Aston Martin Vulcan To Finally Do What It Was Made To Do

It might come across as a paradox that the insane, track-only Aston Martin Vulcan has never seen race competition in its life. Revealed to the rest of the world last year, AFTER all units of its 24-model run had actually been delivered to customers, the AMR Pro was never made to the specifications of any particular racing series. And because the buyers were reluctant to race their prized positions, it never even made to a one-make race day, and saw just some trackday outings at best.

But now, the day has arrived when the Vulcan will finally see some action, at the third Aston Martin Le Mans Racing Festival on 16 June 2018 at on the full circuit at La Sarthe. The race will see 38 Aston Martins getting up close and personal. Driving one of the Vulcans will be former Le Mans winner Martin Brundle and his co-driver, the multiple Olympic gold medal winner Sir Chris Hoy.

The race will take place before the 24 Hours of Le Mans and will have two Aston Martin Vulcans. The car runs a 7.0-litre V12 petrol engine which produces 820 brake horsepower in the AMR Pro, 20 more than the regular car. There is also a heavy dose of aerodynamic work on the car for a massive increase in downforce, increasing it from the standard Aston Martin Vulcan’s 3150Nm to 4000Nm.

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Other cars racing against the Vulcan will be GT1-spec Aston Martin DBR9s, GT3s, Vantage GT2s and GT4s, and the Vantage GTE. Driving the one of the GT4s is Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer, who will be accompanied on the track by ‘Bake-Off’ television presenter Paul Hollywood, Prodrive chairman David Richards (who will race alongside Aston Martin customer team owner Andrew Howard in a Beachdean AMR-entered car), and Jamie Chadwick, who became the youngest driver to contest the Nürburgring 24 Hours in May. The V12 Vantage GT3s have been entered by Jetstream Motorsport, TF Sport and Young Driver AMR, whose car will be driven by team owner Jan Struve and Aston Martin Racing Managing Director John Gaw. There are older Vantage GT1s, GT2s and even the 2016 FIA-World Endurance Championship-winning #95 Danetrain V8 Vantage GTE as well.

Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, summed up: “Having taken part in this event in 2015, I can say first-hand it will be a tremendous experience. Moreover, this is a wonderful celebration of all that Aston Martin Racing has achieved since we returned to the sport as a manufacturer. To be able to display so many different iconic Aston Martin racing cars, as well as the stunning Vulcan, in front of 250,000 fans is a testament to the durability of our brand.”