Aston Martin Racing launches one-make Vantage GT4 series in UK

Noah Joseph — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Europe, Aston Martin, UK, Racing

Aston Martin Vantage GT4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Single-make customer racing series are an engaging experience for exotic sportscar-makers and their customers. Ferrari's Challenge series dates back to the 348 (succeeded since by the 355, 360 and 430, soon to be replaced by the 458). Porsche's Supercup series has been at it since the early '90s and Lamborghini launched its own Super Trofeo championship just a couple of years ago. Even Maserati's getting in on the game with its new GranTurismo MC. But despite its extensive competition in the various Le Mans Series around the world, Aston Martin has been decidedly absent from the spec-racing scene, the one exception being the company's Asia Cup that started in 2008. But that's all about to change.

To give the broad base of customers who already own race-spec Vantages a chance to get back on track against equal machinery, Aston is launching its own British GT4 Challenge. The series is open to the Vantage GT4 and N24, and will run this year at five tracks across the UK (including Silverstone) plus one at Belgium's famous Spa Francorchamps.

GT4-spec Vantage owners pony up a reasonable £12,950 (about twenty grand American) for the season, which includes hospitality, driving suits and full paddock support from Aston Martin Racing. Fuel and tires are extra, but Aston's trackside support will be so extensive that they'll even install a replacement engine on the spot in case you blow yours out. The 4.3-liter N24 owners feeling underpowered can also upgrade to the GT4's 4.7-liter engine to keep pace.

While the winner of the existing Asia Cup earn a fully-sponsored season in the FIA GT4 Championship, the British champion gets a crack at test driving either the Vantage GT2 or DBRS9 GT3. Now all we need is for Aston to launch a series in North America and we'll be set.

Gallery: Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4

Gallery: Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24

[Source: PistonHeads]

Aston Martin Racing launches one-make Vantage GT4 series in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Racing reveals new Vantage GT4 to replace N24

John Neff — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin

Click above for high-res gallery of the Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4

At the Dubai Autodrome this week, Aston Martin revealed the car that will replace the Vantage N24, which has raced successfully in the FIA GT4 class and endurance events like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring for the past two years. Named the Vantage GT4, the new racer will employ a racing version of the production car's 4.7L V8 in place of the N24's slightly smaller 4.3L V8. Other race-bred modifications include a free-flow exhaust system, dry sump lubrication and new engine management software calibrated for racing. The new GT4 is hand-built by Aston Martin and can be ordered by race teams from the factory with a six-speed manual transmission or Sportshift tranny with paddle shifters. The production car's interior gets gutted and replaced with a molding of the dash that's covered in Alcantara suede (which also covers the steering wheel), a steel roll cage and Recaro competition seats. The suspension has been beefed up for race duty and the wheels are now cast magnesium wrapped in Yokohama race rubber, but Aston has carried over all of the production car's active safety systems like stability control, traction control and ABS. If you're a gentleman racer, you can order the new Vantage GT4 from the factory for £96,645 and have it ready to race by this January.

Gallery: Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4

[Source: Aston Martin Racing]

Continue reading Aston Martin Racing reveals new Vantage GT4 to replace N24

Aston Martin Racing reveals new Vantage GT4 to replace N24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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