Sims takes Aston Martin prize test

McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Alexander Sims tested an Aston Martin GT1 at Donington Park today as part of the prize for winning the award last December.

The 20-year-old Briton, who is racing in the Formula 3 Euro Series with Mucke Motorsport this season, was grateful for the opportunity to sample a sportscar for the first time.

"I have to say a big thank you to AUTOSPORT and Aston Martin for making it possible because this isn't the sort of thing a driver in my situation would usually get to do," said Sims.

"It was a really good car to drive. Having spoken to David Brabham and Darren Turner beforehand, I was expecting something similar to the DTM car, which I got to drive in the award, just a bit heavier.

"And it was just that. They use tyre warmers which gives you a lot of confidence to get close to the limit straight away - a big help when you have a limited number of laps."

Sims is currently lying eighth in the Euro Series standings in his rookie season and is eager to keep moving forward as he gains experience.

"I made a few too many mistakes in first few races, which I've learned from," he said. "I had a very good Masters, and the races at Norisring at Oschersleben were good too. We're only halfway through the season so hopefully it will keep getting better."

Aston Martin enters night race

Aston Martin is taking its LMP1 GT cars to the Le Mans Series night race in the Algarve this weekend.

The British team will enter two of the cars which finished in the Le Mans 24 Hours race is June; the 007 car will be driven by Jan Charouz, Tomas Enge and Stefan Mucke, while the 009 car will be entrusted to Harold Primat, Miguel Ramos and Darren Turner.

Elite Aston Martin LMV/R

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage has probably one of the best sounds we can get from today’s sportscars. For some of us, the looks and figures need some improvements. That’s why American tuning company Elite Carbon Fiber created this Aston Martin LMV/R or “Le Mans Vantage Racer”. Main component is the use of carbon fiber to make the V8 a lightweight. The special edition is limited to 30 cars!

A complete list of what they changed:

- Carbon fiber body kit consisting of: front bumper with screens, visible carbon canards, visible carbon front splitter, hood, fenders (2” wider), side skirts, side skirt panels, rear quarter panel extensions (2” wider), trunk lid with visible carbon rear wing, rear bumper with visible carbon diffuser
- Matte black 20” wheels and tires for wide body kit
- Lowering springs
- Big Brake kit
- Sport muffler with tips
- Carbon fiber engine bay kit
- Full Alcantara interior
- Carbon fiber interior kit
- Serial numbered plaque (only 30 cars will be produced)
- LMV/R matte black stripes
- Installation and full repaint

Aston Martin LMV/R package

US firm Elite has launched 30 limited-edition Aston Martin Le Mans Vantage Racers (LMV/R).

Based on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, the LMV/R is inspired by the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and Lamborghini Superleggera. It is significantly lighter than the Vantage that leaves the factory, thanks to Elite’s extensive use of carbonfibre bodywork.

Elite has also added an Alcantara interior with carbonfibre-panelling trim, 20-inch alloy wheels and a new rear wing and diffuser.

Other upgrades include a new aerodynamic kit, a sports exhaust system, lowered springs and stronger brakes.

2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante

The Aston Martin DBS drops its roof for 2010 and breeds a new generation of Volante roadster.

The last piece in the Aston Martin DBS puzzle is about to be fitted in place, with the arrival of the 2010 DBS Volante convertible.

Previewed at the Geneva motor show and in spy shots aplenty here at Motor Authority, the new aluminum-bodied roadster arrives in the U.S. later this year as a 2010 model. And, since we'll be driving the new convertible later this month at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it's time to remind you of what's in store for this powerful exotic, and for us.

The DBS Volante is, by Aston's reckoning, the "ultimate open air motoring experience." With the new convertible top, purist-pleasing rear-wheel drive, a massively powerful V-12 engine under the sleek hood, and the tech-forward reputation of today's Aston Martin lineup, the new Volante promises to be as convincing a drive as the one we took earlier this year in the V8 Vantage roadster.

