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For sale: 2008 Aston Martin Vantage GT2
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Description of the car:
Aston Martin's return to the motorsport scene in 2005 was met with great anticipation from fans, given their 46-year absence from the sport. The unexpected victory of the DBR9 in the GT1 class at Sebring was a remarkable start, followed by subsequent triumphs at Le Mans in 2006 and 2007, along with impressive performances in the GT1 championship.
This resurgence was made possible through a strong partnership between Prodrive and Aston Martin, resulting in the formation of Aston Martin Racing. The collaboration was built on a proven track record, having previously developed the 550 Prodrive race cars independently of Ferrari, and the same approach was taken with the engineering of the DBR9s, with no financial support from the then owners, Ford.
In 2008, Aston Martin Racing expanded its horizons by introducing the customer GT2 specification Vantage. This marked the fourth addition to the AMR portfolio of GT cars, covering GT1, GT2, GT3, and GT4 categories. The Vantage GT2, based on the road-going version, was designed for competition in various series, including the FIA GT series, Japanese GT, European Open GT, Le Mans 24hr, and both European and American Le Mans series.
The engine capacity of the GT2 cars was increased from the road car's 4.3 liters to 4.5 liters, aiming for around 480 bhp. These cars featured a bonded aluminum chassis with carbon fiber panels and a comprehensive aero package, including a flat floor, front splitter, rear diffuser, and a CFD-designed rear wing. In Le Mans configuration, the car weighed just 1175kg, equipped with a six-speed sequential gearbox and uprated Brembo calipers. The double wishbone suspension was similar to the road car setup but with revised geometry to accommodate wider tires.
Only 9 examples, plus the prototype, were produced.
In 2009, Lord Paul Drayson, a British businessman, racing driver, and politician, faced challenges to fulfill his dream of competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite being blind in one eye, the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) initially denied him an entry. To overcome this, he embarked on a unique journey to demonstrate his racing skills in the USA, where the rules were more flexible. This allowed him to participate in the American Le Mans Series in 2008.
To participate, Lord Drayson had to temporarily step away from his political career and seat in the House of Lords. The Prime Minister imposed two conditions: Drayson must drive a British car and showcase British innovation. His choice was the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2, with both cars featuring a patriotic livery and running on BioFuel.
With co-driver Jonny Cocker, a 2004 British GT champion, and Aston Martin legend Darren Turner, Drayson proved his ability and the prowess of the Aston GT2 chassis. In 2009, he became eligible to compete in the European Le Mans series and, consequently, the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Drayson retained both cars until 2022 when he sold them as a pair to their current custodian, Pursuit Racing, for extensive restoration to the highest standard, preparing them for immediate competition. The purchase included all the accumulated spares from Drayson Racing, resulting in a comprehensive spares package for each car.
The restoration process was extensive, including the reconfiguration of both cars to run on conventional race fuel. New engines were supplied (with the originals retained by Prodrive), and other works involved crack testing, gearbox rebuilds, new fuel tanks and lines, and recalibration to suit. In April 2023, Darren Turner conducted a full shakedown of the cars at Silverstone, making them eligible for both Peter Auto's Endurance Racing Legends and the Masters Endurance Legends series.
DK Engineering
Little Green Street Farm,
Green Street, Chorleywood, Herts, WD3 6EA
Telephone: +44 (0)1923 287687
