Q & A with Darren Turner

Q. How would you assess the first test for the new Lola-Aston Martin LMP1?

Darren Turner: "The car ran like clockwork, which is always very encouraging. The car was very strong straight out of the box and we were able to do some solid running over the two days. We now have a good understanding of where we are with it and what we need to do before the first race at Barcelona. We've got plenty of data to take away from here."

Q. How did you adapt to an LMP1 prototype, five years on from your only previous outing in one?

DT: "I didn't do so much in the [Veloqx] Audi R8, maybe 20 or so laps, but I remember that I wasn't blown away by the performance. At that time I was a regular in a Formula One car with McLaren. This time it was different because it is a relatively big jump from a GT1 and that's the level I have been accustomed to driving at. The big surprise is the level of performance in the medium to high-speed corners.

"The car started off quite pointy, which is okay for the guys with a year under their belts in the other car, but on my car [shared with Miguel Ramos and Harold Primat] we had to calm the front down a bit. We need a driveable car before we can start looking for peak performance."

Q. We're you happy with your times?

DT: "I did a 1m43 flat on old tyres. We have gone about this test in a steady way because we didn't want to damage the car. At this stage of the programme it is all about being out on the track and notching up the miles."

Q. Is the Lola-Aston fun to drive?

DT: "If you'd asked me that on the first day, I would have said no because of the way the front was reacting and because I was rattling around like a rag doll in Harold's seat. Once we'd made some changes, I started to feel part of the car. That's when I started to enjoy it much more."

Q. Was Tomas Enge's shunt in the other car a major set-back for the team?

DT: "It was one of those things, but the team is strong enough to be able to bounce back in time for Barcelona."

Q. What are your aspirations for the 009 Lola-Aston when the Le Mans Series kicks off at Barcelona next month?

DT: "With the DBR9 in 2007 and '08 the aspiration was to win; the only thing we could be pleased with was victory. In our car, Miguel and I are new to the LMP1 class, so we shouldn't be setting our sights too high this season. I think we should be aiming at podiums. The three drivers in the other car [Enge, Stefan Mucke and Jan Charouz] should be on the podium regularly and, depending on the competition, winning races."