>>Aston Martin Vantage GT2

Aston Martin Vantage GT2

Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2

The Drayson-Barwell GT2 car at the 2008 Monterey Sports Car Championships
Category	Sports car racing
Constructor	Aston Martin Lagonda LTD
Technical specifications
Chassis	Bonded aluminium chassis with Carbon fibre panels
Suspension (front)	Double wishbone with adjustable Koni dampers
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbone with adjustable Koni dampers
Engine	Aston Martin 4.5 litre, all aluminium, 60° V8, FMR
Transmission	6-speed sequential manual
Weight	FIA 1,150 kg (2,500 lb) ACO 1,175 kg (2,590 lb)
Competition history

The Aston Martin Vantage GT2 is the most powerful racing variant of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage family. The Vantage GT2 is based on the V8 engined Aston Martin Vantage road car but is designed to run on both standard race fuel or E85 bio-ethanol.

Development

Drayson-Barwell's V8 Vantage GT2 at the car's debut, the 2008 American Le Mans Series at Long Beach.

Debuting in 2008 the GT2 is designed to meet FIA and ACO
GT2 class regulations, the Vantage will become a customer car for use in the FIA GT Championship,
American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Aston Martin Vantage GT2's engine is a modified version of the standard 4.3 litre Aston Martin V8 from the road car. The larger 4.5 litre engine retains the road car’s cylinder block, heads and crankshaft, but uses competition components, including cylinder heads, con-rods, valves, camshafts and a racing exhaust system. The developed engine features a dry sump lubrication system allowing the engine to be positioned low in the chassis, for an optimised centre of gravity.

The car uses the original bonded aluminium chassis supplied by Aston Martin, but uses carbon fibre panels (exc roof) and features front splitter, rear diffuser, rear wing and a flat floor.

The V8 Vantage GT2 has been tuned to be capable of running E85 ethanol or normal racing fuel, dependent on the racing series.

Drayson Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT2 racing in the Le Mans Series at Silverstone Circuit in 2009.

Aston Martin Racing has confirmed the entry of two upgraded GTE-Spec Vantage GT2s in the inaugural World Endurance Championship with a works team. Both the upgraded cars will debut in tests in January. They are reported to 'wear' Gulf liveries, much like those of the GT and Prototypes of Aston Martin have before.

Racing history

Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 saw its racing debut at the 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach, driven by Paul Drayson, a former Minister of State in the United Kingdom, and Jonny Cocker, 2004 British GT Champion. The car will also be run on E85 fuel.

James Watt Automotive ran the V8 Vantage GT2 in the Le Mans Series 2008, although the car failed to make the start of its debut race due to mechanical problems.

Drayson Racing ran the V8 Vantage GT2 in the Le Mans Series 2009.

It is confirmed that the JLOC will use a V8 Vantage GT2 in 2010 Super GT season. The Car is ran under the name Aspeed triple A Vantage GT2

JMW Motorsport will run the V8 Vantage GT2 in the Le Mans Series 2010.

JMW Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT2 at Autosport International
in 2010.

Aston Martin Vantage GT2's have also raced in many other series including the Le Mans Series and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Two Vantages also raced at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans: Jota Racing AMR and Gulf AMR Middle East. Both cars ultimately retired, one with mechanical issues and the other after losing control and spinning off the circuit, injuring the driver Mark Wainwright and damaging the car too seriously to continue.

Gulf AMR Middle East Vantage GT2 - Petit Le Mans 2011