Aston Martin N24 V8 Vantage to compete at Bahrain 24-hour endurance race
08.December, 2006 @09:12 Coupe News
Aston Martin’s factory prepared, production standard, N24 V8 Vantage, which took its place in the company’s history books this summer after finishing 24th overall at the Nürburgring 24-hour race, among a field of largely motorsport-homologated cars, is to take to the race track again at the 24-hour race of Bahrain, 15-16 December.
As part of the continuing development of the N24 Vantage – the first customer examples of which will follow next year – the car has been entered into the inaugural race at the Bahrain International Circuit, which will present different challenges to previous races at the Nürburgring.
Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “In June we delivered exactly what we set out to do by finishing the 24 hours without any technical problems or team issues. The race marked a real achievement for both the car and the team and to celebrate this we wanted to make the car available to customers who are motorsport enthusiasts wanting to participate in amateur racing.”
“The meeting at Bahrain is an opportunity to race in very different conditions which will be valuable experience for the team and the car. Although there will be fewer entrants compared with June, the circuit is far smaller, so we can expect a more intense race in warmer conditions.”
Supported by a team from Aston Martin, the four drivers for the 24-hour race of Bahrain are: Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Chris Porritt, Aston Martin’s Vehicle Engineering Manager; Horst von Saurma, editor-in-chief of Sport Auto magazine, and development driver Wolfgang Schuhbauer. The same team raced flawlessly through more than 130 laps at the Nürburgring in June and will now embark on a very different challenge at the recently completed 6.14km Bahrain circuit.
Designed and developed by the Aston Martin team at the company’s world headquarters in Gaydon near Warwickshire, the N24 Vantage is almost entirely production standard, including the engine and transmission. The only modifications made – for safety and pit-lane efficiency – include a full mandatory safety cage, special fuel tank and fire system, racing seat, and built-in air jacks.
As the Vantage remains production standard, it can still be made road legal, allowing customers to drive from home and race at the track – as did the Vantage which completed the 24-hour endurance race in Germany in June.
The decision to offer customer versions of the N24 Vantage was made only shortly after the race was completed in June, based on customer feedback. First examples of the car will be delivered to customers during 2007.
Dr Bez continued: “With our dedicated production and engine facilities we have greater flexibility than ever before, allowing us to consider small, special production runs – such as this project.
“One of the virtues of our company is the ability to react to what customers want and, as we demonstrate here, offer the ultimate in personalisation.”
