The second-generation Vantage GT3 is driving the Nordschleife for the first time since the car’s official debut in what was then the VLN in October 2018.
The appearance is also the first time that the Prodrive-led Aston Martin Racing squad has driven a car with a purely professional line-up since the British manufacturer’s involvement in the GTE Pro class of the FIA World Endurance Championship ended in the 2019 season / 20th
Aston Martin said that he will enter the SP9 class at the penultimate round of the NLS on September 25, “to demonstrate the potential of the car after three years of development and seven championship titles on the Nordschleife”. .
It added that “the race will also serve to assist the series organizers in formulating a balance of performance measurement for the car ahead of possible NLS or Nürburgring 24-hour entries in 2022”.
AMR President David King said: “Despite our various successes at the Nürburgring, Aston Martin has never had a sustained presence in the top of the NLS for one reason or another.
“The time has come for a change, as we have a world-class GT3 contender in the Vantage and are trying to achieve another victory for the Vantage GT3.”
Aston Martin’s statement on the announcement of the entry stated that “interest in the Vantage GT3 as a potential NLS contender continues to grow, both from existing partners and from new potential customers.”
The newly built chassis that Thiim and Martin will send into the race on Saturday will have a revised factory paint job.
Aston Martin has also chosen to showcase the V8-powered Vantage GT3 at this year’s Spa 24 Hours in collaboration with the Garage 59 customer team.
A car and works drivers Thiim, Marco Sorensen and Ross Gunn placed with the British team, which finished third overall behind Ferrari and Audi.
Thiim and Martin have already driven together at the Nürburgring in the past: They were part of the crew that achieved Aston’s best result in the 24 hours, a fourth place in 2018 with the V12 engine predecessor of the current car.
Martin and Darren Turner also finished fourth in the complete racing debut of the latest generation Vantage GT3 on the Nordschleife three years ago. This was followed by an appearance of the car at the Aston Martin Festival brand race in support of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June 2018.
Ross Gunn won the 45-minute race on the road but was not officially classified as the car drove by invitation.
Martin said: “It has obviously improved a lot since we last drove the car there three years ago on its debut, and even then we knew it had enormous potential. It will be great fun to drive alongside Nicki and we will work very hard to make the most of this opportunity. “
Thiim added: “It’s always an honor to drive for Aston Martin and I think everyone knows that I absolutely love the Nürburgring. So we will do everything we can to prove that the Vantage is a car that can compete in the NLS. “
For long-term customer Paul Dalla Lana, AMR will also be using a car in the GTE Am class of the WEC in 2021.
The post Aston Martin makes GT3 entry into the NLS first appeared on monter-une-startup.
