Racing driver Darren Turner will compete in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, racing the Prodrive-built AMR-One, Aston Martin’s new open-top LMP1 race car.

Turner, of Chacombe, near Banbury, will share the 007 Gulf-liveried car with Stefan Mücke and another yet-to-be-announced driver.

Adrian Fernandez (MX), Andy Meyrick (GB) and Harold Primat (CH) will be driving the 009 car.

Team principal George Howard-Chappell said: “We have chosen to run with a six cylinder turbocharged engine because we believe this offers the best potential within the petrol engine regulations.

"With the ACO’s commitment to effectively balance the performance of petrol and diesel Le Mans entrants – our hopes are high that we’ll see the closest racing yet in the premiere LMP1 category."

Prodrive chairman, David Richards said: “George (Howard-Chappell) and the team have been extremely busy over the winter months and they have been working day and night to produce what is not only a stunningly beautiful race car but one which will use the new ACO regulations to best effect.

“Just like the road cars, the AMR-One has been elegantly engineered where simplicity runs throughout to produce what we expect to be a competitive and reliable endurance racer.” The eagerly-awaited AMR-One has been designed to fit the new ACO regulations, brought in to close the gap between the diesel and petrol-engined LMP1 cars.

The new car should see Aston Martin at the sharp end, especially when it comes to the main event of the series: the Le Mans 24 Hours.

As the holder of two class wins for Aston Martin, Turner wants the opportunity to go for the outright win.

He said: “It’s exciting that Aston Martin Racing has been able to design a car from the ground up to fit the new regulations.

“During the last few years it has been frustrating that if you didn’t have a diesel you couldn’t challenge for victory in the main event of the year.

“I have my fingers crossed that this season the petrol-powered cars will be able to compete on a level playing field, which will not only make it more exciting for the drivers but also for the thousands of spectators that go to Le Mans every year.”

Turner is keen to get his hands on the new car after keeping a close eye on its progress throughout the winter, as he lives close to the Aston Martin Racing headquarters in Banbury.

“It has been incredible to see the car go from a series of CAD drawings to the finished AMR-One,” he said. “As a driver this is something you are rarely privy to so it is very special. It’s amazing how many hours the guys have put in to make this happen and the finished car looks even more fantastic that I could have hoped for.”

The AMR-One will make its race debut at Paul Ricard on April 3. It will join the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at the Spa 1000kms in May, just a few weeks before the team heads to Le Mans for the main event in June. Imola follows in July, then Silverstone in September, Petit Le Mans in October and the season finale is scheduled for November 12, in China.