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Dynamics

The Vantage Roadster is a high performance sports car. With 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.0 seconds (0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds) and a potential maximum speed of 280 km/h (175 mph) its performance figures are as heady as you would expect of an Aston Martin.

This new V8 has been specifically designed and developed for the Vantage Roadster and Vantage Coupé. Hand assembled at Aston Martin’s purpose-built engine facility in Cologne, Germany, it is a light, compact, all-alloy unit – high performance yet ultra-responsive even at the lower end of the rev range. Its maximum torque is an impressive 410 Nm (302 lb ft) @ 5000 rpm, 75 per cent of which is delivered at just 1500 rpm – barely more than idle – making the Roadster extremely tractable and great fun to drive. Push harder, and that V8 engine revs freely, delivering refined, exhilarating pace.

The flexibility of the engine and the easy-touse controls make everyday town or city driving simple and uncomplicated. Electronic safety controls provide further reassurance. Braking power is awesome, with massive disc brakes – 355 mm diameter at the front, 330 mm at the rear – that are both ventilated and grooved. For the Vantage Roadster, grooving is a better solution than conventional cross-drilling of the discs, as they work more effectively with the brake pads and do not fill with brake pad dust. There’s a choice of two alloy wheel styles – 18 inch or 19 inch in diameter – fitted with specially tuned high-performance tyres.

The fast-shifting, six-speed Graziano manual gearbox, with ratios perfectly matched to the performance of the V8 engine, is joined by Aston Martin’s new Sportshift automated manual transmission. This ultra-quick system provides the driver with Formula 1-style fingertip control of gear changes, using steering wheel-mounted paddles to progress smoothly and swiftly through the ratios.

Design

The Vantage Roadster is a unique and singular design statement that has been styled and engineered to excel from every angle. The fabric hood stows neatly beneath a metal tonneau cover, its lines blending seamlessly into the muscular rear haunches of this powerful car. Driver and passenger are ensconced in leather-lined luxury within a cabin that displays Aston Martin’s celebrated craft and technology skills.

The instrument pack is beautifully crafted from aluminium and has a three-dimensional profile for easy reading. To create a clear, simple design, most of the warning lights are hidden behind the aluminium faces, becoming visible only when illuminated. The central message displays, meanwhile, are organic electroluminescent (OEL) – a process pioneered by Aston Martin – making them easier to read than conventional LCDs. A synthesis of high technology and handcrafted elegance, the interior features an optional pop-up satellite navigation screen, class-leading audio system and Aston Martin’s trademark glass starter button.

Hand-Craftsmanship

The Vantage Roadster is hand-assembled and hand-finished, allowing its designers freedom to produce the perfect form, without the constraints and inflexibility of mass production. Only craftsmen can deliver the design details and level of finish that Aston Martin engineers and designers demand. For instance, the bonnet of the Vantage Roadster has shut lines that travel all the way to the front of the car, without the need for a separate nose cone, creating a cleaner, crisper design.

Engines, too, are individually hand-assembled, just as they always have been at Aston Martin, although now at a dedicated, high-technology facility in Cologne, Germany. There is no rush with hand-assembly; the over-riding concern is always quality. That is why Aston Martins – all Aston Martins – are built by hand, and it is why all the world’s finest luxury goods, from suits to watches, are still hand-made. When low volumes are desirable, and exclusivity is demanded, it is quite simply the best way, a mix of technology and tradition that results in an exclusive, advanced and uniquely desirable sports car.

Usability

The Vantage Roadster is a high-performance sports car, yet the engine is so tractable, the handling so predictable, the visibility so good and the controls so easy to use that it is as comfortable in town or city as it is on country roads or even the track. Combine this with high safety standards providing reassurance whatever the driving conditions, and the Roadster delivers the sensational feel of open-air motoring with ease, making it both a weekday working car and the ultimate weekend treat.

This is a car that will thrill you on the track, yet serve you just as well in town. It’s an exhilarating drive on the world’s most demanding race circuits, yet is quite happy on motorways, in traffic or across country. One of the world’s most inspiring after-hours sports cars, it is nonetheless quite happy labouring from nine to five.

The Vantage Roadster is a compact design with a spacious and beautifully appointed cabin. The large fuel tank and efficient engine mean that long stretches between refuelling are easy: up to 560 km (350 miles) of touring is possible.

