Aston Martin Racing’s (AMR) latest offering, the Vantage GT8R, will make its debut in the Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend, with partner racing team Garage 59. Based on the same chassis as the Vantage GTE, GT3 and GT4, it is set to compete in the SP8T class.
AMR says the car sits between the GT3 and GT4 Vantages, with its performance optimized around ADAC’s SP8T regulations, meaning reduced weight, increased power and improved aerodynamics compared with its GT4 counterpart. The aerodynamics package also includes a larger rear wing, as well as new dive planes and splitter, while power and weight are targeted at the SP8T class limits of 549hp and 1450kg.
An early concept of the GT8R actually won the SP8T class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours last year, in the hands of British trio Alex Brundle, Pete Cate, and Jamie Chadwick. Since then, AMR says the production specification has been comprehensively developed and recently completed its sign-off testing at Aragon in Spain before making its race debut last month in round five of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS).
Aimed primarily at customers wishing to race in the NLS and the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the car is also eligible for the GT Cup in the UK, Super Taikyu in Japan, the USA’s Trans-Am Series and the New Zealand Endurance Championship. A run of 50 will go on sale at a list price of £225,000 (US$286,000), while kits will be made available for existing Vantage GT4 customers to upgrade their cars.
Aston Martin Racing president David King commented, “This car was borne out of a desire from our existing customers who wanted to step up to a faster machine than the Vantage GT4, and from our desire to have a truly competitive car in the increasingly important SP8T class at the Nürburgring.
“The GT8R exploits a gap in the market that allows drivers to experience the user-friendly accessibility of the entry-level Vantage, while delivering a significant step up in performance.”
