Aston Martin Enthusiasts - Miscellaneous
Discussion
Aston Martin have always issued a steady flow of News Releases.
Nothing for a month.
https://www.astonmartin.com/en-gb/our-world/news
8Speed said:
Jon39 said:
Who knows what to believe when reading internet newspaper reports, but here goes;
Mr Vettel will become an Aston Martin Brand Ambassador in 2021. Part of the recent driver announcement. AML will pay a £5 million salary for that role.
Yes - presumably the image of having a four times champion in the team, was the deciding factor.
I have the impression that so far this year, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll have been fairly equal. Close qualifying times and often running near to each other in races. In fact Stroll is currently ahead, of Perez in the drivers championship.
Quite a different situation with the Ferrari drivers. Sebastian Vetttel has had some bad luck, but overall has been behind Charles Leclerc.
It will be interesting next year, to see whether one of the Aston Martin drivers, will be repeatedly quicker than the other.
LTP said:
...... with apologies if this is off thread topic.
...... as you can't do qualifying laps for the entire duration.
...... as you can't do qualifying laps for the entire duration.
No need for any off thread apologies Paul. There was a reason for me starting this topic, but please use it for anything Aston Martin related. You probably noticed that our Aston Martin F1 Team topic started very well, but was then abruptly moved to the F1 forum. There were immediately some unkind words about Mr. E. Jordan and also, almost none of us continued our conversation following the move to the F1 forum. The moderators told me they had to move it, because some PH members have complained in the past, about F1 topics being on marque forums. Hopefully we will be allowed our new Miscellaneous topic, to be used for anything we choose, including Aston Martin racing.
I am no expert of BoP, but it does appear generally to work well. You will remember the very exciting wheel to wheel racing, between Aston Martin and Chevrolet at Le Mans a few years ago. Remarkable for that to happen, after 23 hours of racing.
I don't think BoP decisions are taken based simply on qualifying results. With many races in the WEC series, BoP adjustments seem to be considered over several races. 'Sand bagging' therefore not so effective, but it was thought Ford might have run slower in the races prior to their 50th anniversary Le Mans. Who could object though to a little gaming, after all the Le Mans entertainment they provided with GT40s during the 1960s.
Racing at Le Mans these days, seems to be continuously run almost at qualifying pace. I need to look at the times though, to see if that is correct.
I especially enjoy watching the live on board tv at night (German Eurosport or Youtube for free coverage) . A real sense of speed. Approaching chicanes flat out, then braking at a point which seems impossibly late.
Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 19th September 16:54
2020 Le Mans 24 Hours race, daybreak.
NOW - Live on board - LMP1 Toyota.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wSwG5fgjX6k
And we thought an Aston Martin Vantage GTE was fast !
Live Timing - https://live.24h-lemans.com/en/live
Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 20th September 06:51
When watching videos (Youtube) from onboard the leading LMP1 Toyotas, the performance difference between LMP1 and the GTE class cars (Aston Martin) is enormous. It is especially impressive during darkness when overtaking the GTEs.
As you say (time losses with overtakes), the GTE drivers must lose time whenever there is an imminent overtake, at awkward points on the circuit. Getting in the way of a car which is probably cornering 50 mph faster must be tricky. At night, looking in the rear view mirror must presumably be 'blinding', because there is no dipping of headlights.
With AML's return to top level single seater racing next year, here is a wonderful historic film showing their preparations for F1 racing in the late 1950s.
I see the drivers are Roy Salvadori and Stirling Moss. Can anyone put names to other faces?
For AML at that time, their entry coincided with the transition to mid-engine racing cars, so it was unfortunate that the car soon became uncompetitive.
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/historic/2020/10...
Edited by Jon39 on Monday 12th October 17:55
A couple of miscellaneous points.
1). Aston Martin still compete every year in the World Endurance Championship, sports car races.
This year they won the Constructors and the Drivers Championship for their class.
I have not even seen anyone mention that on PH. There must be enormous cost involved for AML to race two cars in that championship. Having already won so many WEC races in the past, is it still worth it?
2). Many of you will have met Steve Waddingham. He is one of the Gaydon tour guides.
The owner of a 1990s Ford Thunderbird, discovered that his car had first been used by Aston Martin, for development purposes.
Steve Waddingham, who once worked at Newport Pagnell, wrote a reply to the owner.
Click to enlarge.
You might have read between the lines regarding our topic title.
Any mention of a certain type of AML racing, and the topic is moved to another place where the discussion promptly dies.
Here is a puzzle. I don't know what the underlying principle is here.
