Currently reading: New Aston Martin Vantage GTE Le Mans racer 'proves transferable tech'
British firm highlights development of 2018 World Endurance Championship racer in new video

Aston Martin Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer said that it was vital to develop the racing version of the new Vantage alongside the road-going version in order to demonstrate transferable technology between the two.

The firm revealed the revamped Vantage earlier this week, alongside the Vantage GTE racing version. The latter will compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA World Endurance Championship in 2018.

New Aston Martin Vantage launched - pics and full details

Aston has now released a short video showing how the race version was developed alongside the road car over the past 18 months. “We decided to replace the current Vantage road car and – since it’s really necessary to take race technology from the track to the road and from the road to the track – it’s really important that we design both simultaneously,” said Palmer.

The GTE class machine will replace the old Vantage race car that has been run since 2012, taking 37 victories, including a pair of Le Mans class wins.

2018 Aston Martin Vantage revealed

The Vantage GTE has been developed by the Prodrive-run Aston Martin Racing squad, which has optimised the powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics of the new road car. Aston says key goals included making the car easier to control on the limit, to boost its usability for gentleman drivers in the GTE Am class, and refining the AMG-developed four-litre turbocharged V8 from the road car.

Vantage gte raer 19

The new Vantage GTE runs on Ohlins suspension, with bespoke Michelin tyres and a new braking system from Alcon. 

The team has already completed more than 8000 miles of testing, including a 30-hour test at the Navarra circuit in Spain. The test programme included British racer Darren Turner and Jonny Adam, who will stay with the team next year alongside Danish drivers Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen. Brit Alex Lynn, who has served as a development driver for Williams in Formula 1, will join the team.

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How Aston Martin claimed Le Mans 2017 glory in a final-lap thriller

The next World Endurance Championship is set to be a ‘super-season’ spanning 2018 and 2019, in order for the series to switch to a winter calendar format. The first race will be at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 5 May. Next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours will be held on 16/17 June.

Read more 

New Aston Martin Vantage launched - pics and full details

How Aston Martin claimed Le Mans 2017 glory in a final-lap thriller

Aston Martin Vantage GT8 review 

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Aston Martin Vulcan AMR Pro revealed 

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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Symanski 24 November 2017

V8 Vantage.

The first car in history that Khan might actually be able to improve the looks of.

 

Hedonist 22 November 2017

I'm sorry to say, it's best seen

in side profile. The view from the front is not good.