Headlamps feature innovative LED (light-emitting diode) indicators and side lights, and optional xenon dipped beam headlights are available. The rear lamps employ 360 LEDs for lights, brakes and indicators. As a result, they illuminate 200 milliseconds faster than conventional brake lights, providing an additional full car length of stopping distance at 100 km/h (62 mph) for the following car. In real-life situations, that kind of detail can be critical, so it is reassuring to know that the Vantage Roadster pays as much attention to safety as it does to performance and handling.

The V12 Vantage will be built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire joining the DBS, DB9 and V8 Vantage model lines which are built in the state-of-the-art production facility combining hi-tech manufacturing processes with traditional hand-craftsmanship. Production will be limited to between just 300-500 examples per year, making the V12 Vantage a truly exclusive driver’s car.

Aston Martin is the only sports car manufacturer to offer a race car for every GT category. The DBR9 has enjoyed year-on-year success all over the world in the GT1 category including class wins at Le Mans two consecutive years running. Customer teams are consistently achieving podium finishes with the DBRS9 in GT3 while 2008 was a test and development year for the newly-launched Vantage GT2. The Vantage N24 achieved GT4 class wins all over Europe since its launch in 2006. Common to both road and race cars is the VH architecture platform upon which the V12 Vantage is based. Consisting of extruded, pressed and cast aluminium alloy, bonded together with aerospace-grade adhesive, the backbone of the car works collaboratively with the powertrain and suspension to create an exceptionally responsive driving experience.

Near-perfect weight distribution is achieved with a transaxle-mounted gearbox which sees 85% of the car’s weight lying between the front and rear axles. Aston Martin engineers have positioned the engine as far back and as low as possible in the car to contribute to the 51:49 weight distribution. Containing the weight within the V12 Vantage’s wheelbase results in a low polar moment of inertia, creating a car which has a natural agility.

The V12 Vantage comes as standard with Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes, providing immense stopping power. Benefitting from carbon fibre’s inherent properties, CCM brakes are not only tougher than conventional cast iron discs but also dissipate heat more rapidly resulting in less fade during sustained dynamic driving. Air ducts positioned within the lower front grille feed air directly onto the discs to aid cooling and optimise braking performance.

The V12 Vantage’s CCM discs are 398 mm in diameter at the front and 360 mm at the rear while the brake callipers feature six pistons at the front, four at the rear and have a larger brushwood pad area compared to the V8 Vantage. The CCM brakes are some 12.5 kg lighter than conventional brakes reducing not only the overall weight of the car but also the unsprung mass specifically. This benefits ride and handling and lower rotational mass helps improve acceleration.

The interior of the V12 Vantage provides the ideal environment as antidote to the focused driver to extract the very best from every element of the car. The extensive use of high quality materials with exceptional attention to detail placed throughout the cabin results in an unparalleled level of finish. The instrument cluster has been revised with even clearer dials to allow the driver to completely focus on the information being relayed from the car. The door pulls are made from beautifully-prepared carbon fibre where even the carbon weave has been meticulously aligned – a sign of exceptional craftsmanship. Additional light weight materials in the form of Alcantara are used to save valuable weight throughout the cabin. The unique ambience of the V12 Vantage interior beautifully marries the functional requirements of a driver-focussed sports car with the comfort of an everyday practical car.

The V12 Vantage subtly hints at its sporting intent with its controlled aggression and lower, purposeful stance. It is manufactured at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire where all Aston Martins benefit from class leading levels of craftsmanship fused with cutting-edge technology.

Avoiding purely cosmetic changes, each modified panel on the V12 Vantage has been altered to enhance the vehicle’s dynamics. Knowledge gained from the N24 race car programme has led to body revisions designed to improve downforce while not increasing the drag coefficient of the car. Each form follows its functional requirements, while also contributing to stunning design – a revised front splitter channels cooling air to the brakes and to the radiator while also producing increased down force. Bonnet louvres remove heat from the engine bay and help increase front-end downward force by limiting the built up air pressure under the bonnet. New side sills derived from the N24 race car channel air towards the rear of the car rather than under it, reducing rear-end lift. A more pronounced boot ‘flip’ and the new rear carbon fibre diffuser work in harmony with a redesigned rear under floor to channel air through the new high-capacity oil cooler and maintain an area of low pressure under the rear of the car producing increased down validity and aiding grip.

