ASTON MARTIN has formally unveiled its up to date 2024 Vantage GT3 this week alongside the introduction of the road-going coupe – and only a month after the mannequin’s “unofficial” outing on the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.
Touted as a complete evolution of the earlier iteration, the Aston Martin GT3 shares the identical bonded aluminium physique and Mercedes-AMG sourced engine of the street automotive with an all-new aerodynamic package deal, totally reworked suspension association, and up to date electronics.
The brand new aero tweaks are mentioned to maneuver the centre of stress aft to scale back pitch sensitivity and support stability. Giant louvres within the high of the entrance wheel arch assist to scale back front-end carry, whereas rear vents help in decreasing drag.
“Concurrently revealing the brand new Vantage and Vantage GT3 race automotive underlines Aston Martin’s dedication to constructing the world’s most interesting sports activities automotive, after which proving its capabilities on-track,” mentioned Aston Martin world chief model and business officer Marco Mattiacci.
“It additionally indicators a more in-depth relationship between our street and race packages, with Aston Martin Racing benefitting from the distinctive pool of expertise, expertise and data solid in Method 1 and located all through Aston Martin Efficiency Applied sciences.
“The result’s a really state-of-the-art GT racer; one which clearly shares its DNA with the newest Vantage street automotive but is completely advanced to go well with the newest GT3 laws.
“Descended from a succession of a number of world championship-winning predecessors, the brand new Vantage GT3 is proving irresistible to a formidable worldwide roster of main GT racing groups.
“Hungry for victory and poised to construct upon Aston Martin’s extraordinary observe file, the world’s biggest endurance races are firmly within the Vantage GT3’s sights.”
The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is constructed to adjust to all FIA GT3 class laws, together with the newly launched LMGT3 class by which torque sensors are mandated.
The automotive, which comes as a collaboration between Aston Martin Racing (AMR) and Aston Martin Efficiency Applied sciences (AMPT) is claimed to supply a faster switch of knowledge from the observe to the street, whereas additionally making the GT3 as “driveable as attainable for each skilled and novice drivers alike”.
Certainly, each manufacturing unit and novice drivers took half in testing the brand new mannequin, taking part in a 12,000km running- and 30-hour race check.
The evaluation aimed to deal with among the previous automotive’s “tougher dealing with traits” and has delivered what Aston Martin says is a “super-fast-yet-forgiving machine with no vices and a usefully large set-up window that’s completely suited to the distinctive calls for and ultra-competitive nature of top-level GT racing”.
“The deal with the brand new Vantage GT3 was to extend their efficiency window and make one thing that will work at any circuit, on any tyre and with any driver. We additionally needed to work to the brand new laws, so this required extra adjustments,” defined Aston Martin Racing head of efficiency Gustavo Betelli.
“These new era GT3 vehicles are extra dependent than ever on aerodynamic downforce, so we wished to make the automotive extra steady beneath braking. The previous automotive would dive quite a bit beneath braking, so we needed to attempt to management the pitch with the rear suspension set-up.
“However this meant it was stiff, which made it fairly snappy and, additionally over-worked the tyres. Working closely on damper tuning, we’ve discovered a a lot better steadiness with the brand new automotive so we will generate the downforce with out compromising the suspension set-up.
“The result’s much-improved development and higher stability in all situations. It additionally works its tyres way more evenly, so groups have extra choices on technique. The suggestions from drivers who’ve examined it has been overwhelmingly constructive. Particularly the novice racers, who’ve been in a position to obtain lap occasions which can be a lot nearer to the professionals.
“Now we have to go racing!”
Aston Martin says that the broadened eligibility of occasions by which the mannequin can compete makes it the “weapon of selection” for an rising roster of racers. It’s anticipated that as many as 30 examples of the Vantage GT3 will probably be actively racing by the tip of 2024.
Native availability and pricing haven’t been confirmed, nonetheless GoAuto understands the mannequin will retail from £575,000 ($A1.11m).
