During a weekend in which the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours proved that it’s still every bit as challenging as ever, Aston Martin has successfully conducted a valuable testing exercise for its new-for-2012 V12 Vantage GT3 racing car, whilst its engineering department and customer race teams racked up three podium finishes across two classes.

In partnership with its motorsport arm, Aston Martin Racing, and long-standing partner team, Young Driver AMR, Aston Martin entered a pair of V12 Vantage GT3s into this most gruelling of endurance races to further the development of the new Vantage-based racer. Having competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours every year since 2006, this would represent the marque’s first foray into the headlining SP9 category for GT3 cars, making this Aston Martin’s most ambitious campaign at the 24-hour epic to date.

The two V12 Vantage GT3s were crewed by professional driver line-ups, made up of Aston Martin Racing factory driver Stefan Mücke (D), Tomas Enge (CZ), Fredy Barth (CH) and Oliver Mathai (D) in the #006 car, with Darren Turner (GB) – also a factory driver – Dennis Rostek (D) and Johannes and Ferdinand Stuck – sons of triple Nürburgring 24 Hour winner Hans-Joachim Stuck – in the #007 car. Running in matching sky blue and black liveries, the GT3s qualified in 17th and 16th positions respectively among a grid of 170 starters in the hands of Enge and Johannes Stuck.

The race began at 1600hrs CET on Saturday (19 May). Both cars suffered early setbacks on their fourth tour of the 25-kilometre circuit; the #006 V12 Vantage GT3 developed a minor clutch issue which eventually cost it 15 laps to its SP9 rivals, while the #007 became stranded on the circuit following a tyre blow-out. The Young Driver AMR technicians were able to transport a replacement wheel and tyre to the stricken car, which was back up and running again within 13 laps.

Both cars ran largely fault-free and at a competitive pace into the night and subsequent morning, only minor niggles such as a front splitter working itself loose spoiling an otherwise clean copybook. Having covered close to 5000-kilometres between them over the course of 20 hours – accruing invaluable data in the process – the team took the decision to rest both cars until the final lap of the race.

In addition to the pair of V12 Vantage GT3s, Aston Martin also fielded a V12 Zagato and a Vantage GT4 in the SP8 category, run by the same engineering department that had entered the Nürburgring 24 Hours every year since 2006 with a 100 per cent finishing record. The #005 V12 Zagato – running in the same livery as the V12 Vantage GT3s – was driven by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez (D), chief engineer Chris Porritt (GB), Nürburgring Test Centre Director Wolfgang Schuhbauer (D) and journalist Richard Meaden (GB). Aston Martin’s fourth official entry, an orange #85 Vantage GT4, was driven by Mal Rose (AUS), Robert Thomson (AUS), Jürgen Stumpf (D) and Peter Cate (GB).

Having won the SP8 class twice since 2006, Aston Martin was hopeful of a strong showing. The qualifying performance bolstered such hopes when the #005 car set the third fastest time in its class and the #85 went second fastest.

A quite remarkable 24 hours would follow for both cars, neither of which suffered any significant technical maladies despite the punishing nature of the Nordschleife circuit. None of the eight amateur drivers made any errors, either, despite the persistent rain that arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning. Having lapped the circuit 137 times the #005 V12 Zagato finished a strong second in class and 26th overall, while the #85 Vantage GT4 completed 135 laps to finish third in class behind the Zagato, and 33rd overall.

Aston Martin’s third podium result came courtesy of customer outfit, Team Mathol Racing. Winner of the SP10 class in 2010, Team Mathol Racing was on course to repeat its success until an accident soon after the mid-way point. The team’s technicians were able to repair the damaged bodywork, enabling the Vantage GT4 to rejoin the fray and eventually battle on to second in class.

David King, Aston Martin’s Head of Motorsport, was delighted by the performance of all four cars: “The number one objective coming into this race was to get all of our cars home to maintain our 100 per cent finishing record in the Nürburgring 24 Hours and we’ve absolutely done that. The second objective was to get class podiums with our V12 Zagato and Vantage GT4, which we also achieved.

“The final objective was to make sure we managed plenty of strong running with the GT3 cars. We knew we wouldn’t have a trouble-free run with those, but we learnt an awful lot about the car and the circuit this weekend. This has been a fantastic example of teamwork and passion from the people that make Aston Martin special.”

Darren Turner highlighted the progress the team made with the V12 Vantage GT3: “Watching the Zagato cross the line alongside the two GT3 cars was just fantastic. We’ve learnt a great deal about the car this weekend. Both GT3s had a few issues during the race, but when the car was running without any problems it was really strong and we had good pace. We will take a lot from this year and carry it on to next year.”

Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez, who enjoyed the honour of crossing the finish line in the V12 Zagato, said: “We did very well with the #005 car this weekend. We had a flawless race while the drivers of the Vantage GT4 had fun and managed a good result as well. There were nine Aston Martins competing here and seven of them finished the race.

