by Gauk
Mon, Nov 23, 2020 11:05 PM
  • Trio of original Vantage race cars offered as a special edition collection
  • Includes the final V8 Vantage GTE from the family line that recorded two Le Mans class victories and seven WEC titles
  • Multiple championship-winning Vantage GT3 and GT4 models complete set

Aston Martin Racing has created the Vantage Legacy Collection to commemorate one of the most successful periods in the luxury British sportscar brand’s racing history, as well as one of the company’s most successful racing cars – the Aston Martin Vantage.

This period, between 2009 and 2018, brought Aston Martin two 24 Hours of Le Mans class victories (in 2014 and 2017) and seven FIA World Endurance Championship titles, as well as numerous international sports car championship titles in British GT, GT World Challenge (Europe) and the European Le Mans Series.

The trio of Legacy Vantages, based on V8 Vantage road car launched in 2005, have been created in Aston Martin Racing’s workshops and is being offered for sale as a collection. It includes a V8 Vantage GTE, a V12 Vantage GT3 and Vantage GT4. All three are brand new chassis, ready to race, and have been identically liveried in sterling green with the distinctive and classic Aston Martin yellow trim lines around the radiator and cant rail. 

The Vantage GT4 was the first racing car created around the VH-era architecture. It made its debut in 2009 and, by the end of 2018, Aston Martin Racing had built 107 cars, winning races and international championships across the world. Many of these cars are still competing today. The car in the collection is the 108th and final car to be made.

The V12 Vantage GT3 followed the GT4 three years later, making its debut in 2012. It soon became the dominant car in the British GT championship, winning outright titles in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018, proving its competitiveness right up until it was replaced by the new Vantage in 2019. Over seven years, up until the end of 2017, 46 cars were built.

The V8 Vantage GTE made its debut with the Aston Martin Racing works team in 2012 at Sebring. It spearheaded Aston Martin’s works return to production-based racing following three years of competing in the LMP1 class. The V8 Vantage GTE took its first win at the final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Shanghai in October that debut year. 

Only six V8 Vantage GTEs were originally built, with the car racing for the last time in the GTE Am class at Le Mans in 2018. During this time, it became the most successful car in the FIA World Endurance Championship, winning seven titles and two Le Mans class victories, including a famous final-lap triumph in 2017. The GTE in this collection is the seventh and final car to be made, chassis number 007.

President of Aston Martin Racing, David King said: “For a collector, this trio of Aston Martin Racing Vantages represents the ultimate tribute to a halcyon period for the brand in international sportscar racing. While Aston Martin has since gone on to record world championship titles with the current generation turbo-charged V8 Vantage, the foundations laid by the huge success of the original car won it admirers the around the globe and led to it becoming a firm favourite with racing fans. The Legacy collection is a beautiful sign-off for this wonderful car.”

CAR SPECIFICATIONS

VANTAGE GT4

Engine & Transmission

  • Aston Martin Racing 4.7-litre V8 engine
  • Weight-reduced rear silencer or straight-through tailpipes
  • FIA-approved bag type 115-litre centrally mounted fuel tank with twin fill
  • Six-speed Sportshift (ASM) transmission
  • Twin-plate cera-metallic clutch with lightweight flywheel

Chassis

  • FIA approved full rollcage in 15CDV6 high-strength steel
  • Integral air jacks
  • Polycarbonate side and rear windows
  • Side sills with exposed carbon fibre rib
  • Quick-release bonnet and tailgate
  • Carbon fibre side strakes
  • Reduced weight wiring harness
  • Lightweight battery

Suspension

  • Double wishbone suspension adjustable for toe, caster and camber
  • 2-way adjustable Koni dampers
  • Stiffened front and rear anti-roll bars
  • Spherical bearing suspension

