24h Le Mans
The British marque has revealed the new Vantage GT3 destined for the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans via the Heart of Racing and D’station Racing teams.
To take on BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren and Porsche in the new LMGT3 category in the FIA WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Aston Martin Racing has designed a new Vantage GT3. Marco Mattiacci, Aston Martin Global Chief Marque and Commercial Officer: Simultaneously revealing the new Vantage and Vantage GT3 race car underlines Aston Martin’s commitment to building the world’s finest sports car, and then proving its capabilities on-track. It also signals a closer relationship between our road and race programmes, with Aston Martin Racing benefitting from the exceptional pool of talent, experience and knowledge forged in Formula 1 and found throughout Aston Martin Performance Technologies.
The Vantage GT3 is an entirely new version of the now-retired Vantage GTE and GT3 that debuted in 2018. The aluminum chassis is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and is equipped with an all-new aerodynamics package, completely updated suspension and state-of-the-art electronics. Built in compliance with all FIA GT3 category regulations, the new Vantage GT3 is a true global contender headed to the world's most competitive GT series: the FIA WEC, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Fanatec GT World Challenge, the European Le Mans Series and the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport: The GT racing programme will serve as a development lab that will lead to an increasing transfer of knowledge and approach into future Aston Martin road cars.
Aston Martin Racing focused primarily on the car's maneuverability during an extensive development programme late last year that included a 30-hour endurance test with professional (under contract with Aston Martin) and amateur drivers alike. Their verdict? The new Vantage GT3 is well-suited to the demands of top-level GT racing, is lightning-fast and forgiving with a usefully wide set-up window.
Since its arrival on the world stage in 2012, the Aston Martin Vantage has always proven itself a contender for victory. With an outstanding 52 category wins and 11 world titles, the name Vantage is synonymous with success. Now it's up to the new Vantage GT3 to carry on the legacy.
The new Aston Martin Vantage will first take the track in competition at the Qatar 1812 km on 2 March, first round of the 2024 FIA WEC season. In the meantime, take a look at the car in detail in the gallery below.
