Aston Martin celebrates its centenary year by embarking upon its largest factory team entry in its 100 year history.
As part of its most ambitious racing programme to date, Aston Martin is entering four V8-powered Vantage GTEs into the FIA World Endurance Championship. Major upgrades have been applied to the vehicles, two of which will be entered in both the Pro and Am categories.
Entry into the series means that each of the four Vantage GTEs will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the third round of the WEC on 22nd-23rd June. Two potential further entries for Le Mans and selected WEC rounds are on the reserve list.
The V8-powered Vantage GTE is based upon Aston Martin’s sportiest road-going model, the Vantage coupé. It shares that car’s bonded aluminium structure and fundamental engine and suspension designs, emphasising the base car’s inherent sporting nature. The GTE Pro entries, #97 and #99, will be the heavily-revised.
John Gaw, managing director and team principal at Aston Martin Racing said: “Overall, around 30 per cent of all components on the 2013-specification Pro cars are new, which makes for a significant improvement. We looked at specific areas where we could take weight 
out of the car and redistribute it to a better location. We have also revised the suspension, which has not only improved the handling but, when combined with the new fly-by wire throttle allowed under this year’s regulations, makes the car easier to drive.”
In building the dream team, Aston Martin Racing retains Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke, and Frédéric Makowiecki and Bruno Senna have been signed to drive the second GTE Pro car.
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