“This is the greatest and most competitive GT race in the world. It is the most demanding on people and cars. It’s important to me that Aston Martin wins this race; we have to show that a relatively small, exclusive company can compete with the big ones, especially in a race as challenging as this one. Aston Martin was founded in 1913 and this brand at least deserves an effort to win this race in 2013.”

Since the start of the 2012 motorsport season all of Aston Martin’s competition cars have been based on the Vantage road car. As a result, they all share its fundamental engine architecture, suspension design and bonded aluminium chassis, reflecting the Vantage’s status as Aston Martin’s sportiest road-going model.

Aston Martin

Hamburg Racing Team uses the VLN endurance racing championship as an opportunity to prepare for the 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring. Nobody could however have expected that the first round would already turn out to be the such a tough test due to weather conditions in the Eifel region. The two professional race drivers José Manuel Balbiani and Juan Manuel Silva from Argentina got to the see full characteristic of Nürburgring. Rain, cold wind and fog were the made for a very difficult race at the Nordschleife. The Argentinean driver duo nevertheless managed to show a good performance in their Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4. “It was definitely not easy but they both have done a brilliant job”, said team manager Michael Budde full of praise. In practice already, the two drivers experienced in an impressive way how it feels when the track gets faster and faster towards the end of the session. Whilst the track was still wet in the morning due to the rain in the night, the fastest lap times were set in the last minutes of the timed practice session. The team was nevertheless aware that the starting position would play a minor part at the 4 Hour Race. It was much more important that the two drivers could complete constant lap times and refrain from getting involved into too close battles. The team was rewarded for their hard work with fifth position in class. “I am really happy with this start, especially as our second car finished in a good class position, too”, said Budde. The teams second Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4 driven by Kim Hauschild, Karl Pflanz and Frank Borkowsky. Juan Manuel Silva, too, was racing in order to gain more experience. The driver quartet were please with their ninth class position, considering that Kim Hauschild lost almost one lap when he had to complete almost half a lap on three wheels to come to the pits after a puncture. “It is only a pity that could not complete the full race distance,” said Budde as the race was stopped upon instruction of Race Control after about two and a half hours. The visibility at the section ‘Döttinger Höhe’ had become so bad due to extremely heavy fog. In combination with the rain and the resulting strong spray, the situation had become too dangerous for all involved. “I hope that we will have a considerably better weather after Easter so that we can further pursue our aims”, said Budde. The second round of the VLN endurance racing championship will start on 14th April already. HRT Performance considers participating there with one Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4 and with one Porsche 997 GT4. Image: VLN

HRT will enter three Aston Martin V8 Vantages in this year’s Dubai 24 hours. The VLN regulars have been working tirelessly since their last race of 2011 to prepare for the challenge that awaits them.

"One of the most challenging aspects of a 24H race is the high discipline” says team manager Michael Budde “To prepare a car and race with the car for 24 hours is an exciting experience for every team and racing driver. Our goal is to bring the Astons over the finish and to get in the Top 20 overall and to conquer a Top 3 position in the SP3 class," said Budde. "Since the last VLN race we are working hard on the right setup of our cars for Dubai."

"The main reason for entering the Dunlop 24H Dubai is because of the amazing international flair. Even when in January the season in Europe has ended, it is very exciting to meet race teams from all over the world on a very nice track, in such an interesting country."

Experienced endurance racer Shane Lewis will make his Dubai 24H début with the team.

"I am really excited about this chance to race at Dubai” said Shane. I've raced all over the world but never in the Middle East so that is going to be exciting. The fact that this race has so quickly become one of the major endurance races on the world calendar adds to that. I have great teammates for this race. Vic and I have raced together so many times I have lost count. There aren't many guys out there as quick and as reliable as Vic is and you can't ask for more in a teammate. Vic and I raced together with Karl Pflanz at Nürburgring and had a lot of success and I have heard really good things about Kim Hauschild. HRT is really experienced. They know their stuff and they have put us into one of the hottest rides out there. The Aston Martin Vantage is a legendary car and one of the few makes I have never run. I can't wait to race the car!"

“The challenges for Dubai are exciting. New car, new circuit, new team and 90 cars on a three-mile lap! HRT is a well-run team with plenty of experience. Michael Budde, the team owner, has been to Dubai recently to look everything over: the track, the pit box, the lighting, everything so we will have a leg-up on that. We'll also have the added benefit of working out of the Team Oryx garage in Abu Dhabi the week before the race. Vic and I are all over YouTube watching lap-after-lap of in-car footage to learn the circuit. The track looks like it has a nice flow. So, with all the cars and the momentum of the lap, working traffic is going to be the biggest deal. If we can stay out of trouble, I think we have a great shot in the Aston Martin."

Three Three HRT Aston Martins will compete in the extremely competitive SP3 Class in which Aston Martin team HMR finished second in 2011.

Qualifying starts at 4:00pm (local time) on Thursday, with the race starting at 2:00pm on Friday, January 13.

#31  Kersten Jodexnis, Ed Nicelife, Marcel Belka, Max Braams
#125 Kim Hauschild, Karl Pflanz, Vic Rice, Shane Lewis
#127 Oliver Bliss, Harald Schlotter, Eric Vaissiere, Philippe Ulivieri