Engineering:Aston Martin Vantage GT2

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2
Aston Martin GT2
The Aston Martin Racing GTE car at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans
CategoryLM GTE
ConstructorAston Martin Lagonda LTD
SuccessorAston Martin Vantage GTE (2018)
Technical specifications
ChassisBonded aluminium chassis with carbon fibre panels
Suspension (front)Double wishbone with adjustable Koni dampers
Suspension (rear)Double wishbone with adjustable Koni dampers
EngineAston Martin (Jaguar AJ37)[1] 4,475 cc (4.5 L; 273.1 cu in), all aluminium, 32 valve 90° V8, naturally aspirated, 450 bhp (336 kW; 456 PS), 500 N⋅m (369 lb⋅ft), FMR
Transmission6-speed sequential manual
WeightFIA 1,150 kg (2,540 lb)
ACO 1,175 kg (2,590 lb)
FuelTotal Excellium 98 unleaded
Total Quartz 9000 lubricants
Competition history
Notable entrantsUnited KingdomAston Martin Racing
United KingdomDrayson Racing
United KingdomTF Sport
United KingdomBeechdean AMR
Debut2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach

The Aston Martin Vantage GT2 is the most powerful racing variant of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage family. The Vantage GT2 is based on the V8 engined Aston Martin Vantage road car but is designed to run on both standard race fuel or E85 bio-ethanol.

Development

Drayson-Barwell's V8 Vantage GT2 at the car's debut, the 2008 American Le Mans Series at Long Beach.

Debuting in 2008 the GT2 is designed to meet FIA and ACO GT2 class regulations, the Vantage will become a customer car for use in the FIA GT Championship, American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Aston Martin Vantage GT2's engine is a modified version of the standard 4.3-litre AJ37 V8 from the road car. The larger 4.5-litre engine retains the road car's cylinder block, heads and crankshaft, but uses competition components, including cylinder heads, con-rods, valves, camshafts and a racing exhaust system. The developed engine features a dry sump lubrication system allowing the engine to be positioned low in the chassis, for an optimised centre of gravity.[2]

The car uses the original bonded aluminium chassis supplied by Aston Martin, but uses carbon fibre panels (exc roof) and features front splitter, rear diffuser, rear wing and a flat floor.

The V8 Vantage GT2 has been tuned to be capable of running E85 ethanol or normal racing fuel, dependent on the racing series.[3]

Drayson Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT2 racing in the Le Mans Series at Silverstone Circuit in 2009.

Aston Martin Racing has confirmed the entry of two upgraded GTE-Spec Vantage GT2s in the inaugural World Endurance Championship with a works team. Both the upgraded cars will debut in tests in January. They are reported to 'wear' Gulf liveries, much like those of the GT and Prototypes of Aston Martin have before.

A total of 9 chassis were built.[4]

Racing history

Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 saw its racing debut at the 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach, driven by Paul Drayson, a former Minister of State in the United Kingdom, and Jonny Cocker, 2004 British GT Champion. The car will also be run on E85 fuel.[5]

James Watt Automotive ran the V8 Vantage GT2 in the Le Mans Series 2008,[6] although the car failed to make the start of its debut race due to mechanical problems.

Drayson Racing ran the V8 Vantage GT2 in the Le Mans Series 2009.

It was confirmed that the JLOC would use a V8 Vantage GT2 in 2010 Super GT season. The Car was run under the name Aspeed triple A Vantage GT2

JMW Motorsport ran the V8 Vantage GT2 in the Le Mans Series 2010.[7]

JMW Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT2 at Autosport International in 2010.

Aston Martin Vantage GT2's have also raced in many other series including the Le Mans Series and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Two Vantages also raced at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans: Jota Racing AMR and Gulf AMR Middle East. Both cars ultimately retired, one with mechanical issues and the other after losing control and spinning off the circuit, injuring the driver Mark Wainwright and damaging the car too seriously to continue.

Gulf AMR Middle East Vantage GT2 - Petit Le Mans 2011

Upgrades and GTE Version

For the 2012 season, Aston Martin Racing returned to a GT based program, after an ill-fated attempt the previous season with their LMP1 class petrol-powered contender, the AMR-One. With the Vantage GT2's specification varying slightly from the updated Le Mans GT2 (now GTE) regulations, development took place with the car relaunched as the Vantage GTE.

