Thursday 18th February 2010

Aston Martin Launches One-Make Race Series

British GT4 Challenge open to Vantage racer owners

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Aston Martin Racing has announced its first UK one-make racing championship. The Aston Martin British GT4 Challenge will start at Snetterton in April, and is exclusively open to Vantage N24s and GT4s.

Aston Martin Racing spokesman Ben Sayer explained to PH this morning that the new series is designed to help existing owners of the GT4-regulated cars make the most out of their pricey purchases.

"There are lots of people out there with Vantage GT4s and N24s," he says. "This is designed to give them a platform to race similar cars in a really competitive environment."

Entry to the series costs £12,950 per car, with up to two drivers. This gets you into all six 90min-150min races, including a jaunt to Spa Francorchamps in the summer. In accordance with GT4 regulations, and to keep things competitive, all cars will need to be fitted with a control ECU, but this is included in the price along with suits, gloves and full hospitality.

Full pitlane and paddock support is also offered by Aston Martin Racing but any fuel, parts and service items will have to be paid for. At a most basic level they'll sell you the regulation fuel and control tyres you'll need to compete, but if you're in a real bind they'll even flog you a replacement engine for around £15,000. Sayer told us that they'll even be offering Vantage N24 owners the chance to replace their 4.3-litre V8s with the 4.7-litre unit fitted to the GT4.

The only other one-make Aston Martin race series is the Asia Cup, founded in 2008, which awards its champion with a fully-sponsored season in the FIA GT4 Championships as a prize. The winning team in Aston's British GT4 Championship won't get that opportunity, sadly, but they will be offered a chance to test drive the Vantage GT2 racer, or the GT3-homologated DBRS9.

Sayer assures us that, though the series is open to the public, it is very much the real thing: "The GT4 Challenge follows full FIA regulations and will be very competitive - it really is a serious racing series".

 

Full 2010 Race Calendar

April 5	Snetterton
May 22	Silverstone
June 5/6	Spa Francorchamps
June 26	Brands Hatch
August 21	Oulton Park
October 9	Donington Park

 

[Jessop]

Sounds real good..

Only im not super rich and cant afford to buy a replacement ENGINE, nevermind a whole aston martin haha.


Theres a few good few race series of the same type of car knocking about.


I still think Renault should bring back the R5 GT Turbo Cup again... Proper entertainment

[MSportUK]

Article said:

...though the series is open to the public, it is very much the real thing: "The GT4 Challenge follows full FIA regulations and will be very competitive - it really is a serious racing series".

What does that mean? If it's a proper series, then you need a race licence etc to race, so how is it more "open to the public" than any other race series. I'm sure I'd be allowed to enter most National series, if I have the right car and the entry fee, wouldn't I?

Either way, it'll be good to watch.

[SimonSaid]

MSportUK said:

how is it more "open to the public" than any other race series.

It isn't really, except that this sort of GT racing tends to take place between big teams on big budgets, this is very privateer-focussed and not just for succesful professional drivers with big sponsorship deals.

[soad]

Now that's a nice idea for those who can afford it.

[vintageracer01]

FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!

This will not only look great but SOUND great! I love this engine noise.

[pagani1]

It's a great start, now all we need is Ascari, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mercedes, Morgan, Weissman, Spyker, Porsche and Lotus to join in. Apologies for anyone I have missed. Then perhaps they could get ACO Le Mans etc to instigate a proper series for ROAD SPEC sports cars to go racing in Europe, and relive the golden age of 50-60's sports car racing.
C'mon Bernie/Damon/Klaus do something to get it all going for us sports car fans.

[The Riddler]

Jessop said:

Sounds real good..

Only im not super rich and cant afford to buy a replacement ENGINE, nevermind a whole aston martin haha.


Theres a few good few race series of the same type of car knocking about.


I still think Renault should bring back the R5 GT Turbo Cup again... Proper entertainment

You mean like the Renault Clio Cup support races which run at the BTCC meetings?

Wish i could afford an N24.

[I WISH]

Now which of my Astons shall I use ..... decisions, decisions

[P4ROT]

Those side skirts and lower suspension really change the looks- nicer than the v12 IMHO

[Markgt3]

Its basically a carerra cup for Astons but i dont think Aston or any manufacturer will ever compete with Porsche when it comes to producing and selling race cars

[Jesus TF Christ]

Markgt3 said:

Its basically a carerra cup for Astons but i dont think Aston or any manufacturer will ever compete with Porsche when it comes to producing and selling race cars

Maybe not, but it'll be a bloody good looking race series.

[mark3man]

The UK races are part of the Aston Martin Owners Club meetings.
You'll be able to see the GT4s AND the 50s and 60s customer racers like the DB2, DB3S and DB4GT on the same day.

[CCN1]

I am lucky enough to live in Singapore and have been able to watch the Astons in the Asia Cup at both Grand Prix. They are the business, and the sound of them around the Singapore street circuit is something else. Far better sound than the Porsche racing here.

[NEFOC]

It will be a good series. I raced a white Aston GT4 against the Ferrari 355s in the Pirelli Ferrari Open last year and it was a great car. Looking to enter it into this series. Meeting with team on Thursday. Will let you know if confirmed.

Enjoyed the Martini Cup at snetterton last year which was a 3 hour race with a load of Astons. Really good race and this looks like the same setup.

T

[Jessop]

The Riddler said:

Jessop said:

Sounds real good..

Only im not super rich and cant afford to buy a replacement ENGINE, nevermind a whole aston martin haha.


Theres a few good few race series of the same type of car knocking about.


I still think Renault should bring back the R5 GT Turbo Cup again... Proper entertainment

You mean like the Renault Clio Cup support races which run at the BTCC meetings?

Wish i could afford an N24.

Nope.. Renault 5 gt turbo cup racing..

Not clio cups, which are radically different to the road cars, a bit like BTCC cars are far from road going equivelents.

+1 for motorsport parts to be readily available for the public without the lidacris price tag they currently hold lol.

i want a wide track peugeot sport rear axle & alloy front struts =[

[toovo1985]

The N24 deserves it
great car!!! great performance!!! GREAT ASTON!!!
here's a pic!!!

Edited by toovo1985 on Thursday 18th March 16:16

[gw3010]

Fantastic news!

This makes ownership worthwhile if you have a potential race car on your driveway!

GW.

[s.m.h.]

First race of the series is on Monday at Snetterton.
9 car grid so far...

[hullbilly]

Second round is coming up soon and will have 16 cars on the grid!

Dave Richards is apparently driving one of them....

[andy97]

Do you promise? I just wish we could see some of those cars out in the G4 class of British GT.