Aston Martin Nimrod
Encyclopedia
Nimrod Racing Automobiles (sometimes referred to as Aston Martin Nimrod) was a partnership founded in 1981 between racing driver and car dealer Robin Hamilton and chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda
, Victor Gauntlett
. The project was intended to build sports prototype
s for the World Endurance Championship
and IMSA GT Championship
using Aston Martin V8 engines. Although Aston Martin did not own the project, they offered their support for the chance to see success for their name in motorsports without the heavy cost of running their own team.
Nimrod built three NRA/C2
s for competition in 1982, with two being kept by the factory while the third went to privateer Richard Dawney's Viscount Downe Racing. The cars were capable of running both in the World Endurance Championship's Group C
specification and IMSA GT's GTP specification.
Combining a production-based V8 engine
from the V8
and V8 Vantage
models, the engine was refined by Aston Martin tuner Tickford
in order to handle the increased output. Eric Broadley
would design the chassis while his employeer Lola Cars International built the tubs. Ray Mallock would later evolve the NRA/C2's design into a B-spec model for the 1983 season.
, Nimrod entered one of their own cars alongside the Viscount Downe
Racing privateer entry. Nimrod would face mechanical troubles and not finish, although Viscount Downe managed a sixth place finish. Problems would continue for Nimrod Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
where their race was ended early with an accident. Nimrod's only success for the season would come at the 1000km Spa
, where one of their two cars managed to finish, taking eleventh place. The combined results of Nimrod and Viscount Downe would earn Aston Martin third in the constructors championship that year.
For 1982, with the evolved NRA/C2, Nimrod Racing would turn to the IMSA GT Championship
in North America due to EMKA Racing
taking over Aston Martin's factory-backed efforts in Europe with their own car. Nimrod suffered throughout the season, earning their only success as the 12 Hours of Sebring
with a fifth place finish, third in the GTP class. The team would struggle to finish races for the rest of the season before financial trouble eventually forced them to return to Europe.
Following their disappointing return to Europe, Nimrod Racing Automobiles was forced to close its doors due to continued financial troubles, ending the short life of the project. A new chassis had been under development at the time, known as NRA/C3, yet was never completed before the team was dissolved. Privateers would continue to use Nimrod's NRA/C2 until the middle of 1984, when both privateers running the chassis were forced to fold.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
, Victor Gauntlett
Victor Gauntlett
Malcolm Victor Gauntlett was an English petrochemical entrepreneur and car enthusiast, best known for forming the largest independent petrol retail business in the United Kingdom, and for reviving Aston Martin.-Biography:...
. The project was intended to build sports prototype
Sports prototype
A sports prototype, also referred to as simply a prototype, is a form of racing car that is used as a top category in sports car racing. These purpose-built racing cars differ from street-legal and production-based racing cars that also compete in sports car racing.Prototype racing cars have...
s for the World Endurance Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
and IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
using Aston Martin V8 engines. Although Aston Martin did not own the project, they offered their support for the chance to see success for their name in motorsports without the heavy cost of running their own team.
NRA/C2
Nimrod built three NRA/C2
Nimrod NRA/C2
The Nimrod NRA/C2 was the only Group C racing car ever built by Nimrod Racing Automobiles in partnership with Aston Martin. It ran initially in 1982 in the World Endurance Championship before also joining the IMSA GT Championship...
s for competition in 1982, with two being kept by the factory while the third went to privateer Richard Dawney's Viscount Downe Racing. The cars were capable of running both in the World Endurance Championship's Group C
Group C
Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs....
specification and IMSA GT's GTP specification.
Combining a production-based V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
from the V8
Aston Martin V8
The Aston Martin V8 is a two-door coupé automobile manufactured in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1989.Aston Martin's customers had been clamouring for an eight-cylinder car for years, so Aston Martin designed a larger 2-door saloon for V8 applications. The engine was not ready, however, so in...
and V8 Vantage
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was hailed at its 1977 introduction as "Britain's First Supercar" for its top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but it used high-performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for...
models, the engine was refined by Aston Martin tuner Tickford
Tickford
Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:...
in order to handle the increased output. Eric Broadley
Eric Broadley
Eric Broadley MBE is a British entrepreneur, engineer, and founder and former chief designer of Lola Cars, the motor racing manufacturer and engineering company. He is arguably one of the most influential automobile designers of the post-war period, and over the years Lola has had a hand in many...
would design the chassis while his employeer Lola Cars International built the tubs. Ray Mallock would later evolve the NRA/C2's design into a B-spec model for the 1983 season.
Team history
Debuting at the 1000km of SilverstoneSilverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
, Nimrod entered one of their own cars alongside the Viscount Downe
Viscount Downe
Viscount Downe is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland. The first creation came in 1675 for William Ducie. However, the title became extinct on his death in 1679. The second creation came in 1680 for John Dawnay. He had earlier represented Yorkshire and Pontefract in the...
Racing privateer entry. Nimrod would face mechanical troubles and not finish, although Viscount Downe managed a sixth place finish. Problems would continue for Nimrod Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1982 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 50th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 19 and 20 1982. It was also the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship.-Race:For 1982, the new FIA Group C rules were in effect...
where their race was ended early with an accident. Nimrod's only success for the season would come at the 1000km Spa
1000km Spa
The 1000 Kilometres of Spa-Francorchamps is an endurance race for sports cars held at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.- History :The Spa 24 Hours had been introduced in 1924, and other races followed. As on the Nürburgring, both a 24-hour race for touring cars and GTs is held, and an...
, where one of their two cars managed to finish, taking eleventh place. The combined results of Nimrod and Viscount Downe would earn Aston Martin third in the constructors championship that year.
For 1982, with the evolved NRA/C2, Nimrod Racing would turn to the IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
in North America due to EMKA Racing
EMKA Racing
EMKA Racing was a British racing team founded in 1980 by Steve O'Rourke, manager of the band Pink Floyd. The team occasionally ran under the name of EMKA Productions, the name of O'Rourke's management company. The team's name comes from O'Rourke's two daughters, Emma and Katheryne...
taking over Aston Martin's factory-backed efforts in Europe with their own car. Nimrod suffered throughout the season, earning their only success as the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
with a fifth place finish, third in the GTP class. The team would struggle to finish races for the rest of the season before financial trouble eventually forced them to return to Europe.
Following their disappointing return to Europe, Nimrod Racing Automobiles was forced to close its doors due to continued financial troubles, ending the short life of the project. A new chassis had been under development at the time, known as NRA/C3, yet was never completed before the team was dissolved. Privateers would continue to use Nimrod's NRA/C2 until the middle of 1984, when both privateers running the chassis were forced to fold.
External links
- Aston Martin Picture Gallery - Aston Martin Nimrod