Complementing the taught exterior, the V12 Vantage’s interior hints at the car’s dynamic capabilities. The optional carbon fibre and Kevlar® composite seats cosset the driver providing support during spirited driving while remaining comfortable on long journeys. Saving 17 kg per car, the seats which are manufactured by a supplier to the motorsport and aviation industries are hand-trimmed by craftsmen at the Gaydon production facility.

The Aston Martin DB9 is available as either Coupe or Volante (convertible) with rear mid-mounted six-speed manual gearbox as standard or optional ‘Touchtronic 2′ six-speed automatic transmission. Production of the revised DB9 is already underway, with deliveries commencing in July. Prices start from £122,445 for the DB9 Coupe and £131,445 for the DB9 Volante.

The introduction of the DB9 marked the beginning of Aston Martin’s 21st Century renaissance. The first new model to be built at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, and the first to be built around Aston Martin’s rigid, lightweight, bonded aluminium VH architecture; the DB9 was an immediate and unparalleled success, setting a new tone for Aston Martins of the future.

Since its launch in 2003 some 12,500 DB9s have been produced and delivered to customers in 34 countries. This establishes it as the most successful Aston Martin model of all-time (jointly with the V8 Vantage), surpassing total sales of the DB7. Current DB9 production volume is around 1,500 cars per year.

In this latest package of improvements for DB9, hardware changes focus on the chassis, featuring a standard Adaptive Damping System (ADS) which offers a system constantly evaluating the optimum damper condition, similar to that seen on the DBS and Rapide models. Controlled by a button on the centre console, the two-stage adaptive dampers can be switched between their default mode, which is optimised for ride comfort, and a firmer sport mode, which delivers tighter body control and a more responsive feel. Such is the success of the DB9′s new damping system that the DB9 Sport Pack upgrade has now been discontinued. However a Sport design alloy wheel is available as an option.

Performance comes courtesy of Aston Martin’s celebrated 6.0-litre V12 engine, which develops an unchanged 470bhp and 442lb ft of torque. Mated to a choice of six-speed ‘Touchtronic’ paddle-shift automatic or six-speed H-pattern manual transmissions, the DB9 offers an intoxicating blend of effortless pace and sporting character. A top speed of 190mph and the ability to hit 60mph in just 4.6sec seal its credentials as the definitive 2+2 Grand Tourer.

Mirroring the DB9′s road-going success, Aston Martin Racing’s DBR9 and DBRS9 endurance racers have proved hugely successful on racetracks around the world. With a total of some 20 DBR9 and 30 DBRS9s built and delivered to customer teams around the world, Aston Martins have consistently scored victories in a host of national and international championships.

Since winning on its race debut, at Sebring in 2005, the DBR9 has been established as a constant and hugely competitive car in the GT1 category, scoring back-to-back class victories at the greatest 24-hour race of them all – Le Mans – in 2007 and 2008.

Improving upon what many consider to be one of the most beautiful cars in the world is a delicate exercise. According to Aston Martin’s Director of Design, Marek Reichman, subtlety and fine attention to detail is the key: ‘The beauty of an Aston Martin comes from harmonious proportions, a ground-hugging stance, taut surfacing and a complete and thorough attention to detail. The DB9 epitomises these qualities; it is beautiful but subtle – not attention seeking.’

At the front a new bumper is the main change, with a re-shaped lower intake featuring hexagonal mesh to compliment the new bright finish radiator grille. New headlamp bezels complete the fresh nose treatment. In profile the DB9′s sill has also been changed, with a more prominent ‘hockey stick’ curve ahead of the rear wheels. Marek Reichman explains: ‘The DB9 remains one of the world’s most beautiful sports cars and is instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin; the changes we have introduced here modernise the DB9 to keep it at the forefront of automotive design.’

Other changes include silver brake calipers, 20-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels as standard, together with new design option wheels and a bright finish grille. Clear rear light lenses are also standard. Inside Double Apex alloy finish is now added to the list of options, along with the exceptional BeoSound audio system from Bang & Olufsen.

The Vantage N420 draws inspiration from the company’s experiences at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. In the 2006 running of the annual Nürburgring endurance classic amongst a field of mostly motorsport homologated cars, Aston Martin entered a near-standard, road-registered V8 Vantage. Driven by a team of employees, including Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, the V8 Vantage – named ‘Rose’ by the team – finished 4th in class and 24th overall from a field of more than 200 specialised racing cars.

