We've seen the new Aston Martin Vantage in road-going trim. We've even seen it in GTE racing spec. So what's next? Why, more racers, of course! And that's just what the British automaker has revealed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – where two of the Vantage GTEs are also racing this weekend, not incidentally. Revealed here are the new GT3 and GT4 racing versions of the all-new Vantage, based even more closely on the street-legal version and taking Aston's latest into a broader range of racing classes.
Like the road and GTE models, the Vantage GT3 and GT4 pack a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine sourced from Mercedes-AMG. Specifications for the GT4 version are apparently still being finalized, but the GT3 model boasts 525 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, making it slightly more powerful than the road-going sports car on which it's based (with its 503 hp and 505 lb-ft). At 1,245 kg (2,745 lbs), it's also lighter than the production Vantage (by some 628 lbs), and ditches the eight-speed automatic transmission in favor of a six-speed sequential gearbox from Xtrac. It also features a full roll cage, multi-plate clutch and brakes from Alcon, four-way adjustable dampers from ?hlins, and track-spec ABS from Bosch.
Driveability and a wide operating window remain key targets for us as we develop the new Vantage GT3 and GT4 racing cars," said AMR director John Gaw. "The current GT3 is very popular with customers... and from the expressions of interest that we have seen so far I believe we are on track to do that." The new Vantage GT3 is still being developed with an eye towards homologation (alongside the more accessible GT4 version) on March 1 of next year. But it's already competing in the Michelin Aston Martin Racing Le Mans Festival this weekend. The Vantage GT4 will also be on display in the paddock for potential customer racers to check out in situ before development is completed.
No comments:
Post a Comment