Aston Martin taking on the Nürburgring 24-Hour enduro in V12 Vantage
Aston Martin V12 Vantage - Click above for a high-res image
Aston Martin is returning to the grid for the 37th ADAC Nürburgring 24-hour race, and joining "Rose" – the yellow V8 Vantage that's clocked over 20,000 miles on the track and campaigned in every enduro since 2006 – will be Aston's latest model, the V12 Vantage.
According to Aston, the Nordschleife-bound V12 didn't need much in the way of modifications to make it ready for race day. The Vantage underwent a weight reduction program primarily comprised of ditching its luxurious interior in favor of a full roll cage and the required safety equipment, along with a re-tuned suspension and Pirelli P Zero Circuit Racing slicks. Otherwise, the 510-hp V12 powerplant remains unchanged and the bodywork is the same as the production model due to go on sale later this year.
This will be AM's fourth consecutive campaign at the Nürburgring, and joining some of the company's engineering team behind the wheel will be Aston Martin's CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez. The race gets underway on May 23, and if you want more information about the race, you can check out the ADAC website and Aston's press release below the fold.
PRESS RELEASE
ASTON MARTIN RETURNS TO NÜRBURGRING 24-HOUR RACE WITH NEW V12 VANTAGE
Gaydon, Warwickshire 24 April 2009. Aston Martin will return to the starting grid of the legendary Nordschleife for the fourth consecutive year at the 37th ADAC Nürburgring 24-hour race on 23/24 May 2009 with the new V12 Vantage. Joining the marque's latest model will be 'Rose', the yellow V8 Vantage that was first entered into the race in 2006.
Headlining this year's factory effort and aiming to repeat Aston Martin's untarnished record of finishing the 24-hour race, will be the marque's new V12 Vantage in near-standard specification driven by Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez and representatives from the company's engineering team. Premiered at the Geneva Auto Salon in early March, the V12 Vantage is the ultimate incarnation of the Vantage range featuring a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (517 PS) and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque. With just minor modifications, the standard car is being readied to compete in the most demanding of endurance races.
Dr Ulrich Bez who will be driving in his fourth consecutive 24-hour race, said: "This is the final engineering durability test for the V12 Vantage programme. We will be subjecting the car to the toughest assessment yet under public scrutiny as we successfully did with the Vantage N24 programme.
"We already have a proven track record at the Nürburgring racing our road cars with limited modification and in 2009 we also celebrate our 50-year anniversary of winning the ADAC Nürburgring 1000 km with a DBR1."
The V12 Vantage race car will be close to production standardwith only essential safety modifications, reduced weight and re-tuned suspension with no additional aerodynamic enhancements. Production tyre partner Pirelli has specially selected P Zero Circuit Racing slick tyres to enhance performance, ensuring consistency and to provide a tangible performance link to the V12 Vantage road car.
Aston Martin is expecting a number of customer teams to join the V12 Vantage on the starting grid. 'Rose', the yellow V8 Vantage and original inspiration behind the N24/GT4 programme will also be making a return to the Nordschleife having now clocked up four 24-hour race finishes and more than 20,000 endurance miles.
Aston Martin's Head of Motorsport, David King said: "The Vantage N24/GT4 programme has been a huge success to date. Since its inception in 2006, no standard N24 from the factory or customer team has failed to finish a 24-hour endurance race in 13 starts around the world – a remarkable testament to the durability of the Vantage."
The 37th ADAC Nürburgring 24 hour race will take place on 23/24 May 2009.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zamafir 4:43PM (4/24/2009)
hrm. maybe they'll actually place above a vw hatchback this time with the V12? Who am I kidding, it'll just be fun to watch the R8 beat it, proving what’s quite clear on paper will hold on the ring as well.
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F-22 5:01PM (4/24/2009)
And then the V12 Vantage comes back home with...well, that V12 sound and the R8 will be...just another Audi...
Mike 4:49PM (4/24/2009)
That is one great looking car!!! So is the R8. Does any one know what they manage to get the weight down too.
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zamafir 5:11PM (4/24/2009)
3,537lbs, a hair lighter than the V8, yet still slower to sixty than an R8 which I'm having difficulty understanding as the R8 V10 should bog down at launch, and the Aston has more power and is lighter.
Arthur 6:37PM (4/24/2009)
@zamafir
If the car doesn't have AWD, that would explain the lower 0-60 time. AM may consider it not worth the weight tradeoff to make the car AWD. The V12 is there for the increased acceleration at higher speed, not for the acceleration in the 0-60 range.
MikeofLA 4:59PM (4/24/2009)
V12 + Sexy Aston - Weight = *droool*
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JDMlover 5:07PM (4/24/2009)
Sweet.
this should be a good race...givin all the cars....this sexy beast, the lf-a, r8...the list goes on.
What channel will this event air on?
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Arthur 6:40PM (4/24/2009)
I wonder if it's possible to turbo this thing. 510hp just doesn't cut it. ;)
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hashiryu 7:10PM (4/24/2009)
hmmmmmmm
R8 vs AMV12 vs LF-A ........
I am officially tuning in for this race....
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alex 7:31PM (4/24/2009)
To compare the two is ridiculous. I've driven the R8 a lot, the Vantage a little more and there is absolutely no competition between the two. The Vantage is better all day long. Just another Audi is stating the R8 best.
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BoxerFanatic 12:28AM (4/25/2009)
I kind of wish the R8 would have gotten a compact-ish V12 than a V10.
The V10 is amazing... but it is a little hard to wrap one's mind around the firing order of an engine with a multiple of 5 cylinders with 4-strokes and 360 (divisible easily by three or four) degrees.
V12s have perfect primary and secondary balance, too. And aside from a non-offset crank flat 6, or an inline 6, is one of the smoothest engine designs for four-stroke piston engines.
The V12 being shoe-horned into the Vantage is fantastic, and a classic formula of a big honking engine with many pistons, in the smallest car in the lineup (the whole lineup being sexy as hell), driving the rear wheels, everything else be damned.
It depends if you want classic front-engined british wit and brashness, or german mid-engined no-fuss efficiency and quiet competence, and less character emphasis, such as the R8. It still looks fantastic, but not quite as passionate, but more technical.
Toyota has neither, that I can tell. They just want to crash the party.