Interior

  • Recaro competition seat embroidered with Aston Martin Racing logo
  • Recaro HANS compatible seat (optional)
  • Sabelt six-point safety harness
  • FIA compliant Lifeline plumbed-in extinguisher system
  • Lightweight door casings
  • Weight-reduced facia, trimmed in Alcantara
  • Quick-release steering wheel

Aerodynamics

  • Adjustable carbon-fibre rear wing
  • Increased protrusion front splitter
  • Carbon-fibre front dive planes

Brakes

  • Four-piston monoblock calipers fitted with
  • high-performance Pagid RS 29 race pads
  • Uprated two-piece front brake discs
  • Twin front brake cooling ducts
  • Endurance brake package
  • Bosch race-developed ABS and traction control system

Wheels

  • Magnesium 5-stud wheels
  • Front - 10” x 18”
  • Rear - 11” x 18”

 

V12 VANTAGE GT3

Chassis

  • Lightweight aluminium chassis
  • Steel rollcage to FIA safety standards
  • High speed pneumatic jack system
  • Low engine position

Engine

  • Lightweight 6-litre V12
  • Dry sump oil system
  • Engine repositioned to optimise weight distribution and centre of gravity
  • Power 600 bhp
  • Torque 700 Nm

Transmission

  • Xtrac six-speed semi-automatic paddle shift transmission
  • Racing clutch
  • Limited slip ramp/plate differential
  • Easily accessible drop gears
  • Carbon fibre prop-shaft

Cockpit

  • 8862 safety seat
  • Six-point safety harness
  • Racing seat nets
  • Lightweight battery
  • Carbon fibre dash
  • Fire extinguisher8862 safety seat system
  • Driver display and shift lights

Body

  • Front splitter
  • Adjustable full width carbon fibre rear wing
  • Aerodynamically optimised bumpers, side sills and rear fenders
  • Removable carbon-fibre body panels
  • Aluminium roof

Fuel system

  • 125-litre fuel cell to FIA safety standards
  • Twin quick-release couplings

Suspension

  • Double wishbone suspension with uniball bearings
  • Four-way adjustable Bilstein dampers
  • Optimised geometry for lower ride height

Brakes

  • Six-pot front calipers
  • Ventilated front & rear brake disc
  • Four-pot rear caliper
  • Manually adjustable front/rear brake bias

Wheels

  • Front 12.5” x 18”
  • Rear 13” x 18”

Weight

  • Dry weight 1250 kg

 

V8 VANTAGE GTE

Chassis

  • Lightweight aluminium chassis
  • Steel roll cage to FIA safety standards
  • High speed pneumatic air jack system

Engine

  • Lightweight V8
  • Dry sump oil system
  • Engine repositioned to optimise
  • weight distribution
  • Power > 500 bhp*
  • Torque > 500 Nm*

Transmission

  • 6-speed semi-automatic paddle shift gear change
  • ZF Sachs Racing clutch
  • Limited slip combination VC and ramp/plate differential
  • Carbon fibre propshaft

Body

  • Full aerodynamic update to 2016 LMGTE regulations
  • Lightweight carbon fibre bodywork
  • Aluminium roof with driver safety access hatch
  • CFD optimised aerodynamics with splitter and diffuser
  • Adjustable carbon fibre rear wing

Fuel system

  • Designed to FIA safety standards
  • Twin quick release couplings

Brakes

  • Front: six pot Brembo calipers
  • Rear: four pot Brembo calipers
  • Vented discs
  • Pagid RS pads
  • Bespoke lightweight pedal box
  • Goodridge hydraulic brake lines

Wheels & Tyres

  • TWS Mg front 12.5” x 18”
  • TWS Mg rear 13.0” x 18”
  • Dunlop 305-680R18
  • Dunlop 312-705R18

Weight & Dimensions

  • Length 4550 mm
  • Width 1963 mm
  • Height 1185 mm
  • Wheelbase 2600 mm
  • Dry weight 1240 kg*
  • *Dependent on Balance of Performance BoP
published by Gauk