New Aston Martin Vantage GT4 racecar
While a select group of the world’s rich and famous are looking forward to delivery of their custom Aston Martin One-77, race teams can now look forward to purchasing the new Aston Martin Vantage GT4 racecar, based on the new 4.7 liter V8 Vantage. This model succeeds the previous 4.3L Vantage N24 car.
The new Aston Martin Vantage GT4 is built to FIA GT4 specs and can compete in the following races: the 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.
Other than the obviously larger engine, the car also gets larger front brake discs with revised cooling design and modified front uprights to give increased camber. The larger 4.7 liter V8 engine has had its ECU tuned for race use, and gets a free-flow exhaust system to let the V8 breathe and exhale without restriction. As the standard engine already has a dry-sump lubrication system to prevent oil surge during sideways motions, that is retained. Either a 6-speed manual or a Sportshift transmission can be specified.
At 1,330kg, the GT4 car is about 300 kilos lighter than the standard car, thanks to a range of weight reduction procedures which include stripping the interior bare of trim except for the fascia mounting which is rewrapped with Alcantara. The door and console casings have been replaced with new lightweight mouldings. Further race preparation include a high-strength steel rollcage, a Sabelt 6-point safety harness with a push-button release, a Lifeline Zero 360 gas fire extinguisher, and Recaro competition seats.
Also, all active safety systems are carried over from the road car – dynamic stability control, traction control, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution, so that should help to keep the car out of trouble though like the road car, you can switch some of them off.
More images of the car available after the jump.
November 15, 2008 @ 12:48 am
Nice car…but what does it have to do with our msian motor industry?
November 15, 2008 @ 1:25 am
nice version of an already nice car.
red lips…..mm mm.
November 15, 2008 @ 11:02 am
it have all to do with car enthusiasm =)
November 15, 2008 @ 11:20 am
a jaguar xkr is cheaper and better
November 15, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
InsaneClown, in case if you’re a newbie here, this blog covers the global auto industry.
The car looks nice, except for the red “lipstick” stripe surrounding the grille. It really looks like a clown! Now this is what I called InsaneClown.. LoL.
Last time the green Aston Martin race car with the same type of “lipstick” stripe (but in yellow color) also looked bad.
November 15, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
that’s a GT4 racecar? it looks so tame!
November 16, 2008 @ 10:28 am
is this a real race car or a road car which looks like a race car
November 16, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
aston really HAVE THE looks OF a future car !!!!
November 16, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
saw the db7 today, look so no class
November 17, 2008 @ 7:39 am
I think this is a real GT4 racecar, mind that this class is pretty much entry level to GT Racing and there’s not much aero mods are allowed to be made.
Interestingly in this category, you get the chance to see GTs battling out with open top lightweight specials like KTM Xbow, Lotus 2 Eleven & Donkervoort D8GT.
November 19, 2008 @ 10:15 am
ariel atom and caterham will slice them all up