Aston Martin 2008 ALMS GT2 Contender

(from ultimate car page website)

Check out the ProDrive Aston Martin V8 Vantage that will run ALMS GT-2 in 2008. Could be a threat to the Ferraris.
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Too bad it's not the V-12 in GT1, but they are still beautiful cars.

 

Michael, it's good to see additional competition in the ALMS. Gives it real credibility, as it deserves. Must be Carole was a good girl in 2007 and her ALMS wishes are coimg true.

 

A big threat. Aston won the British GT3 championship in 2007.

 

That car is fit..looks awesome

 

Hi Ron, Michael, Steve and Ian!

This is definitely good news. From what I read, Dave Richards is suppose to announce on the 10th (Thursday) at Autosport International Aston Martin's racing plans...that would be terrific for them to contest ALMS and LMS. The cars are so sweet. I was really hoping for them in GT1 but that's okay. I'm hoping Rik will come across the pond again for Sebring and give the Vette's some competition with their Aston. The driver line-up if Aston does in fact enter ALMS should be interesting . . Tomas perhaps??

Carol

 

Ahhh yes, I wondered when Aston would bring this out. I'm liking the green lipstick as well - much better than the yellow one they had on the Works DBR9.

 

Hi Carol hope your having a great start to the New year!!

I'am out of my depth with this sort of racing, but I keep reading your post's and I'am getting interested..

I agree.

 

When they ran in the US the 007 car had bright red lips and visor and the 009 car had yellow. I just can't access those pics right now.

 

Cant wait to see/hear this thing at Mid-Ohio!

 

Yup, this is great news!

 

I don't know about this one but their GT3 car sounds absolutely awesome.

 

That would be the mighty DBRS9. Sounds like a beast, doesn't it? Pitty we don't have GT3 races here in NZ

 

Man. I wanted ROAR to be the first ones to campaign AMV8's in the US.


Great to hear though, hopefully they will do better in GT2 than the 9's in GT1.

-- Adam

 

I saw the Aston DBR9s twice at Sebring and once at Road America.One of the Sebring cars won the race
and if not for a bad front tire they would have one at Road America in 2006 also.
Here are a few shots I took of the Sebring 2005 cars.I also post a few shots I took of the 575 at Sebring
in 2004.

Tom Tanner/Scale Designs
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Such beautiful cars...

 

Here you go (First photo from Ultimate Car Page, second and third are from Michael Fux's collection, last photo Sebring 2007):
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Here's one of the Astons that ran in GT4 at the 24 Hours of Spa (FIA-GT) this past July. A different take on Aston "lips" in the next three photos (from LMS 1000km race at Monza last April) - last one is Rik's car. Michael, I have a bunch of 007 and 009 from Mosport on a cd somewhere!

Barwell Motorsports will be the team running in ALMS, here's a little insight from AMR:

Barwell and Paul Drayson will continue their ground-breaking Bio-Ethanol campaign, with both cars being built to run on ‘2nd Generation’ E85 (85%) Bio-Ethanol fuel. Paul will be moving up from the British GT Championship to drive one of the new GT2 cars, which will be entered in the American Le Mans Series using E85 Bio-Ethanol fuel (as allowed by ALMS from 2008). Alongside this, Barwell is seriously evaluating a plan to run another car in a selected (European) Le Mans Series programme, which would also be developed and tested as an E85 Bio-Ethanol car, although this may have to switch back to running on the 2008 LMS-Championship spec E10 fuel for the race events themselves. Barwell is also keen to evaluate other energy efficient technologies in the future.

Commenting on the announcement Paul Drayson said: “Barwell, Jonny and I have had a great season in 2007, achieving a historic first win for a green fuelled racecar. We have been delighted by the interest and support for our green racing project and we are keen to take it to the next level. For the first time next year the American Le Mans Series will allow bio-ethanol cars to compete and so this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase British motorsport technology for environmentally friendly racing. I’m going to give it 100% commitment and focus.”

The GT2 programme has been set up as a minimum two-year plan, with the aspiration of competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2009. With regards to other drivers, Drayson and Barwell will continue their relationship with his British GT partner, Jonny Cocker, with the 21-year-old joining Paul in the ALMS attack. A third driver would then be added only for the 1000-mile Petit Le Mans race in October. No drivers have been finalised for the European series car, but discussions are ongoing with all of Barwell’s ’07 drivers and other interested parties regarding the seats available.


Carol
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Thanks for that Jill, interesting stuff.

The Barwell team looked to be very professional and I've no doubt they'll do well this year. In the British GT3 I think they'll be second, behind "my team's" F430.

 

Latest on Autosport says Barwell will be starting the ALMS season with the Long Beach race. Here's what they had to say:

Drayson Barwell Motorsport will be one of the first teams to race the new GT2 Aston Martin Vantage when they compete in this year's American Le Mans Series.

The British team will switch from the British GT championship to the ALMS for this year, although the new car will not be ready to race until the third race of the year at Long Beach.

The car will also become the first bio-fuelled car in the championship, as the team hopes to promote greener racing.

Speaking on the main stage at this year's Autosport International show, team co-owner Mark Lemmer said: "We are proud to be running with such an iconic brand.

"GT2 is a very tough category in the ALMS, and we are under no illusions about how challenging it will be.

"It's going to be a learning year, and it's going to be difficult but we hope to show some competitiveness as the year goes on."

Former British GT champion Jonathan Cocker, who raced the team's GT3 Aston Martin last year added: "Aston Martin have massive experience in sportscars, and I'm hoping the car will be competitive.

"As far as competition goes in GT2 there's nothing better than the ALMS. To be in a position to race for Aston Martin in that championship is fantastic."

* * *
This definitely promises to be a fantastic season.

Carol

 

Sweet car, and the ALMS looks like it will have another great year of racing.

Bring it on!

 

Drayson-Barwell team will use Michelin tires.

(now seems a three year deal and not two year)

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=3874

Aston Martin Racing Team Boss George Howard-Chappell Interview

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/alms/42346/

ALMS VIDEO: Inside the Aston Martin DBR9 Le Mans Winner

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/alms/42375/