Aston readies new Vantage for LMGT3
Every Vantage racer of the 2000s has been stunning – that looks set to continue with the LMGT3
By Matt Bird / Thursday, 12 October 2023 / Loading comments
While the big news of last week’s Aston Martin announcement was the resurrection Valkyrie Le Mans project, there was an interesting Vantage-related footnote as well. Both GT3 and GT4-spec racers would be getting an update in line with the comprehensive overhaul due for the road car. If the motorsport machines emerged before the showroom model, it’d give us a hint at what was coming for production. And look what’s been photographed at Silverstone…
Final testing of the next Vantage GT3 is now underway ahead of the 2024 World Endurance Championship, where it will compete in the new LMGT3 class (which replaces GTE) that McLaren has also confirmed an interest in. It’s an evolution of the previous GT3, though you only need look to see where things might improve. Aerodynamics, because racing car, is the big one, with a much larger rear spoiler (look at those endplates!), a more dramatically straked bonnet (including wheelarch vents) and a revised back end with what looks like an even wider diffuser and vents either side of it. The scooped out section of the front wings is also new, and feels like one of the design elements that could make it to a road car as well.
It’s abundantly clear from the DB11’s transformation into the DB12 that Aston means business with these sports car updates. While there’s obviously not much to tell from the GT3 car for a roadgoing model, the covered headlights here would suggest a front end refresh is coming – perhaps in line with the ‘12. Five years on from the launch of a Vantage that wasn’t universally loved, perhaps now comes the real 10/10 sports car.
The 2024 WEC season begins at Qatar in March, but we’re also expecting to see the GT3 Evo in the US IMSA WeatherTech Championship. That kicks off in January, so expect to see the new Aston before the new year.
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