Photo : Pascal Saivet - P.SAIVET/VSC Pictures

In this fourth and final part of the introduction to the GT that will contest the FIA World Endurance Championship, ​​is devoted to the Aston Martin Vantage, which hopes to join in the struggle for victory in LM GTE Pro with Ferrari and Porsche.

The road version. The name 'Vantage' was used for the first time on an Aston Martin in the early fifties, and was applied to improved versions of other models. Vantage as a distinct car was launched with the V8 Vantage in 1977. The current version was introduced in 2005, and has the silhouette of the DB9, whom it succeeded in endurance racing in 2010.

The 2011 season. The only GT representative of Aston Martin in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 2011, the Gulf AMR Middle East team, based in the UAE, was sixth in the teams ranking in LM GTE Am. In 2012, this team moves into prototypes (LM P2), with two Lola coupes powered by Nissan.

Outlook 2012. After the failure of its AMR-One prototype, Aston Martin Racing is back this year in GT (LM GTE Pro). The rich history of the British factory team, which won two consecutive victories in the former LM GT1 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2007 and 2008 with the DBR9, should mean it will be competitive.

Click HERE to see the entry list for the World Endurance Championship of the FIA ​​and Le Mans 24 Hours 2012.

In the video below: pre-grid preparations for the Aston Martin Vantage of Gulf AMR Middle East in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2011.

Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, FRANCE), 24 HEURES DU MANS, WARM-UP, 11 JUNE 2011. Driven by Fabien Giroix, Roald Goethe and Michael Wainwright, the Aston Martin of Gulf AMR Middle East wore the colours of Gulf Oil, who won the 24 Hours in 1968, 69 and 75. Blue and orange will also be on-show in 2012 on the factory Aston Martin Racing Vantage.