Since then Aston Martin has returned every year to compete in this gruelling endurance race, scoring a string of class victories and podiums with road-registered V8 and V12 Vantages and most recently the new four-door Rapide. Not only has this racing success spawned a burgeoning V8 Vantage GT4 customer programme run by Aston Martin Racing, but lessons learned in racing at the Nürburgring has led to aerodynamic and other performance developments being fed back into Aston Martin’s road cars.

A generous standard specification and some unique options ensure the special edition Vantage N420 is both exclusive and distinctive, while also offering a 27kg weight saving – achieved through the application of carbon fibre – over the standard V8 Vantage.

On the outside, wider sills combine perfectly with a carbon fibre splitter, side strakes and diffuser, while bold 10-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels complete with gloss black finish, black mesh vents and ‘Graphitic’ tailpipe finishers complete the co-ordinated look.

Inside the Vantage N420 offers an Iridium interior package, with graphite instruments, leather or Alcantara steering wheel, special N420 sill plaques and lightweight carbon fibre seats, complete with ‘Race Track’ stitching as in the V12 Vantage. Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and Park Distance Control are also standard.

Cementing the Vantage N420′s credentials as a special edition V8 Vantage tailored for the most discerning and enthusiastic drivers, it is fitted with the normally optional Sports Pack.

This package combines revised springs, dampers and anti-roll bars for even more responsive and dynamic handling, while retaining the V8 Vantage’s renowned poise, balance and long distance ability. Finally, a new sports exhaust system delivers a suitably rousing soundtrack.

A further distinctive feature is the availability of a new range of optional Aston Martin ‘Race Collection’ paint schemes. Pairing bold body colours with contrasting hues for the cant rails and radiator grille surround, they celebrate the marque’s racing heritage. All of the company’s successful N24 Vantage racers are celebrated, with ‘Rose’ yellow, ‘Kermit’ green and ‘Elwood’ blue all featuring in the collection along with traditional Aston Martin Racing green. The white and black car shown in the accompanying images wears the equally striking ‘Asia Cup’ livery.

Production of the V8 Vantage N420 begins this month, with deliveries commencing in August and prices starting from £96,995.

The Vantage GT4 has been under development for six months and was unveiled in Dubai this week by Aston Martin chairman, David Richards, and tested extensively at the Dubai Autodrome.

The car is an evolution of the N24 with the larger capacity engine being more responsive with increased torque throughout the rev range. The suspension has also been retuned to enhance the handling, including modified front uprights to give increased camber. The 2009 Vantage GT4 also has larger front brake discs with revised cooling.

‘In the last two years, the N24 has proved to be one of the most successful cars in its class; winning the Nurburgring 24 Hours this year, as well as several FIA GT4 races,’ said David Richards. ‘We have built on this success to develop the Vantage GT4, a competitive racing car for professional and semi-professional drivers, but also a forgiving car which will appeal to enthusiasts who wish to use it for track days and club racing.’

The Vantage GT4 is built to FIA GT4 regulations and is eligible to compete in the following series: FIA GT4 European Cup; British GT4 Championship; Britcar Endurance Series; German GT4 Championship; Dutch Supercar Challenge; Dutch GT4 Championship; VLN Endurance Championship at the Nurburgring; Australian Endurance Championship; the American SCCA Championship; and the Aston Martin Owners Club Race Series.

The Vantage GT4 comes with either a manual transmission or sportshift transmission. It is priced from £96,645 and is available to order now with delivery in January 2009.

Aston Martin Racing is now the only manufacturer to produce cars in each of the GT classes: GT1, GT2, GT3 and GT4.

The GT4 is based on the latest 4.7 litre V8 Vantage and is hand built by Aston Martin Racing.

The 4.7 litre eight cylinder engine has an engine management system recalibrated for race use. It also has a free flow exhaust system and air filters, and the standard V8 dry sump lubrication system is retained, helping to prevent oil surge during cornering.

The Vantage GT4 can be supplied with either a six speed manual, or a Sportshift transmission with paddle controls. Both versions have a Valeo twin-plate cerametallic racing clutch and lightweight flywheel to complete the powertrain specification.

At 1,330 kg the Vantage GT4 is 300 kg lighter than the standard car. This has been achieved through a range of weight reduction measures. The interior trim is removed with the exception of the facia moulding, which is re-trimmed in Alcantara, and the console and door casings are replaced by new lightweight mouldings.

