Aston Martin Vantage GT3 (2011) first official picture

This is the Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Created and developed by Aston Martin Racing, it's a GT3-spec racer based on the V12 Vantage road car, and it'll be ready to compete in the FIA GT3 series (and other GT3 events) in 2012. Which is exactly the same time that McLaren's MP4-12C GT3 racer will be ready...

The heart of the Vantage GT3 is the lightweight, dry-sump 6.0-litre V12 engine from the V12 Vantage road car. Aston Martin Racing is aiming for 600bhp and 516lb ft outputs for the Vantage GT3, along with target weight of 1250kg. The engine will be coupled to a sequential paddleshift racing gearbox by Xtrac, and the Vantage GT3 will also receive a competition-spec traction control and ABS system. 

Aston Martin's current GT3 racer is the DBRS9, which was launched in 2006 at Le Mans. Based on the DB9 and related to the purpose-built DBR9 GT1 racer, Aston Martin has built 26 DBRS9 customer cars for racing in series such as the FIA GT3 European Championships or British GT Championships.

Six years is a long time for a road car's production life, let alone a track machine; switching to the smaller, lighter, more powerful Vantage GT3 is an obvious step. 'The competition has moved on,' said Aston Martin Racing managing director John Gaw. And we needed to create a new car that combines our six years’ experience in this category with the latest race technology to continue Aston Martin’s success in GT3 for many years to come.'

The first Vantage GT3 will be completed in July 2011, and commence track testing and further development over the remainder of the year. After the Vantage GT3 completes testing, ten customer cars will be built and delivered to teams prior to the 2012 GT3 season.

By Mark Hamilton