Major upgrades

Primarily, this focussed on serviceability, a major drawback on the outgoing Vantage GT2. This included creating a new modular construction implementing a series of detachable bars in the front structure, allowing the engine to be pulled straight out of the car. This now allows the engine change process to be completed in less than an hour without any effect on suspension settings, unlike the old configuration, which could take upwards of four hours. The rear suspension and subframe have also been modified to aid serviceability. To increase safety, the fuel cell has been repositioned within the roll cage to reduce the risk of damage to its structure in an accident.

Secondary upgrades

Other upgrades include reductions in weight throughout, including weight reductions for many individual components such as the battery.[8]

Improvements also included a new CFD-derived front-bumper, side skirt and rear wing - the latter an evolution of the Le Mans aero package which the Automobile Club de l'Ouest allowed the Aston Martin Racing team to run on the car for the entire season - "Aston Martin Vantage: The rear wing used at Le Mans in 2011 will be used during all the 2012 season with a 15 mm gurney and at Le Mans 2012 without gurney".[9] Modifications also improved cooling for the driver, a significant concern on the old model, which plagued Drayson-Barwell's 2008 ALMS season.[10]

Complete Competition results

Complete American Le Mans Series results

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Points Pos
Florida
SEB
Florida
STP
California
LBH
Utah
MIL
Connecticut
LRP
Ohio
MOH
Wisconsin
ELK
Canada
MOS
Michigan
BEL
Georgia (U.S. state)
ATL
California
LGA
2008 United Kingdom Drayson-Barwell GT2 United Kingdom Paul Drayson 007 11 RET RET 10 RET 8 RET RET 8 24 9th
United Kingdom Jonny Cocker 11 RET RET 10 RET 8 RET RET 8
United Kingdom Darren Turner RET
Florida
SEB
Florida
STP
California
LBH
Utah
MIL
Connecticut
LRP
Ohio
MOH
Wisconsin
ELK
Canada
MOS
Georgia (U.S. state)
ATL
California
LGA
Points Pos
2009 United Kingdom Drayson Racing GT2 United Kingdom Paul Drayson
United Kingdom Jonny Cocker
United Kingdom Rob Bell
007 RET 0 NC
Florida
SEB
California
LBH
Connecticut
LRP
Canada
MOS
Ohio
MOH
Wisconsin
ELK
Maryland
BGP
California
LGA
Georgia (U.S. state)
ATL
Points Pos
2011 United Arab Emirates Gulf AMR Middle East GTE Am France Fabien Giroix
Germany Roald Goethe
United Kingdom Michael Wainright
60 RET 4 0 NC

Complete FIA GT Championship results

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Pos
SIL

United Kingdom

ADR

Italy

OSC

Germany

SPA

Belgium

BUD

Hungary

ALG

Portugal

PAU

France

ZOL

Belgium

2009 France Hexis Racing AMR GT2 Germany Stefan Mücke 80 7 2 10 7th
France Frédéric Makowiecki 7 2

Complete Le Mans Series & European Le Mans Series results

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

Le Mans Series
Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 Points Pos
CAT

Spain

MNZ

Italy

SPA

Belgium

NUR

Germany

SIL

United Kingdom

2008 United Kingdom James Watt Automotive GT2 South Africa Alan van der Merwe 93 DNS 7 2 13th
Belgium Stéphane Lémeret DNS
Denmark Michael Outzen DNS 7
United Kingdom Tim Sugden 7
CAT

Spain

SPA

Belgium

ALG

Portugal

NUR

Germany

SIL

United Kingdom

Points Pos
2009 United Kingdom Drayson Racing GT2 United Kingdom Jonny Cocker 87 8 7 10RET 13RET 14RET 1 12th
United Kingdom Paul Drayson 8 7 10RET 13RET 14RET
LEC

France

SPA

Belgium

ALG

Portugal

HUN

Hungary

SIL

United Kingdom

Points Pos
2010 United Kingdom JMW Motorsport GT2 United Kingdom Rob Bell 92 12RET 16RET 4 6 3 30 10th
United Kingdom Darren Turner 12RET 16RET 4 6 3
LEC

France

SPA

Belgium

IMO

Italy

SIL

United Kingdom

EST

Portugal

Points Pos
2011 United Kingdom Jota GTE Pro United Kingdom Sam Hancock 92 6RET 5 7 11 5 24 7th
United Kingdom Simon Dolan 6RET 5 7 11 5
United Kingdom Chris Buncombe 11
European Le Mans Series
LEC

France

DON

United Kingdom

PLM

United States

Points Pos
2012 United Kingdom Gulf Racing GTE Am United Kingdom Stuart Hall 69 4 0 NC
Germany Roald Goethe 4
The Vantage GTE at the Silverstone round of the 2012 World Endurance Championship

References

External links