Aston Martin has unveiled the new Vantage GT4. Targeted at partner racing teams and circuit driving enthusiasts, the Vantage GT4 completes Aston Martin’s GT lineup and emphasizes the brand’s commitment to motorsport, from track days to Formula 1.
Built on the existing Vantage GT4’s impressive legacy, the new Vantage GT4 is poised to emerge as an immediate contender in the junior category of GT racing. Leveraging the performance and technological improvements of the newly introduced Vantage road car, enhancements have been made across the chassis, aerodynamics, drivetrain, and efficiency. The latest version of the Vantage GT4 has become Aston Martin’s new contender, boasting greater competitiveness than ever before.
Marco Mattiacci, Aston Martin’s Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, commented on the latest addition to Aston Martin’s GT racing lineup: “The new Vantage GT4 is a born winner. It benefits from the significant performance improvements demonstrated in the sensational new Vantage road car. Developed alongside the Vantage GT3, the Vantage GT4 is a model that showcases the synergy between road and race car programs, proving that top-tier power and technology on the road translates into race-winning pace on the track.”
He continued, “The introduction of the new Vantage GT4 has enabled us to build even closer relationships with Aston Martin’s partner teams. Currently, over 40 partners are actively competing across a wide spectrum of global GT racing. Many of these teams are running multi-car, multi-class programs. This level of engagement underscores our commitment to all motorsport series. Success in sports car racing and Le Mans also aids in establishing a close bond with our extensive fan community.”
Like the Vantage GT3, the new Vantage GT4 has been designed, engineered, and produced by Aston Martin Racing. Since 2005, AMR has been the official GT racing partner of Aston Martin, responsible for all production Aston Martin GT racing cars following the legendary DBR9. This invaluable continuity and unmatched depth of knowledge have been directly reflected in the Vantage GT4 program.
The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 program leverages the development technologies applied to the new Vantage road car, enhancing performance based on the existing GT4 racing car that has achieved numerous titles and immense success.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Director of Endurance Motorsport, stated, “The new Vantage GT4 is a close evolution of the previous vehicle.” He further elaborated, “Thanks to the close synergy between Aston Martin’s road car and racing car programs, AMR has been able to utilize the performance enhancements of the new Vantage road car to increase speed and efficiency while maintaining the key elements that made the previous GT4 popular among teams and drivers.”
Due to strict regulations, the GT4 Vantage is very similar to the production model, with the race car sharing approximately 80% of the structure and mechanical architecture of the road car. Central to this is a bonded aluminum chassis fitted with a fully custom roll cage, ensuring compliance with stringent safety requirements before the body is attached.
The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and transmission are both based on Vantage road car components. Key changes include the electronic control systems, with the former featuring a Bosch Motorsport ECU equipped with custom software developed by AMR, and the latter controlled by ZF/AMR motorsport software governing the production-standard automatic transmission. Customized software transforms the 8-speed transmission to a 6-speed paddle shift mode without automatic mode, locking down the 7th and 8th gears for cruising efficiency.
Adjustments to the electronic system are primarily made to precisely manage the engine and turbo control systems to meet the strict performance balance criteria defined by the GT4 championship organizers. Additionally, it is used to optimize gear shifting and execute motorsport-specific traction control. The cockpit of the Vantage GT4 features the latest Bosch BDU 11 display, replacing the instrument cluster from road-going vehicles.
Chassis modifications are also made in compliance with regulations. The suspension mounting points remain the same as those of regular road vehicles, with some changes permitted to the suspension linkage. This is intended to provide a suitable camber range for racing purposes and accommodate a significantly smaller 18-inch diameter wheel and tire package compared to the 21-inch wheels fitted to the new road car. The Vantage GT4 utilizes a new custom forged aluminum wheel tailored to AMR specifications.
The highlight of the dynamic package is the new adjustable KW dampers provided as part of a comprehensive technical partnership with renowned suspension manufacturer AMR. Developed over the past six years based on extensive driver feedback, this new car enhances precision and control through driving dynamics while preserving the core traits and usability that made the previous Vantage GT4 popular among drivers.
The exterior of the Vantage GT4 adheres to regulations allowing only minimal changes to road car designs, closely resembling the sophisticated design of the new Vantage. Computational fluid dynamics was employed to optimize the aerodynamics package of the GT4. The Aston Martin design department ensured that these modifications seamlessly blended into the final design.
The majority of the body panels of the Vantage GT4 are standard production items. An exception is the hood, which can integrate air outlets and is made from sustainable natural linen fiber composite. Furthermore, the core material enhances rigidity. Additionally, GT4 regulations restrict aerodynamic changes. The new Vantage GT4 features a larger front splitter and a new rear wing, resulting in increased downforce and reduced drag compared to the previous Vantage GT4.
Attention was also focused on airflow management, particularly the cooling air supplied to the engine and brakes. The new Vantage has been designed with a larger radiator aperture to allow more air to flow through the engine cooling system. The volume of ducted air supplied to the brakes has also been significantly increased. Importantly, these performance enhancements have been achieved without disrupting the airflow to the rear wing.
Having completed a thorough development program, the new Vantage GT4 made its international racing debut at last month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona as part of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge event. Production is currently proceeding smoothly, with several vehicles already delivered to customer teams. AMR is working diligently on custom orders for over 40 units for the 2024 season.
Since its global debut in 2009, the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 has undergone various iterations, consistently achieving class victories in GT series and endurance races worldwide.
Since its release in 2018, the previous generation of the Vantage GT4 has steadily built its reputation with increasingly impressive performance. The number of teams choosing this vehicle in numerous international endurance races, domestic GT series, club racing events, and track days reflects this.
Building on this momentum and heritage, the new Vantage GT4 provides teams and drivers with a fast, stable, and versatile package with which to challenge for victory, making it the ultimate choice for both professional racers and amateur enthusiasts.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr