Video: Aston V8 Vantage S On Track

PH gets a feel for the thrills as Aston takes over Race Resort Ascari

Aston Martin chose the Ascari Race Resort to launch its new V8 Vantage S model, and filmed a fine video of the new model pounding the tarmac as part of its 'media kit'. (Scroll down to find it.)

PH contributor Kyle Fortune was there too, the lucky blighter, so as well as sharing the sights and sounds of the car on the circuit, we've got a few lines on the experience from him. And doesn't it sound like fun...

What I did on my holiday, by K. Fortune (Aged 'old enough to get a proper job, surely'... Ed.)

Sideways may not be fast, but it's fun...

"I look like a tit. More so than usual as I pull on a helmet protector - of the type you'll get at any kart track before donning a sweaty, stinking borrowed lid - and find an open-faced Arai that fits.

"I'm not complaining though, not least as the lid's fresh out of the box and I've got the keys to an Aston Martin V8 Vantage S in my hand. The S brings a 4.7-litre V8 engine increased in output to 430bhp, completely revised suspension, re-calibrated Dynamic Stability Control, bigger brakes, a quicker steering rack, a new Speedshift II 7-speed paddle-shifted automated manual.

"Oh, and I've got Race Resort Ascari at my disposal. It's just me and a few 'lifestyle' journalists out on track for some fast lappery. Actually, forget fast for the majority of them, as for lifestyle read 'barely mobile chicane'. Any thoughts of me trying some meaningful assessment of how the S might drive on the road die as soon as the engine fires and the green flag at the end of the pitlane is waved. It's fast. In the absence of official figures I'm guessing at 4.4-4.5 seconds but it's not 0-62mph times here that matter...

...as KF found out in the Vantage S

"The first corner arrives. As it so often does on the first lap, it comes rather too quickly. The new bigger 380mm two-piece floating front discs and the six pistons clamping them remove the too eager pace with ease.

"They continue to do so, despite driving the V8 Vantage S with little regard to their longevity. A few laps in and the first lifestyle hack is lapped, underlining their different objectives from the trip - they'll be sightseeing in the afternoon. Me? I know where I'd like to stay. Sadly, I've a flight home to catch. The Southern Spanish racetrack might as well be PH Mecca, with a collection of fine corners, tough cambers and high speed straights. It's sunny too, something that's been all too absent from Blighty recently. There's no noise limit either, so the Sport button remains on.

The cabin from an LHD perspective

"That delivers a more obnoxious - read brilliant - noise from the fast-revving and muscular 4.7-litre V8. It also adds a quicker shift and more aggressive throttle response. With the Dynamic Stability Control in Track Mode a decent amount of movement is possible before it intervenes. It's even more fun when it's off though - turning the V8 Vantage S into a drift-special. As I'm not paying for the specially developed Bridgestones it's rude not to, isn't it? The S's steering is certainly sharper, with the rack's ratio quickened resulting in a more immediate, precise response from the S's nose - it's also useful for catching big, easy slides.

"It can't get any better really, even if I do look like a tit. At least it can't get any better for me, although I hear that Klaas Zwart, Race Resort Ascari's owner, regularly helicopters in, dons his racesuit and lid - sans protector - and jumps in an F1 car for some fast laps.

"I can't help wondering if he needs a fast mobile chicane to help spice things up..."

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lawdevice

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