New Aston Martin GT3 to Enter VLN Next Weekend

Photo: Aston Martin

Aston Martin’s new Vantage GT3 will make its competitive race debut in the VLN race next weekend ahead of a full roll-out in 2019.

Factory drivers Maxime Martin and Darren Turner will drive a single 2019-spec Vantage GT3 in the four-hour race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife on Oct. 6. 

The car ran as part of the Aston Martin Festival at Le Mans in June but the VLN appearance will be the first time it has raced in its expected final specification.

Aston Martin follows Porsche in running its new GT3 car prior to homologation, with the German manufacturer having entered its 2019-spec car in several VLN and 24H GT Series events in recent months.

“This is the next necessary step in the development of the new Vantage GT3,” said AMR president David King.

“The program is now at an advanced stage and it is time to measure the car’s performance against those it is likely to come against in 2019.

“With our extensive experience of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, it is the perfect place to test the car in a competitive environment as we sharpen areas of its development ahead of its homologation.”

TF Sport and Optimum Motorsport have both ordered the car to run next year in the British GT Championship alongside new GT4 entries.

A statement released by Aston Martin last week revealed that “many orders” have been secured for the Vantage GT3 to compete around the world, including a likely Blancpain GT Series entry.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.