In the surgical process that removes the roof structure of the DBS coupe, Aston Martin took the usual--and some unusual--steps to ensure the bonded and riveted body kept its rigidity as well as its dashing good looks. Aston designed the DBS to be a convertible one day, so the structural changes are minimal. The top itself is fabric, and it stacks and folds quickly: it's just 14 seconds to full sun exposure, and the top can be lowered at speeds of up to 30 mph. A hard tonneau keeps the Volante's shoulders bare and clean.

While the V8 Vantage range has eight-cylinder power (for now), the larger DBS and DBS Volante share a titan of a V-12 engine. In the Volante, the twelve-cylinder pings the 510-horsepower mark, and twists out 420 pound-feet of torque. Aston Martin promises that the power, delivered through the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, will push the Volante to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds on its way to a 191-mph top speed. Their word? "Effortless."

2010 Aston Martin Elite LMV/R

The Aston Martin Vantage become an Race Car whit Elite Progam final concept images own ostensibly been released for the 2010 aston martin lmv/r (le mans vantage racer). ostensibly 30 of these race cars for the street be produced for the world. following in the footsteps of the ferrari scuderia and stradale and lamborghini superleggera , the elite lmv/r is lighter than the factory vantage due to most of the carcass panels being made from carbon fiber. the scuderia , stradale and superleggera were built for the purists who wanted a race car for the street , a further brisk version of the production street car that they were built from. these cars aren’t for everybody due to their harsher drive and resonant fag bodies. this is the organization that the lmv/r now be amongst but flat further scarce and special. the superleggera’s us production was 172 cars , the ferrari stradale seen 1 , 288 examples built and the scuderia production is supposed to top out at with Regards To 1 , 500 cars. compare these production numbers to the 30 lmv/r’s that be built and you can witness how special and scarce the lmv/r in Truth be. to take a vantage and gyrate it into an lmv/r , a Lot Of components are used. here is a register of what comes general upon the lmv/r;

-- carbon fiber carcass kit consisting of: front bumper with screens , visible carbon canards , visible carbon front splitter , hood , fenders (2” wider) , side skirts , side skirt panels , raise quarter panel extensions (2” wider) , trunk lid with visible carbon raise wing , raise bumper with visible carbon diffuser
-- matte black 20” wheels and tires for broad carcass kit
-- lowering springs
-- extensive brake kit
-- sport muffler with tips
-- carbon fiber engine bay kit
-- full alcantara interior
-- carbon fiber interior kit
-- serial numbered plaque (only 30 cars be produced)
-- lmv/r matte black stripes
-- installation and full repaint

All lmv/r’s be assembled in florida and sent to and from the dealership that sold the car within the us. all lmv/r’s be based upon 2010 vantage’s and be very unusual. the patron direct a brand recent vantage in whatever color offered by aston martin with whatever options. the vantage is then picked up and sent to florida where the toil be performed. the exterior can be painted the factory color or a custom color at an extra charge. the interior can be assembled in whatever color of the customers choosing since all the surfaces be covered in recent alcantara.
Elite is currently seeking an aston martin merchant in the us to be the exclusive merchant for these 30 cars. the package value is estimated at $173 , 000 plus the value of the vantage.

Aston Martin enters race

Aston Martin is taking its LMP1 GT cars to the Le Mans Series night race in the Algarve this weekend.

The British team will enter two of the cars which finished in the Le Mans 24 Hours race is June; the 007 car will be driven by Jan Charouz, Tomas Enge and Stefan Mucke, while the 009 car will be entrusted to Harold Primat, Miguel Ramos and Darren Turner.
Aston Martin LMP1 picture gallery

2009 Aston Martin LMP1

2009 Aston Martin LMP1

2009 Aston Martin LMP1

2009 Aston Martin LMP1

The race at the new Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal will be the first ever Le Mans Series night race. It starts on Saturday evening at 7.15pm local time and should finish around six hours later, after 1000km and 215 laps.

Aston Martin Racing team principal George Howard-Chappell said, “I’m hoping that our testing here earlier in the year will be of some benefit and in addition we are happy to be racing again.

“We need to focus on trying to win the championship and also on winning races outright, which should be possible now without the factory diesel cars.