ASTON MARTIN'S NEW VANTAGE GT4 ADDED TO LINE-UP OF NEW GT RACERS.
We’re massive fans of production-based GT racecars here at SXdrv because they’re pretty much what the old Group N racecars of days gone by are, but of course on a whole other level and spec to keep up with today’s modern standards. Ok, they’re not the same same, but you get the point. Production-based racecars use the standard production car as the base, and after a team of race engineers and specialists have designed and added in all the components needed to get the cars up to a safe and fast race spec, the result is what you see here. With a brand like Aston Martin that has a rich racing history and ties to some of the best race engineers that run the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team, their creations set standards. The introduction of the new Vantage road car and Vantage GT3 racecar precedes the launch of the new GT4-spec Vantage GT4 that completes Aston Martin’s formidable GT line-up. Speaking of the newest addition to Aston Martin’s GT racing line-up, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, Aston Martin Lagonda, Marco Mattiacci said: “The new Vantage GT4 is a born winner. Benefitting from the significant performance improvements seen in the sensational new Vantage road car, and developed in parallel with the Vantage GT3, the Vantage GT4 is a demonstration of the increasing synergies between our road and race car programmes; class-leading power and technology on the road translating into race-winning pace on the track. The introduction of the new Vantage GT4 also allows us to build an even deeper connection to Aston Martin’s partner teams. We currently have more than 40 partners in active competition across the broad spectrum of global GT racing, many of whom are running multi-car, multi-class programmes. This level of engagement underlines our commitment to all levels of motorsport competition as well as building closer ties with our wider community of fans and followers, many of whom fell in love with the brand through our successes in sportscar racing and at Le Mans.” The new Vantage GT4 is designed, engineered and built by Aston Martin Racing (AMR), the brand’s official GT racing partner for 19 years. The partner company has been responsible for all production-based Aston Martin GT racecars since the iconic DBR9.
“The new Vantage GT4 is very much an evolution of the previous car,” explains Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter. “Closer synergies between Aston Martin’s road and race car programmes have enabled AMR to capitalise upon improvements made to the new Vantage road car for increased speed and efficiency while retaining the core qualities that made the outgoing GT4 so popular with teams and drivers.” The regulations of the GT4 class mean the track version is close to the actual production version and not a purpose-built car loosely based on one - at least 80% of the GT4 is made up of the street car’s structural and mechanical architecture, it helps that the Vantage features a bonded aluminium chassis. Getting it up to race spec, a full custom roll cage is added before any bodywork is attached. Chassis modifications include some permitted changes to suspension linkages to allow for the correct camber range for racing applications suited to the mandated 18” diameter wheel and tyre package. A highlight is the new two-way adjustable KW dampers. Visually the Vantage GT4 closely resembles the road car as regulations only permit basic changes. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were used to optimise the GT4’s aerodynamic package, so it looks like the street version on steroids. Most of the GT4’s body panels are standard production items, besides the bonnet, which allows for the incorporation of air outlets. There’s also a larger front splitter and the addition of a new rear wing. There’s also a larger radiator aperture allowing for a greater mass of air flowing through the engine’s cooling system and to the brakes hidden behind the new bespoke forged aluminium wheels. The twin-turbocharged 4.0 litre V8 and transmission are also based on the street car with the primary changes being to the electronic control systems; the former runs a Bosch Motorsport ECU with software developed by AMR; the latter uses ZF/AMR Motorsport software to control the otherwise production standard automatic transmission. The software ‘converts’ the 8-speed transmission into a 6-speed paddle shift locking out the 7th and 8th gears as they’re primarily for fuel economy at cruising speeds. Inside the cockpit features the latest Bosch DDU11 display, replacing the road car’s instrument visuals.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off the rest of the stunning new Aston Martin production-based GT cars that will serve as racecars for the wealthy in various motorsport events around the world. There's one of these older ones running around here in SA, which makes us wonder if the chap will upgrade to one of these the way other car owners always have to have the latest version of a car: Aston Martin Vantage, Vantage GT3 and AMR24 | Brothers In Speed | Aston Martin
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Cars Production-based Racecars GT4 Vantage SXdrv Aston Martin AM Aston Martin Vantage GT4