Aston Martin Vantage GT2
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
, 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.
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 Le Mans 24 Hours 2011: 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.
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...
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
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest , sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race...
GT2 class regulations, the Vantage will become a customer car for use in the FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
, American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
, Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
, and 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
.
The Aston Martin Vantage GT2's engine is a modified version of the standard 4.3 litre Aston Martin
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...
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
E85
E85 is an abbreviation for an ethanol fuel blend of up to 85% denatured ethanol fuel and gasoline or other hydrocarbon by volume. E85 is commonly used by flex-fuel vehicles in the US, Canada, and Europe. Some of the benefits of E85 over conventional gasoline powered vehicles include the potential...
ethanol or normal racing fuel, dependent on the racing series.
Racing history
Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 saw its racing debut at the 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach2008 American Le Mans Series at Long Beach
The 2008 Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach was the third round of the 2008 American Le Mans Series season. It took place on the streets of Long Beach, California on April 19, 2008.-Race results:Class winners in bold...
, driven by Paul Drayson, a former Minister of State in the United Kingdom, and Jonny Cocker
Jonny Cocker
Jonathan "Jonny" Cocker is a British racing driver. He used to drive in the American Le Mans Series for Drayson Racing, a team run by Paul Drayson.-Career:...
, 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
2010 Super GT season
The 2010 Super GT season was the 17th season of the Japan Automobile Federation Super GT Championship....
. 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.
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 Le Mans 24 Hours 2011: 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.