Cars
Aston Martin DBR9
GT1
Europe
Aston Martin are on something of a roll recently. Newly independent and with an enviable (though small) model range of beautiful sports cars – and a successful racing team as well.
The road-going DB9 was launched in 2004 and instantly was acclaimed as a great step forwards for Aston Martin, replacing the ten-year DB7 with an all-new car built around the 6-litre V12 that had made its debut in the Vanquish. As soon as the car was launched, rumour and speculation began to fly around, noting the DB9’s suitability to form the basis of a GT racing car to compete at Le Mans. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the first shots of the Prodrive-tuned DBR9 went public, with the car making its racing debut at Sebring in 2005, since when it’s gone on to be a fixture of Endurance and GT championships, racking up many wins, including winning the GT1 class at Le Mans in 2007.
Technically, the DBR9 retains the general mechanical layout and silhouette of the road-going DB9, but retains little else. Extensive body modifications allow for better aerodynamic performance and wider tyres – large areas of the body are replaced by low-weight composites. The engine is highly tuned for power and reliability, putting out 600bhp but needing to last for a whole day and night. This all adds up to a formidable endurance racing car with impressive handling and speed.
The road-going DB9 was launched in 2004 and instantly was acclaimed as a great step forwards for Aston Martin, replacing the ten-year DB7 with an all-new car built around the 6-litre V12 that had made its debut in the Vanquish. As soon as the car was launched, rumour and speculation began to fly around, noting the DB9’s suitability to form the basis of a GT racing car to compete at Le Mans. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the first shots of the Prodrive-tuned DBR9 went public, with the car making its racing debut at Sebring in 2005, since when it’s gone on to be a fixture of Endurance and GT championships, racking up many wins, including winning the GT1 class at Le Mans in 2007.
Technically, the DBR9 retains the general mechanical layout and silhouette of the road-going DB9, but retains little else. Extensive body modifications allow for better aerodynamic performance and wider tyres – large areas of the body are replaced by low-weight composites. The engine is highly tuned for power and reliability, putting out 600bhp but needing to last for a whole day and night. This all adds up to a formidable endurance racing car with impressive handling and speed.
