We can now confirm that Aston Martin’s previously announced Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S will be joined by a V12 Vantage GT3 race car and a near stock V12 Vantage road car.
The V12 Vantage GT3, revealed today, is being fielded together with Aston Martin technology partner Bilstein (all Aston road cars are fitted with Bilstein dampers).
Taking turns behind the wheel will be a quartet of drivers currently competing in the World Endurance Championship; they are Darren Turner, Stefan Mücke, Allan Simonsen and Pedro Lamy.
The 2013 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 shares much in common with the road-going V12 Vantage but gets a racing version of the automaker’s venerable 6.0-liter V-12, whose output is limited to 550 horsepower in line with regulations.
Other features include a semi-automatic six-speed Xtrac gearbox with paddle shifters and new race-developed ABS and traction control systems, optimized specifically for this model. The final curb weight is less than 2,800 pounds.
Aston Martin has been racing at the Nürburgring for more than half a century and has been winning events on the track for about the same time. Further, many of its current sports cars have been developed and signed off on the ‘Ring.
The 2013 Nürburgring 24 Hours is scheduled for this weekend.
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