The unveiling of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 coincides with the global debut of the new Vantage road car. This new GT3 model is designed to compete in some of the world’s most prestigious GT racing series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and the Fanatec GT World Challenge.
Simultaneously revealing the new Vantage and Vantage GT3 race car underlines Aston Martin’s commitment to building the world’s finest sports car, and then proving its capabilities on-track.
It also signals a closer relationship between our road and race programmes, with Aston Martin Racing benefitting from the exceptional pool of talent, experience and knowledge forged in Formula 1® and found throughout Aston Martin Performance Technologies.
The result is a truly state-of-the-art GT racer; one that clearly shares its DNA with the latest Vantage road car, yet is perfectly evolved to suit the latest GT3 regulations.
Descended from a succession of multiple world championship-winning predecessors, the new Vantage GT3 is proving irresistible to an impressive international roster of leading GT racing teams. Hungry for victory and poised to build upon Aston Martin’s extraordinary track record, the world’s greatest endurance races are firmly in the Vantage GT3’s sights.
The Vantage GT3 represents a significant step forward in Aston Martin’s motorsport history. It is the first product of the collaboration between Aston Martin Racing (AMR) and Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT). This collaboration has resulted in a comprehensive evolution of the successful Vantage GTE and GT3 cars, both of which debuted in 2018.
Built around Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminum chassis structure and powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine, the Vantage GT3 boasts a new aerodynamic package, revised suspension, and state-of-the-art electronics. These enhancements make it a formidable competitor on the track, offering world-beating potential.
The Vantage GT3 is designed to comply with all FIA GT3 class regulations, including the new LMGT3 category introduced in 2024. This makes the Vantage GT3 a truly global competitor, capable of racing in top-level GT series around the world.
The new GT3 is our first opportunity to use AMPT to play a role in leveraging the capabilities, attitude and methodologies of all of Aston Martin’s various nerve centres, which we’ve then combined with the unrivalled GT programme management expertise of AMR. The GT racing programme will serve as a development lab that will lead to an increasing transfer of knowledge and approach into future Aston Martin road cars.
The development of the Vantage GT3 was led by Aston Martin Racing’s Head of Performance, Gustavo Betelli. His goal was to create a GT3 car that was not only incredibly fast but also approachable for both professional and amateur drivers. Extensive testing, including a grueling 30-hour test, was conducted to ensure that the new Vantage GT3 met these objectives.
The focus on the new Vantage GT3 was to increase their performance window and make something that would work at any circuit, on any tyre and with any driver. We also had to work to the new regulations, so this required additional changes.
These new generation GT3 cars are more dependent than ever on aerodynamic downforce, so we wanted to make the car more stable under braking. The old car would dive a lot under braking, so we had to try and control the pitch with the rear suspension set-up. But this meant it was stiff, which made it quite snappy and, also over-worked the tyres. Working heavily on damper tuning, we have found a much better balance with the new car so we can generate the downforce without compromising the suspension set-up. The result is much-improved progression and greater stability in all conditions. It also works its tyres much more evenly, so teams have more options on strategy. The feedback from drivers who’ve tested it has been overwhelmingly positive. Especially the amateur racers, who have been able to achieve lap times that are much closer to the Pros. Now we need to go racing!
Visually, the Vantage GT3 combines the striking design of the new Vantage road car with the extreme aerodynamics required for GT3 racing. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used extensively to achieve the desired aerodynamic performance while staying within the FIA’s strict regulations.
The result is a breathtaking machine that combines the muscular design of the Vantage road car with the aggression and poise of a purebred racer. The new Vantage GT3 has already made its mark in the racing world, with several cars already competing and more set to debut in the coming months. With its impressive performance and stunning design, the Vantage GT3 is set to continue Aston Martin’s tradition of GT racing success.
