Ready for the Challenge

With the first round Aston Martin Racing’s one make series, the GT4 Challenge now little over a month away we took the opportunity to join AMR at their test track as they hosted a private test day for potential new entries to sample the Vantage GT4 and get a feel for what the GT4 Challenge is all about.

Now entering its fourth season, the GT4 Challenge offers a unique opportunity for drivers of all abilities to compete in the latest Aston Martin race cars in endurance events on some of the best circuits in the UK and Europe.

Present at the test were drivers from a wide array of backgrounds, ranging from experienced single seater drivers, to novices taking advantage of Aston Martin Racing’s driver development program, which will take them through passing their race licence to competing in their first GT4 Challenge event. Works driver, Stuart Hall was on hand to show them round the track and give some tips on how to extract the most from V8 Vantage – himself a previous GT4 challenge race winner.

The news on expected grid numbers for 2013 was positive – From an average of 10 per race in 2012, the AMR are confidant of around 12 full season entries with race-by-race entries pushing grid number into the high teens. In addition to the GT4 cars, GT3 spec Aston Martins will be allowed to run at selected rounds during the season in their own GT3 Cup, giving owners somewhere to run their DBRS9s, and possibly the odd V12 Vantage GT3.

2013 RACE CALENDAR

*         6 April - Silverstone
*         11 May - Oulton Park
*         1 June - Donington Park
*         6 July - Brands Hatch Indy
*         7 July - Centenary Festival (Brands Hatch)
*         26/27 July - Spa Francorchamps
*         28 Sept - Snetterton 300

For more information on the GT4 Challenge visit www.astonmartin.com/gt4challenge

Image: Richard Leach