“The opposition has always been strong, but I'm sure that they will have been working even harder over the winter now that they know the level we're at. I think we've got a very solid line-up. The key to success at Le Mans is always good preparation, which so far we've been able to achieve.”

“It's obviously a big privilege to drive for the works team,” smiled Garcia, who has twice competed for Aston Martin factory outfit Team Modena, “and I think we have a really good chance.

“Le Mans is a race where you just have to do the best you can, keep working hard and try to let the result come to you. It's a tough challenge, but a really nice one and I think I am well-placed to benefit from my previous experience now.”

The wealth of experience in the 007 car, meanwhile – with Frentzen and Wendlinger former team-mates not only in F1, but also in the World Sportscar Championship, on both occasions with Sauber – is impressive, and FIA GT Championship front-runner Piccini is clearly keen to take advantage of that.

“I'm delighted to come back to the factory team,” the Italian asserted, “and I feel very proud to be sharing the 007 car with two very well-known drivers of the calibre of Heinz-Harald and Karl. Anything can happen at Le Mans of course, but in 2006 we finished second [in class] and I was also second in the FIA GT Championship and Spa 24 Hours, so it would be good to go one better this time!”

“I've only driven at Le Mans once, 16 years ago,” admitted three-time grand prix winner Frentzen. “It's a great pleasure to come back to such a famous race – especially with a prestigious team like Aston Martin, which has formed part of the history of motorsport. The circuit is obviously very demanding, but the biggest challenge for us will be to stay fully-focussed and concentrated over the course of the whole 24 hours.”

“I've driven the DBR9 for three seasons in the FIA GT Championship,” added the series' 1999 title-holder Wendlinger. “I've competed at Le Mans several times, but I've never driven the DBR9 at Le Mans before, so I'm very pleased to finally have the opportunity to do that. The team and the drivers are very experienced, so while a 24 hour race like Le Mans is always impossible to predict, I feel we have a very good chance.”