The chassis has been fitted with a high-strength steel rollcage and Recaro competition seats. A suede-trimmed steering wheel with a quick release mechanism is also fitted as standard. The Vantage GT4′s safety features are completed with a Sabelt sixpoint safety harness with a push-button release and Lifeline Zero 360 gas extinguisher system.

The V8 Vantage road car’s suspension has required only minor adjustments for optimal track performance. These include larger diameter front and rear anti-roll bars and adjustable ride height aluminium dampers, as well as single rate, flat ground springs with separate helper springs. The front subframe is modified for extra camber and castor. Cast magnesium front and rear wheels are standard fit with high performance Yokohama A048-R tyres. The brakes are uprated with Pagid RS 29 race pads.

As further endorsement of the standard V8 Vantage underframe, the active safety systems are directly carried over to the Vantage GT4, including: dynamic stability control, traction control, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution, providing reassurance and enhanced control in slippery conditions.

Aston Martin will present a One-77 technical showcase at the Geneva Auto Salon on 3 March 2009. Chassis no.1 will be on display as an exposé throughout the show detailing the quintessence of Aston Martin engineering and design expertise.

The One-77 is Aston Martin’s definitive sports car, one that epitomises everything Aston Martin from technology, the hand-craftsmanship of the hand rolled aluminium panels to the attention to detail. A culmination of all the marque’s know-how, the One-77 delivers effortless beauty guaranteed to stir the senses with performance potential eclipsing any previous Aston Martin.

With the performance and durability phase of the One-77′s intensive development programme soon to commence, the 79th Geneva Auto Salon provides the perfect stage on which to reveal the remarkable engineering, advanced technology and exotic materials that lie beneath the One-77′s extraordinary exterior.

For Aston Martin’s Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, revealing the One-77′s secrets is a proud moment: ‘Right from the very beginning of the project the vision for One-77 was very simple: It had to combine high-technology with hand-built craftsmanship, and demonstrate the unique capabilities and passion of our designers, engineers and technical partners.

‘Quite simply it had to be the ultimate expression of Aston Martin. As you can now see, we have achieved that goal in magnificent style.’

Chris Porritt, One-77 Programme Manager continued: ‘We wanted to create something that wows you as much when you see what’s under the skin as the exterior styling itself. We started by identifying the most technologically exciting front-engined, rear-wheel drive cars in the world: those from the DTM race series. We then applied the principles and technology that feature heavily in their design and translated it to a road car application.’

Consequently the One-77′s structural core is a lightweight and immensely rigid carbon fibre monocoque. Conceived and designed at Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ, the monocoque, or ‘tub’, has been built in partnership with Multimatic (MTC). As world leaders in carbon composite technology, advanced vehicle analysis and dynamic simulation, MTC brings unrivalled specialist capabilities to the exacting challenge of the One-77 programme.

While functionality and efficiency are paramount in the design and construction of the One-77′, so too is aesthetic beauty. To this end every single component has been crafted from the finest materials with absolute attention to detail. From the mesmerising weave of the glossy carbon fibre tub and the abstract, sculptural beauty of the dry sump’s oil reservoir, to the unerring precision of the billet machined aluminium suspension mounts, the One-77′s rolling chassis is an automotive masterpiece.

Of course the irony is that the vast majority of these exquisite components will be hidden from view in the finished car, yet each and every piece is a work of art in its own right. It’s this extraordinary workmanship and money-no-object commitment to quality that makes the One-77 unique.

Naturally, such a spectacular chassis demands – and gets – an equally exceptional drivetrain. It comes in the form of an immensely potent 7.3-litre, naturally aspirated V12 engine. Thanks to the adoption of a dry-sump oil system the engine is mounted 100mm lower than in any previous V12-engined Aston Martin road car, which helps keep the One-77′s centre-of-gravity as low as possible. To further aid agility and endow the One-77 with progressive handling and stable, predictable on-limit behaviour, the engine is also mounted 257mm aft relative to the front wheel centreline. In so doing the front-mid-engined layout shared by all of Aston Martin’s current road car range has been taken to a new level.