A name change one way, which now seems to have been reversed ?
Thank you WLD.
The incorporation was in fact after Lawrence Stroll became involved with Aston Martin.
His original offer was in January 2020, then the revised offer was agreed at the end of March 2020.
How time flies !
This company is just one of a group. Do you think the Racing Point company will remain owner of the F1 team, meaning it is really just Aston Martin's name which is being used and not a full 'works' team? If so, probably just as well. The top F1 teams do well financially, but the past has repeatedly shown, that those unlucky to becoming a 'tail enders', eventually fail.
If you have finished playing in the snow, perhaps some motoring entertainment is now appropriate.
Here is a treat. Not Aston Martin F1 related this time, but sports cars.
At the 24 Hours of Spa 2018, the Aston Martin V12 GT3 had difficulty during qualifying and had to start the race from the back of the grid.
That did not deter Nicki Thiim though. Count how many cars the Vantage overtook on just the first lap !
The overtaking continued during the early laps, but of course became increasingly difficult moving further up the field.
Hold tight and enjoy the onboard ride. Interesting how the same tactics are repeated at certain corners.
(Race begins using a rolling start)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BG7dI7V7Jo
Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 24th January 14:36
What are the views of Aston Martin enthusiasts on this?
We seem to have been shocked by (i) M-B engines in every AM; (ii) the possibility of having Aston Martin bodies on M-B platforms.
For those of a 'certain age', the sudden onslaught by Japanese motor bikes on the UK market will be remembered.
Are we about to see a similar dramatic upheaval, this time by low cost Chinese electric cars?
How would Aston Martin react, if that occurred?
The long queue of sponsors, eager to give money to LS's F1 team (and be associated with Aston Martin) is slowly inching forward.
A measured release of the next sponsor every few days.
The latest is a watch manufacturer. They describe their great love of the 1950s Aston Martins, with such beautiful designs and the distinctive side air vent. However, they will be shocked when they discover, that the historic air vent shape, has recently been binned.
The sponsor's comments.
'It was styled in-house by a highly talented designer, Frank Feeley, and represents what is unquestionably his ‘finest hour’ – indeed the shape of the DBR1 remains one of the most beautiful and graceful of all time. Moreover, the design incorporates a key functional attribute – the side air vent – which debuted on this car and remains a key functional and visual characteristic of Aston Martin’s road-going sports cars to this day. This functional element has become a key aesthetic detail that imbues the marque’s models with their distinctive personalities. In fact, one glance at an Aston Martin car immediately reveals the identity of its maker.'
Octavarium said:
I'm struggling to work out where Aston have removed the "key functional attribute – the side air vent". It's still there - ......
I think you might be taking this all too literally Octavarium.
I was just making two points.
Now being associated with Aston Martin, makes it much easier for LS to obtain many new sponsors for his F1 team.
Do you think he might even receive more money back from sponsors, than he originally invested into Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc?
All very clever.
Ref. my quoted extract from the watch maker. In their particular paragraph, they were clearly describing the historic vent design, which was used largely unaltered for over 50 years, until it was recently changed into the curlique dirt ejector.
Interestingly, I had always thought they were functional, but recently a PHer who had carried out work in the vicinity of the side strakes, said at least one of them on the Vantage is blocked by equipment. I learn something every day.
The watchmakers quote which you have highlighted, just seems like good marketing words for their product. Nothing wrong with that.
How are things going in the historic (presumably mostly) Swiss watch industry? I just wondered whether everyone carrying a phone now, which always shows the accurate time, has made any difference.
Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 9th March 18:08
A reminder of why we use this topic with an odd title.
General chat about Aston Martin, including AM F1.
My original AM racing car topic had only just begun, before it was taken away to Gen Gassing, where of course it quickly died.
The Pre-Season Test Days are not always a very good indicator, of which teams are going to perform well during the season.
Testing has now ended, so you might be interested to see the results for the 3 days.
Obviously only bare figures, and we don't know any background eg. high/low fuel, hard/soft tyres etc.
Sebastian Vettel lost some time yesterday, due to a gearbox change.
Both Aston Martins were at the bottom today, but don't know why. They achieved competitive times on day 1 and 2.
EVR said:
So, the engine AM is using is Mercedes, but which one? The last season one?
The suspician always remains, about manufacturer engines and their customer engines.
In the days of teams buying engines from Cosworth, then taking them away in the back of a Ford Transit, at least they were all almost identical.
I have no idea about track conditions or car set ups, but LS's team achieved good times on Day 1 and
Day 2. Expect they were pleased with that.
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