racing Team Sebah will be hoping to turn their pace and promise in to a strong result this weekend in Germany. Led by father and son team Bart and Hugh Hayden, Speedy have been among the fastest cars in the field so far this season. Sadly minor technical issues have often thwarted hard results. Aerodynamic upgrades from the Lola windtunnel will help in their quest for a breakthrough debut race win this weekend.

Marcel Fassler, Nicolas Prost and Andrea Belicchi are partnered together once more in the Speedy V12 Aston powered Lola B08/60 LMP1. Fassler, a Nürburgring specialist will certainly be one to watch on the 2.83-mile circuit over the weekend.

LMP2 Racing Box have harnessed some fantastic results in their first year of LMP competition in 2009 and the determined Italian squad will be out to repeat their debut win at Barcelona.

With an all-Italian line up the team have two very strong trios of drivers in their two Lola B09/80 LMP2 cars. One of those drivers, Matteo Bobbi believes that another win isn’t too far away for the team.

“We are very close to another victory,” he confirmed. “The team is growing well and getting more and more experience in this kind of racing. With this great Lola car and the great Judd engine we have I am very, very confident.”

RML’s season of misfortune apparently knows no end after a scintillating performance at the last race in Portugal was masked by grid penalties and technical issues. However the Wellingborough based team are one of the most professional and determined in the business and both Tommy Erdos and Mike Newton are due at least a visit to the podium this weekend.

Speedy Sebah’s LMP2 Lola-Judd will aim to improve on a disappointing Algarve 100kms result. Xavier Pompidou, Jonny Kane and Benjamin Leuenberger are still in the LMP2 title hunt after a strong 2nd place at Spa in May. Using a brand new Lola monocoque at Algarve the teams efforts were spoiled when hit by a GT2 Ferrari. The Anglo/Swiss squad will be aiming to maximise their points this weekend in order to catch the Quifel-ASM outfit.

The action in Germany starts with Free Practice at 12.55cet on Friday afternoon. Qualifying for the LMP classes begins at 14.05 on Saturday while the race itself is scheduled to begin at 12.30 on Sunday.

All pictures Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.

There will be three Lola Aston Martins out this weekend as there were at Le Mans.



The Lola Aston Martin of the Speedy Racing Team Sebah has been quick all season.



The Racing Box B09/80 will be looking for more success in LMP2.



The Speedy Racing Sebah will also be vying for the LMP2 win...



...as will the RML car in the very fast hands of Tommy Erdos and Mike Newton. (Photo courtesy of mg-lola.com)



The view the Lola Aston Martin team hope its competitors will see at the Nürburgring.