Aston Martin and R-Motorsport launch Vantage Cup
One-make championship with 25-car grid launches next year - interested?
Nothing matches the sense of pride from success in one-make racing, because you know it's all you: the cars are all identical, so talent is what's made the difference. And that feels good. Now budding (and wealthy) racers will have another opportunity to pitch themselves against others in the same cars, with the new Aston Martin Vantage Cup by R-Motorsport.
The latter are the same team that runs the DTM Vantages and those in GT3, so are familiar with the base car. While not as serious as those racers, the Cup is described as "a high performance racing version" of the Vantage, using the same 4.0-litre V8 and, it would have to be assumed, the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
R-Motorsport's Team Principal Florian Kamleger said the "Vantage will be a race car for the highest competition standards and inspire our starting in races clients as well as the fans at the race tracks." Andy Palmer added that he was "delighted" at the announcement.
The plan is to launch the Vantage Cup in Europe next year, with another three series to roll out across the globe in subsequent years. A calendar and tracks haven't been confirmed yet, but the Cup will feature 25-car grids and R-Motorsport will handle all vehicle logistics, tech support and hospitality. All the drivers have to do is turn up. And win, of course...
Buying an Aston Martin R-Motorsport Vantage Cup car will cost €250,000 plus taxes; it's unclear yet just what a season of racing will cost on top of that, as it will depend on exactly how many races features and where they're held. Whatever the case, more motorsport sounds like good news to us, and there can't be many more evocative racing brands to associate yourself with than Aston Martin. Just do a better job than we did in a racing Vantage, and you'll be just fine...
Sell very expensive race cars with no warranty (motorsport products) to amateur racers who have to race in them in their one make series and will likely crash them a fair bit meaning more profitable aftersales. Carbon panels won’t be cheap...
Problem is, it’s getting quite a crowded market place now - Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren, Radical, Caterham are all vying for the same customers.
The car looks great and I wish them well but I struggle to see the long term viability.
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