http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2008/1/4/9080104.010/9080104.010.1M.jpg
(http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2008/1/4/9080104.010/9080104.010.1L2.jpg)



Aston Martin Racing has revealed the first impressions of its new GT2 racing car.
Known as the Vantage GT2, the new car is based on the V8 engined Aston Martin Vantage road car. The new car will mean Aston Martin is the only manufacturer to offer cars in every GT racing category: GT1 – DBR9; GT2 – Vantage GT2; GT3 – DBRS9; GT4 – Vantage N24.
For the first time, Aston Martin Racing is designing this car to run on either standard race fuel or E85 bio-ethanol (where regulations allow). In 2007, Aston Martin Racing successfully converted a standard DBRS9 to run on E85.
Robin Brundle, Aston Martin Racing’s new managing director, said: “The new Vantage GT2 completes our product portfolio for 2008 with competitive cars now available in every category. Thanks to our experience with the DBRS9, we have been able to develop a bio-ethanol fuelled version, which will be eligible to compete in an increasing number of series now accommodating this greener fuel, including the American Le Mans Series.”
Aston Martin chairman, David Richards, will be announcing Aston Martin Racing’s 2008 plans at the Autosport International show on Thursday 10 January at 10.45 am.

Love all of Aston's racecars.

I think in 2-3 years time, bio-ethanol will make a revolution in auto-transport. It burns cleaner increasing engine lifeteime, reliability and efficiency. This is on of the things that sure will go from motorsport to the mass public.

Very nice looking car, as you say. However, I do think that Aston should start moving forwards, and sorting out the non-visual aspects of their cars.

hhmmm... picture looks good at least... we will see

I can't complain about the looks of it. Aston Martin makes some of the sexiest cars. Now if only it performs as good as it looks...

It looks good but this is not official. I think these are rumors. We will see, though.

Very nice looking car, as you say. However, I do think that Aston should start moving forwards, and sorting out the non-visual aspects of their cars.

Eh? They are considering running this car on alternative fuel, and they've never raced the Vantage at a professional level before, a job previously undertaken by the DB9 variants. The N24 is more of a special edition, having completed some 24hour events etc. and is available to the public. This will be something more, this will be epic.

It would be cool just to see all the Astons on the grid at the same time, in all classes.

Chris.

I saw it when it first surfaced and it looked, and still does look, great.

C.A.R. the Vantage competes in GT4 already, which counts as professional racing.

how exactly is it different to the last one? (except possible perfomance)

C.A.R. the Vantage competes in GT4 already, which counts as professional racing.

Well sorta, yeah. But seeing as GT4 is a much lower class, I just wrote it off as not being as higher form of motorsport. But I digress and agree that it is indeed professional racing.

The visible differences are obvious on this mock-up, it has bulged arches, front and rear wings and racing livery. In terms of what will make it "different" it will comply with GT2 regulations, making it a much more hardcore example of a Vantage than the N24. It will be lower, faster and more extreme. Well at least hopefully!

Chris.

That Aston looks really good, although I thought that they would at least deviate from the styling of the DBS, DB9, and Vanquish, even if it's just ever sos slightly.

Wow..more of the same stuff....
Lol

Other than paintjob, and possibly lap times...will there be any way to notice the difference between the cars?

One's a Vantage and two are DB9's. They have very different engines. They have different paint jobs, different bodies. One is a GT2, the others are GT3 and GT1 class.

You'll soon notice the difference.

Chris.

No..i probably won't...unless as you said the paintjobs are that diff...Otherwise i really won't care, because i think although AM LM cars are good looking, are some of the worse sounding vehicles on the field short of Listers.

Worse? Erm, wrong way around. The worst sounding are probably the Vipers.

The V12's wail and deafen. The Vettes' have a lovely, low-down grumble, but are not as loud. I cannot imagine how good the Vantage will sound, but I've heard the N24, and it ain't half good.

Essentially you're saying the cars all look the same and the only difference is the class. Unfortunately, the Corvettes are exceptionally bad at this, and the whole range of Corvettes all share identical liveries. At least these are different.

Chris.

You're absolutely true, but i wasn't talking about corvettes..i was talking about Aston martins...so i don't see how that was relevant..

and Vipers sound fantastic, Panoz...great, ferrari...amazing....Porsche...Godly.... .

A M.....whiny..

I was just mentioning that other manufacturers are more guilty than AM are.

Plus - how can the car with more cylinders sound whiney? Hmmm...

Have you ever been to a raceday?

Chris.

I was just mentioning that other manufacturers are more guilty than AM are.

Plus - how can the car with more cylinders sound whiney? Hmmm...

Have you ever been to a raceday?

Chris.

yes....And Whiny doesn't mean the engine sounds like it's winding to hi...Whiny is a diff adjective.

Noun, actually.

We spell it with an "e" too. But that's all besides the point. What do you mean Whiney? It really doesn't add up. The loudest car on the grid, with 12 cylinders is - whiney?

You never answered as to whether or not you've actually been to a race.

Chris.

You never answered as to whether or not you've actually been to a race.

Chris.

yes....And Whiny doesn't mean the engine sounds like it's winding to hi...Whiny is a diff adjective.
and since when is WHINeY a noun?

just for reinforcement.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/432595/aston_martin_dbr9/

Strictly Whiney is a noun, yes. Unless you're considering it a phonetical word, like onomatopoeia - in which case you're thinking of a whine or a whining noise. Wind can be said to make this noise.

I digress.

So does the mighty DBR9 not sound good in your opinion? If not then why?

Chris.

I just told you, it doesn't because it sounds whiney. I love watching the car make it's laps..but i get more enjoyment from it on mute than i do hearing it's engine spin like a nerf whistler football...

I mean if i heard it on the street..ALONE..i'm sure it'd sound FANTASTIC..

but...When it's being followed by..30 other cars that all sound 4x as good..it sounds like crap.

I've gone to an event, and i must say the panoz's sound the best.

and i don't think any of the cars sound wussy.

You're absolutely true, but i wasn't talking about corvettes..i was talking about Aston martins...so i don't see how that was relevant..

and Vipers sound fantastic, Panoz...great, ferrari...amazing....Porsche...Godly.... .

A M.....whiny..

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PPTAv9t36IE

How can you seriously say that sounds crap? :|

And are you telling me this won't sound good when tuned up even further?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9EvNFWyO-Ew

This GT2 is looking fantastic and fair play, it does sound awesome aswell. I'm looking forward to this one.