Aston Martin retains Chris Buncombe

Aston Martin Racing has announced that Chris Buncombe will be retained as official factory driver for the 2010 season.

Aston Martin Racing's LMP1 car will again run in the iconic Gulf colours and will compete in three races prior to the Le Mans 24 Hours. The races will provide the team with valuable on-track experience prior to Le Mans and include the first two rounds of the American Le Mans Series -- the 12 hours of Sebring on 20 March and the Long Beach Grand Prix on 17 April and the opening round of the European Le Mans Series at Paul Ricard in France on 11 April.

The team will also compete in selected blue riband races around the world post Le Mans, details of the remaining race programme will be subject to further announcements in the coming weeks.

Chris joined Aston Martin Racing towards the end of the 2009 season. Competing in the final two Le Mans Series races in the 008 car the British driver helped the team to an all Aston Martin podium at the Nurburgring 1000kms. 2010 will be Chris' first visit back to the Le Mans 24 Hours following winning the race in the LMP2 class on his debut in 2007.

"I'm extremely pleased to be staying with Aston Martin Racing for what promises to be an exciting and challenging season. There is no tougher test for man and machine than Le Mans and as a Brit I am very honoured and proud to be representing Aston Martin. They are a great bunch of people to work with and I'm delighted to be able to continue this relationship.

"Since my last race of 2009, the 1000kms of Silverstone, I have been working on my 2010 programme and have been focussing on my training programme in order to be fully prepared for this opportunity. I've had a couple of visits to Aston Martin Racing already this year and will be back during the week for a seat fit. I'm looking forward to getting back in the car during testing."

-source: niv sidhu