June looks likely to be a bit of a busy month for Aston Martin racers. Just a week before the big one at Le Mans, four cars will be entered at the no less gruelling Nürburgring 24-hour endurance event. There will be two N24 V8 Vantages from the factory, with a customer N24 team and a specially developed DBRS9, run by Phoenix Racing and Aston Martin Austria.

Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, said: "Aston Martin has always been associated with endurance racing and June will be a very exciting month starting with the Nürburgring 24-hour race followed by Le Mans a week later. "Our motorsport strategy has always been to get many Aston Martins competing in races all over the world and this week in June will see that plan further realised."

Head of Product Communications and Motorsport, David King commented: "Achieving 24th position from 220 entrants with a near standard car at the Nürburgring last year was a great way to demonstrate the capabilities of the V8 Vantage. This year we are delighted to offer our customers the opportunity to join us in the race."

Dirk Theimann, Team Manager Phoenix Racing said: "This race combines an electric atmosphere with probably the most demanding circuit in the world – there’s nothing like it. The DBRS9 will add glamour and excitement for the spectators." The Phoenix DBRS9 will feature a driver line-up comprising three times Le Mans winner Klaus Ludwig (Germany), Marcel Fässler (Switzerland), Robert Lechner (Austria) and Sascha Bert (Germany).

Aston Martin’s own N24 Vantage will once again be piloted by Dr Ulrich Bez, Chris Porritt (Aston Martin Vehicle Dynamics Manager), Wolfgang Schuhbauer (Aston Martin Development Engineer) and Horst von Saurma (Editor of Sport Auto) and this year will feature Aston Martin’s new Sportshift transmission, which was launched as an option on V8 Vantage earlier this year.

"Sportshift will lend itself perfectly to the driving conditions of the Nordschleife - with over 60 gear changes per lap – it will provide for faster shifts with less effort required by the driver," said Chris Porritt.

The Nürburgring 24-hour race will be held over the weekend of 9-10 June. A week later two Aston Martin Racing DBR9s, and a further four works-assisted privateer DBR9s, will do battle with five Corvettes over 24 hours of hard racing at Le Mans.

Text: Classic Driver
Photos: Aston Martin