Aston Martin Vantage GTE Race Car - Interior and Exterior Walkaround

We don't often get the chance to take a detailed look at such a prestigious race car, and with a detailed racing history including the 24 Heures de Le Mans, they don't come much more prestigious than this 2012 Aston Martin Factory Vantage GTE racer. During the 2006 British Motor Show in London, Aston Martin Racing revealed a near stock version of the V8 Vantage that would compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. The car, now known as the V8 Vantage N24, was driven by Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez, development engineer Chris Porrit, development driver Wolfgang Schuhbauer and German journalist Horst Graf von Saurma-Jeltsch in the 24‑hour race. The car finished 4th in class and 24th overall, before being driven home on public roads after the race. While essentially much like the existing coupé, the N24 had a front splitter and extended door sills for aerodynamic efficiency, a full roll cage, a racing fuel tank, and other modifications necessary to make the car race worthy. Other modifications include the removal of most of the interior, including all seats, replaced by a lone Recaro drivers seat. Later in 2006, Aston Martin confirmed that they would offer the V8 Vantage N24 to customers as a track car similar to a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. In contrast to Porsche—his former employer—Bez announced that Aston Martin would not extract a premium for the track model; stripped for competition, the limited-production N24 would cost about as much as a regular V8 Vantage. The N24 specification complies with FIA GT4 European Cup, German VLN series, Grand-Am Cup, and various other national series' requirements. The V8 Vantage N24 was featured in the BBC television series Top Gear, selected by James May in the presenters' quest to find the best driving road in Europe. Based on a grand tourer—less seat padding, air conditioning, suspension travel, and other comforts—the N24 was mocked by co-hosts Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson as an ill-considered choice. Additional honours have included a first and second the 2007 European GT4 race at Silverstone, the first 3 places in their class at the 2008 Nurburgring 24 hours race (18th out of 220 cars entered overall), and strong showings in Bahrain, VLN racing, and other tracks and events throughout the world.[40] The N24 was also the basis of a one-make pan-Asia series called Aston Martin Asia Cup. Competitors ran in identically-prepared N24s at various Asian circuits. In late 2008, Aston Martin debuted an updated version of the N24, known as the V8 Vantage GT4. Its primary alteration is the introduction of the new 4.7 L V8 engine that also debuted in the production V8 Vantage. This replaces the 4.3 L V8 previously used in the V8 Vantage N24. The suspension and brakes have also been updated along with a new front splitter, wheels and a fixed rear wing. Developed alongside the N24, the V8 Vantage Rally GT undergoes similar modifications by Prodrive for use in rallying. The unique modifications include a slight increase in engine power, Eibach sport shocks, and an optional close-ratio gearbox. The Rally GTs were used by the Race of Champions as part of their line-up of cars in 2006. Drayson Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT2 racing in the Le Mans Series at Silverstone Circuit in 2009 Debuting in 2008, the V8 Vantage GT2 is the most powerful racing variant of the V8 Vantage family. Designed to meet FIA and ACO GT2 class regulations, the Vantage GT2 would become a customer car for use in the FIA GT Championship, American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The V8 Vantage GT2 has been tuned to be capable of running E85 ethanol or normal racing fuel, dependent on the racing series. Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 saw its racing debut at the 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach, driven by Paul Drayson, a former Minister of State in the United Kingdom, and Jonny Cocker, 2004 British GT Champion. James Watt Automotive ran the V8 Vantage GT2 in the Le Mans Series 2008, although the car failed to make the start of its debut race due to mechanical problems. The V8 Vantage GT2 was used by A Speed Team in the 2010 Super GT season. JMW Motorsport ran a V8 Vantage GT2 in the Le Mans Series 2010. Following the poor performance of the Aston Martin AMR-One prototype, Aston Martin Racing decided to switch to running the Vantage as a factory effort in 2012. The car was slightly upgraded and was called the Vantage GTE, which has improved bodywork and engine performance over the older GT2 model. One car was entered into the FIA World Endurance Championship, and a second car appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For the 2012 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season, Multimatic Motorsports entered two Vantages in the series, using the 4.7-litre V8 engine. Upon debut at Daytona International Speedway, they finished sixteenth.

Added 4 Sept 2026