Aston Martin celebrates in style in new St Athan base
ASTON Martin described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. It gave three of its drivers access to 28 cars worth a collective £65m and told them to have fun at the vast empty St Athan super-hangars the firm has just taken over.
The results were portrayed in a short film produced to celebrate the transfer of ownership of the three super-hangars.
The video was filmed using professional drivers Nicki Thim, from Aston Martin Racing, Darren Turner, from Ton Martin Racing, and Chief Engineer Matt Becker.
The historic British motoring firm also roped in three Wales rugby stars, Ken Owens, Scott Williams and Scott Quinnell, to play hapless security guards.
The cars featured are some of the most famous ever made by Aston Martin throughout its 104-year history.
The seven-minute video opens with the trio of drivers on the open road in the Vale of Glamorgan, driving three cars and set to a spine-tingling version of Calon Lan.
The following morning they “break in” to a hangar and have their pick of the manufacturer’s incredible cars.
The video features cars including the A3 to the DBR1, the One-77, numerous Vantages, Rapide S and the Aston Martin Vulcan.
The trio of drivers put the cars through their paces inside the hangars – all while some familiar-looking security guards sleep through their mischief.
The Aston Martin Vulcan was the first car to turn a wheel at the site of the British luxury car-maker’s second UK manufacturing plant, at St Athan, in the Vale of Glamorgan, recently, signalling the start of the redevelopment of the former MoD site into a state-of-the-art facility.
The vast hangars were built for the Ministry of Defence but have been left empty after plans changed.
The company says that the vast, empty hangars offered a “once-in-alifetime opportunity” to show off the cars in the way only their drivers know how.
The video ends with the drivers discovering three further cars, all under cover, but their plan to take them out is foiled by the arrival of Aston Martin president and CEO Andy Palmer, who knows exactly what has gone on and gets the security guards to clean up the mess.
In 2016, Aston Martin announced it had selected St Athan from 20 potential global locations it had been considering for its second manufacturing facility as part of a £200m investment in new products and facilities.
The announcement was followed by an Aston Martin recruitment drive to identify up to 750 staff to work at the new plant.
In December last year it was announced the car manufacturer had acquired the site.
At the time, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “We are delighted that Aston Martin has chosen to locate its new manufacturing facility here in Wales and that the land sale is now complete.
“Aston Martin’s move here is fantastic news for the Vale of Glamorgan and surrounding areas, and will provide a real boost to the local economy, resulting in thousands of highquality jobs both within Aston Martin and the wider supply chain.
“The move really is a coup for Wales and a huge vote of confidence in the support offered to businesses by the Welsh Government.”
Mr Palmer described it as a “milestone” in the company’s history.