ASTON MARTIN GTE

Aston Martin Racing first entered in what was then the GT2 class in 2008 with a V8 Vantage- based machine built for customers. Raced on both sides of the Atlantic, the GT2 specification cars were not particularly successful. At the same time, the works team raced the V12 engined GT1 and LMP1 cars.

The focus changed after a disastrous effort with the 2011 LMP1 car and the introduction of the GTE class that superseded GT2 and replaced GT1 as the top GT class in the new-for-2012 FIA World Endurance Championship ( WEC). For a works entry in the GTE- Pro class of the WEC, Aston Martin Racing set about developing the existing GT2 car into a competitive GTE racer.

The regulations were fairly similar and an existing chassis was used as the basis for the ‘new’ GTE car. The added impetus of factory development no doubt helped improve the car in every respect. As before, the V8 Vantage GTE used a production sourced V8 engine that was mated to a six-speed sequential transaxle. The engine was re- positioned to optimise performance.

Liveried in the ever striking Gulf Oil colours, a single works car was raced throughout the season, while a second was entered from Le Mans onwards in the GTE-Am class. The cars faced strong competition from the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette but at Le Mans the GTE- Pro car finished third in class. The first class victory came at the Shanghai season finale where the works car placed first in the GTE- Pro Class.

In the 2013 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship the car was driven to overall victory in the GTE- AM class with Roald Goethe, Stuart Hall and Jamie Campbell-Walter.