The No. 007 Lola Aston Martin is one of the top gasoline-powered cars. Photo credit: Rick Dole

This is the second in a 24 Hours of Le Mans preview series. Check back to michelinracingusa.com for more features and posts in the coming days.

The factory Aston Martin Racing team, with its incredible-sounding Lola Aston Martin V12, will have two cars in the field after running three last year. One of the Astons made a memorable appearance stateside in the first two ALMS events of the season.

The team is run by Prodrive with David Richards. Prior to returning to racing a prototype last year, Prodrive fielded Aston Martin DBR9s in the GT1 class, winning the class in 2007 and 2008.

Adrian Fernandez, Harold Primat and Stefan Mucke drive the lead No. 007 Lola Aston Martin. The trio finished third overall behind the two Peugeots at Sebring and also raced at Long Beach. There, Fernandez scored his first overall ALMS pole in front of a wealth of fans (the Mexican driver has considered Long Beach his “home” U.S. race).

Adrian Fernandez. Photo credit: Rick Dole

Fernandez and Primat finished second overall in Long Beach. Simon Pagenaud in the Highcroft HPD ARX 01-c made a last lap pass of Fernandez for the win, but Fernandez still turned in a great effort.

The team also has the No. 009 entry for drivers Darren Turner, a former Le Mans class winner, Sam Hancock and Juan Barazi. Turner won four ALMS races in the GT1 class driving for Aston Martin and Prodrive Ferrari from 2003 to 2006.