The highly successful, ‘privateer’ DB9-based DBRS9 GT3 car will be replaced next year by a new model built on the smaller V12 Vantage chassis. As an Aston Martin spokesman says, “the competition has moved on”, so running the 600bhp V12 in a more compact chassis should put the British manufacturer back in contention for class honours.

Don’t forget, though, that the older car is still very competitive, winning in the Australian GT series at Mount Panorama in October 2010 and achieving a podium finish at Zolder this month.

The ‘Vantage GT3’ should weigh in at just under 1250kg and will have a semi-automatic paddle-shift Xtrac racing gearbox. An optimised-for-racing ABS and traction control system is also included in the package.

An example of the new car is due to test in July, with the intention of having 10 customer cars ready for the start of the 2012 season.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Aston Martin