Tuesday 16th March 2010

Aston Martin Launches Brit GT4 Challenge

GT4 series tours Britain while new Rapide heads to the 'Ring

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We've been sent these fabulous photographs with a news release on the Aston Martin British GT4 Challenge, a new official one-make series for Aston Vantage N24/GT4 racing cars.

The series, run by Aston Martin Racing, will comprise five rounds of 90 to 150 minutes on classic British circuits, as well as a visit to the famous Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, says the firm.

The British GT4 Challenge is just one of a number of Aston Martin developments for race teams and owners of the cars across Europe for 2010. The company says it will utilise facilities at its Nürburgring Test Centre to run the Aston Martin Nürburgring Trophy within the ten race VLN series of four hour races on the legendary Nordschleife circuit, as well as supporting GT4 class results in the Dubai, Nürburgring, Spa and Silverstone (Britcar) 24 hour races by recognising results as part of the Aston Martin Twenty Four Hour Challenge.

Is the Rapide racy enough for Dr Bez..?

On a related note, like us you may have picked up on the fascinating snippet (not yet officially confirmed) that Aston boss Ulrich Bez intends to campaign the new four-door Rapide at the Nurburgring 24hrs in May.

A similar campaign was undertaken with the (then new) Vantage in 2006, when the car finished 24th out of 200 starters. In fact it was this project that spawned the Vantage N24/GT4 in the first place - with more than 60 cars now having been delivered to racing customers.

Aston Martin British GT4 Challenge dates
April 5 - Snetterton
May 22 - Silverstone
June 4/5 - Spa Francorchamps
June 26 - Brands Hatch
August 21 - Oulton Park
October 9 - Donington Park

[soad]

Candidate for a photo of the week perhaps?

[mcdjl]

Article said:

October 9 - Donington Park

Fingers crossed....

[monkeyfingers]

nice to see some totty for a change

[Agent Orange]

She is NEVER going to get her legs in the back of that Rapide!!

[John MGB]

I am a bit surprised Toyota didn't have sole use of the GT4 name. I know it's a while since the Celicas were competing in the WRC.

[amir_j]

monkeyfingers said:

nice to see some totty for a change

Glad I'm not the only one who clicked that pic first

[mark3man]

monkeyfingers said:

nice to see some totty for a change

Bez is very restrained, David Brown would have had her displayed across the bonnet, clothes in the (fitted) case in the boot....

[mark3man]

mcdjl said:

Article said:

October 9 - Donington Park

Fingers crossed....

The UK dates are Aston Martin Owners Club dates - so there will be cars ancient and modern out. They probably didn't book DP without a fair assurance that it would be restored to working order. It's a very expensive asset to lie idle. Probably would have been sorted out by now if Tom Wheatcroft hadn't sadly passed on recently.

[Yeloperil]

Wow, would be fun to see a Rapide on track, Kind of reminds me of TWR racing Volvo estates back in the 90's hay day of BTCC