Last June, I was in the back of an Audi A8 that snarled in foot traffic. It sat stranded, trying to make its way to the exit of the Circuit de La Sarthe as throngs of fans moved toward the grand stands and the front straight on the other side for the gratuitous post-race party - one of many traditions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I sat back and popped on my ear buds, listening to the post-race commentary on Radio Le Mans. David Richards of Aston Martin was being interviewed, and the chaps at Radio LM asked him if he was happy that Aston had finally wrestled GT1 class victory from the Corvette team. Richards exclaimed, "Sure, but I won't be truly happy until we score an outright win here."

In order to do that, now privately-owned Aston has to field a more expensive LMP1 entrant and knock off current heavyweights Audi and Peugeot, not to mention veteran teams like Pescarolo. Nevertheless, that's exactly what Aston intends to do this year according to an announcement from the company released earlier today.

In addition to the company's new GT2 DB9, and GT1-contesting Gulf-liveried DBR9, Aston says they'll fit their class-winning V12 from the DBR9 into Lola's new LMP1 Coupe chassis and go for the gold in 2008. So much for independence being a suggestion of a lesser presence by Aston Martin.

More info plus pics of the Lola coupe and the Aston V12 after the jump.

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