Its back to where the Aston Martin Racing all started for the Viper Niza Racing team this weekend as they again compete around the street circuit of Singapore in the invitational round of the Thailand Super Series.

Launching their AMR Vantage GT3 and GT4 adventures just a week ahead of their race debut at the circuit last season, the Douglas Khoo led team have been busy in-between competing within that domestic TSS series as well as larger series further afield like the Asian Le Mans Series.

 

Less than a week since their public reveal as the latest team within the Asian theatre to change allegiances to the Aston Martin Racing brand sees the Viper Niza Racing team have their drivers confirmed ahead of their first AMR adventure next week in Singapore.

Competing at the third round of the Thailand Super Series (TSS)  around the Marina Bay circuit on the streets of Singapore, will see the two new AMR Vantage GT3 and GT4 cars of the team compete for the first time in support of the Formula 1 event there.

If there was ever a place to bravely conduct your first public running of your latest collaboration of the highest technological level, then it is at the home of British motor racing at Silverstone and in front of one of their latest audiences of the year on Qualifying Day for the British Formula One Grand Prix!

That is precisely what Aston Martin and their strategic partners, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and AF Racing did this lunch time as their cutting edge Valkyrie hypercar powered it first public laps around the infamous race track marking a significant milestone in the project.


Five years in the making, todays demonstration laps were piloted by Aston Martin's High Performance Test driver Chris Goodwin and this marked the end to months of behind the scenes simulation and digital modelling as the British luxury car maker looks to finalise the build of the strictly exclusive 150 road going examples ahead of their expected release later this year.

Designed with the help of Red Bull Racings Adrian Newey together with the input from Aston Martin Chief Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichmann and team, this concept now reality car boasts an 1100+ bhp normally aspirated V12 from its rear mid engine layout. This car platform will now form the basis of Aston Martin Racings own hypercar entry into the 2020-21 World Endurance Championship.


The road to full production and release of these cars to their lucky owners is still a long one with many parameters and functions yet to be signed off ahead of production. For the race car, that is a little further away still but with little over one calendar year to go until the expected date of next seasons Prologue Official test - time is very much of the essence for all parties involved.


In past few weeks we have read almost a continuous stream of 'bad news events' regarding the WEC moving forward with many teams leaving both the Prototype and GTE classes of late. With Aston Martin Racing committing early to the ACO/WEC's new Hypercar Regulations and together with todays events at Silverstone, we can now all sit a little more comfortable that what David King (President of Aston Martin Racing) says he will deliver - he usually does - and its exciting - and we can't wait!!

Photo credits - Aston Martin

Unexpectedly announced yesterday was the confirmation from Aston Martin that they would be taking over the primary sponsorship and a pivotable guiding role within the Autosport - Young Driver of the Year recognition programme together with the British Racing Drivers Club.

Working previously with McLaren, Aston Martin will be using its close association with Formula 1 team Aston Martin Red Bull Racing to offer a test with that team for the individual makes wins the outcome of a vigorous selection process.

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Team Principal, Christian Horner said: “We are pleased to lend our support to Aston Martin’s drive to discover motor racing’s future stars and this programme represents a golden opportunity for young drivers to further their career at the highest levels. Red Bull has a long and successful history of nurturing young racing talent through its Junior Team and so we look forward to supporting Aston Martin in its quest to find the champions of tomorrow.”

There was no mistaking the increased presence of the Aston Martin name and logo aboard the new Red Bull Racing RB14 Formula One car unveiled this morning as the race team and prestigious car manufacturer enter into their innovation partnership and title sponsor deal for 2018.

Having seen the AML marque feature on the Red Bull F1 car in a more subtle manner for the last couple of years, 2018 sees the two enter into an extensive technical partnership both on and off the track.


Having already seen those within the two companies come up with the 'ultimate' hypercar in the form of the Aston Martin Valkyrie (a car that may be seen on track as early at the Aston Martin Festival support event at Le Mans in 2018) it is hoped that further strives can be made with the establishment of their new shared Advanced Performance Centre in Milton Keynes.


At a very wet Silverstone circuit today, Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo took the car out for its first tentative steps around the National circuit with the car adorned in a bespoke livery purely for PR purposes (unfortunately because we like its form and simplicity).

Testing proper for the F1 team starts next week.

Photo credits - Red Bull Racing