Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman will take the wheel of a custom Vantage GT4 to race at the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain. Reichman has been racing before but usually only vintage club racing. This will be the first time he enters a more “demanding” series although Chris Porritt, the engineering manager for Aston Martin, will be accompanying him with his driving duties.
Porritt has driven the Vantage GT4 in the past, but most of his experience has been at the Nurburgring. For both these drivers, the competition will be tight. With that said, the custom Vantage GT4 is not a bad looking car either. The series is said to start at Oulton Park on Saturday, August 21.
]]>ASTON MARTIN DESIGN DIRECTOR TO MAKE VANTAGE GT4 RACING DEBUT
11/08/10
Gaydon, 11 August 2010.Aston Martin’s Design Director, Marek Reichman is to embark on his maiden race in a Vantage GT4 competing in the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain at Oulton Park on Saturday 21 August.
Marek, who is a keen motorsport enthusiast and regular competitor in historic club racing, will share driving duties with Aston Martin Engineering Manager, Chris Porritt; himself an experienced GT4 racer for the 90-minute race on the notoriously challenging Cheshire circuit later this month.Speaking ahead of the race, Marek said: “The design team has been closely involved in the design of all our race cars, from the works LMP1 prototype to the Vantage GT4, but I’ve always longed to get even more closely involved and the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge provides the perfect introduction to GT4 racing for me.”
The Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain is a one make series exclusively for owners of the Vantage GT4 and the Vantage N24. The races are between 90 and 150 minutes in length with practice, qualifying and the race all in the same day. The series is the perfect opportunity for owners of Aston Martin racing cars to compete on a level playing field on some of the very best racing circuits with the full support of the factory.
Marek’s co-driver, Chris Porritt, added: “Most of my GT4 experience with Aston Martin has been at the Nürburgring, but Oulton Park is my home track and while I’ve raced my own cars there many times, I’ve never had the opportunity in an Aston Martin. The standard of racing in the series so far has been extremely high so Marek and I will have our work cut out to keep up with the front runners.”
The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 is a production-based race car eligible for all FIA GT4 races as well as other race series around the world. 2010 successes to date include class wins in the Dubai, Nürburgring and Spa 24 Hours, numerous class wins in the Nürburgring VLN endurance series and four wins out of six in the FIA GT4 European Cup.
Aston Martin’s Head of Motorsport, David King commented: “The Aston Martin Vantage N24/GT4 has been the outstanding performer in GT4 and other classes around the world since 2006. Whether in 24 hour races or short sprints, its performance, reliability and ease of handling deliver class wins and podiums time after time.
“The Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain, in its first year, is providing a focal point for our customers to make a first step into GT4 racing with high quality events on challenging circuits with comprehensive organisation and technical support from Aston Martin Racing.”
Back in 2007 Aston Martin released a special edition Vantage called the N400 to commemorate the success of the Vantage N24 racer at the Nurburgring. The N400 was an upgrade that gave the Vantage 400 horsepower, a series of suspension tweaks, and some special cosmetic touches. Only 240 were produced and easily sold out. Now its back.
The N420 consists of similar improvements as the N400 in the areas of power, looks, and suspension. The power is bumped up to 420 horsepower. An optional Sports Pack to the Vantage now comes standard in the N420. For the appearance, a new front splitter, side skirts, and diffuser are made of carbon fiber, unique rims are fitted along with black mesh grille inserts, and 27 kilograms (60 pounds) have been trimmed from the curb weight. A few interior changes have also been made and buyers can choose from a range of “race collection” paint schemes.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 will be sold in coupe or roadster format and available with either six-speed manual or Sportshift semi-automatic transmissions. You can pick one of these up in the US for only $119,500. The Press Release is below.
]]>ASTON MARTIN INTRODUCES V8 VANTAGE N420
* New Special Edition, motorsport-inspired V8 Vantage
* Standard equipment includes Sports Pack suspension and new sports exhaust system
* 27kg weight saving over standard car
* New distinctive Aston Martin ‘Race Collection’ paint schemes available as an option6 July 2010, Gaydon, Warwickshire: Aston Martin has unveiled a new motorsport-inspired special edition; the V8 Vantage N420 which brings a new dimension of sporting prowess and dynamic ability to the V8 Vantage range.
Successor to the special edition V8 Vantage N400 of 2007, the Vantage N420 is based upon the standard 4.7-litre, 420bhp, 180mph V8 Vantage and is available as a Coupe or Roadster, and with a six-speed manual or optional Sportshift automated manual transmission.
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.
]]>(from Barracuda Wheels Press Release) The gentleman in sports shoes: BARRACUDA TZUNAMEE for the Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin – a brand as typically English as afternoon tea, or horse racing at Ascot. The small model of the classic English brand, the V8 powered Vantage, is entering into a stylistically dynamic liaison with the TZUNAMEE rim, produced by the innovative wheel manufacturer BARRACUDA WHEELS from Stein am Rhein. The front axle is adorned with 9.0 x 20 inch light alloy rims, while 10.0 x 20 inch rims are mounted on the rear drive axle.
With its striking drop centre and secondary spokes, which enable a lightweight design with high static strength, the TZUNAMEE wheel has an extremely aggressive look. It imparts breathtaking design and lightweight athleticism – precisely the attributes that characterise Aston Martin.
The matte black/polished, highly polished surface suits the V8 Vantage, painted in classic green, especially well. In addition, the wheel is available in sizes from 7.5 x 17 to 10 x 20 inches, and in the following colour schemes: Higloss black, real chrome, and white polished.
More information available online at www.barracuda-wheels.com
All other information, and price and delivery information, available directly from:
Aerotechnik Fahrzeugteile AG
Hofwisenstrasse 17
CH-8260 Stein am Rhein
Tel.: +41 52 742 00 55
Fax: +41 52 742 00 59
www.aerotechnik.ch
Looks like Aston’s going to avoid the Porsche path and not release an SUV. The Lagonda concept premiered in Geneva earlier this year to poor reviews. Add to that the hard downturn in company revenue and you have a formula prevent “branching out.” Aston CEO Ulrich Bez confirmed the Lagonda plan was on an indefinite hold, with insufficient funds and interest in building the sport-ute.
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