The One-77′s magnificent power unit is an extreme evolution of the 6.0-litre V12 engines fitted to the DBS, DB9 and new V12 Vantage models. Like the collaboration with MTC for the build of the chassis, Aston Martin has chosen a world-leading partner with which to develop the motor: legendary engine builders, Cosworth. It has proved to be the perfect collaboration, as Chris Porritt explains.

The One-77 is currently undergoing a stringent development process ahead of planned launch in 2010 with high speed testing taking place at a top secret proving ground in southern Europe. In a series of test runs completed last week the One-77 exceeded original expectations and recorded a 220.007mph (354.86kmh) top speed in dry but windy conditions under the guidance of the Aston Martin engineering team. Dynamic testing is now scheduled to continue into the New Year.

Powered by a new Aston Martin 7.3 litre V12 engine, the One-77 is engineered to deliver breathtaking levels of power and performance. The dramatically styled two-door, two-seat sports coupe is based on an innovative new carbon fibre monocoque body structure and adopts new active aerodynamic technology.

The One-77 is the ultimate expression of what Aston Martin stands for and will combine modern technology and design with craftsmanship and ultimate exclusivity to create the world’s most desirable automotive art form.

As name suggests, production is limited up to a maximum of 77 individually numbered examples, with deliveries expected to commence in mid-2010.

In an ambitious attempt to emulate the legendary achievements of the 1959 DBR1 driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori, Aston Martin will endeavour to bring the Le Mans title back to Britain.

’2009 is a hugely significant year for Aston Martin at Le Mans and the challenge of reclaiming victory in this famous race for Aston Martin and Great Britain was simply too great to ignore,’ said Aston Martin Chairman, David Richards. ‘However, we do not underestimate the task. While we have won the GT1 class for the last two years, competing against the proven speed and endurance of the diesel-powered cars with all their years of winning the prototype class, will be a massive undertaking. Nonetheless, I see this as a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity of British engineering talent.’

Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer commented: ‘Racing has been, and still is at the heart of Aston Martin. Our cars today are subtle, elegant and handcrafted but they still have the genes for competition. I am happy that we have found partners who, with their support, will enable us to compete at the highest level of endurance racing. We will put all our heart and skill behind this project to demonstrate the essence of Aston Martin: Power Beauty and Soul.’

Aston Martin Racing is developing the car in conjunction with Lola, Michelin, Koni and BBS and continues its relationship with major partner Gulf Oil and official clothing partner Hackett. In 2009, the ACO is introducing new regulations aimed at balancing the performance of petrol and diesel engined prototypes making the LMP1 category more appealing and relevant to Aston Martin.

Signalling ongoing commitment to motorsport, in addition to the Le Mans 24 hour race, the team will also compete throughout the year in the Le Mans Series (LMS), which opens with the 1000 km de Catalunya on the 5th of April.

Aston Martin Racing Works drivers, Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas Enge (CZ), and Stefan Mücke (DE), who raced the Charouz car last year will renew their relationship with the team along with Darren Turner (GB) who was part of the winning DBR9 GT1 crew in 2007 and 2008. Harold Primat (CH) joins the team for the first time in 2009 with the remaining driver to be announced imminently.

To focus maximum energy on the LMP1 programme, the Works team will not defend its GT1 title at Le Mans. However, Aston Martin Racing will support any of its official partner teams and customers competing at the race.

Aston Martin Racing partner, Drayson Racing, has expressed its desire to compete at Le Mans with the new Vantage GT2. This follows confirmation of the team’s LMS entry and American Le Mans Series programme with a bio-ethanol powered Vantage GT2. Further announcements are expected in the weeks ahead as other Aston Martin Racing partner teams and customers confirm their plans for racing in the GT1, GT2, GT3 and GT4 classes of national and international racing series.

It has become evident that Lola sportscars are the design to have in global endurance competition. This season Lola will build on the success of 2008, which saw the Lola LMP1 Coupe score notable results at the Barcelona 1000kms with a debut podium finish, as well as an excellent 2nd place at the Silverstone Le Mans Series race. At the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Charouz entered Lola out-qualified one of the Audi R10 diesel entries and then went on to set the fastest lap of the race for a petrol engined car.

2009 will be a bumper year for Lola in all categories of endurance sportscar racing. Last year the Le Mans 24 Hours saw the Huntingdon constructor field the most cars on the grid. It was the largest entry for Lola since 1979. For this season Lola has high hopes that this particular record can be beaten with yet more LMP cars starting the world’s greatest race.