Aston Martin Vantage N24
Encyclopedia
The Aston Martin Vantage N24 is a race car introduced by Aston Martin
in 2006, based on the V8 Vantage road car . In late 2008, Aston Martin debuted an updated version of the N24, with the newer Aston Martin Vantage GT4, which featured a larger 4.7 litre engine.
in London
, Aston Martin Racing
revealed a near stock version of the V8 Vantage that would compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours
(N24) endurance race.
While essentially much like the existing V8 Vantage coupé, the N24 has a front splitter and extended door sills for aerodynamic efficiency, a full roll cage
, a racing fuel tank, and other modifications necessary to make the car race worthy. Other modifications include the removal of most of the interior, including all seats, replaced by a lone Recaro
drivers seat and polycarbonate
windows which helped reduce weight by 250kg.
The brakes and suspension are also uprated, featuring exlarged front and rear anti-roll bars, adjustable dampers, modified subframe for increased camber and castor, cast magnesium wheels and racing brake pads.
The engine is a modified version of the road cars engine. Including lightened and balanced internals, reprofiled cylinder heads and the engine management system tuned for race use. The engine would now produce 410 bhp, 30 bhp more than the standard road car.
After the car was introduced, Aston Martin confirmed that they would offer the V8 Vantage N24 to customers as a track car similar to a Porsche 911 GT3
Cup. The V8 Vantage N24 is legal for use in the FIA GT4 European Cup, German VLN
series, Grand-Am Cup
, and various other national series. Contrary to Porsche however, Dr. Bez announced that they would not put a premium price on the N24 and that, while it was only produced in limited numbers, cost just about as much as a regular V8 Vantage.
The Vantage N24 was on sale with prices starting at approximately £78,720 excluding local taxes and delivery. This rose to £84,500 in 2007 for the standard car and £95,000 for FIA GT4 spec.
. Driven by Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez
, development engineer Chris Porrit, development driver Wolfgang Schuhbauer and German journalist Horst Graf von Saurma-Jeltsch in the 24 hour race. The car finished 4th in class and 24th overall, before being driven home on public roads after the race.
The N24 was featured in the British TV series Top Gear
and driven by James May
in a quest to find the best road for driving in Europe. The decision to use the "racing version" for this kind of drive was mocked by Richard Hammond
and Jeremy Clarkson
as the car lacked air conditioning and other comforts. May eventually had to drive naked, while pouring bottles of cold water over himself.
Additional racing success for the V8 Vantage in N24 trim included a first and second the 2007 European GT4 race at Silverstone, the first 3 places in their class at the 2008 Nurburgring 24 hours race (18th out of 220 cars entered overall), and strong showings in Bahrain (8th), VLN racing, and other tracks and events throughout the world. The N24 was also the basis of a one-make pan-Asia
series called Aston Martin Asia Cup
(AMAC). Competitors ran in identical N24s at various Asian circuits.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
in 2006, based on the V8 Vantage road car . In late 2008, Aston Martin debuted an updated version of the N24, with the newer Aston Martin Vantage GT4, which featured a larger 4.7 litre engine.
Development
During the 2006 British Motor ShowBritish International Motor Show
The British International Motor Show is an automobile show held biennially in the United Kingdom. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles. The 2008 was the last event with no news of a return of the British International Motor Show...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing is an auto racing team established in 2004 as a partnership between automobile manufacturer Aston Martin and engineering group Prodrive. The partnership was initially created for the purpose of returning Aston Martin to sports car racing with the DBR9, a heavily modified...
revealed a near stock version of the V8 Vantage that would compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours
24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...
(N24) endurance race.
While essentially much like the existing V8 Vantage coupé, the N24 has a front splitter and extended door sills for aerodynamic efficiency, a full roll cage
Roll cage
A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
, a racing fuel tank, and other modifications necessary to make the car race worthy. Other modifications include the removal of most of the interior, including all seats, replaced by a lone Recaro
Recaro
RECARO GmbH & Co. KG, commonly known as Recaro, is a German company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, known for their automobile bucket seats...
drivers seat and polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...
windows which helped reduce weight by 250kg.
The brakes and suspension are also uprated, featuring exlarged front and rear anti-roll bars, adjustable dampers, modified subframe for increased camber and castor, cast magnesium wheels and racing brake pads.
The engine is a modified version of the road cars engine. Including lightened and balanced internals, reprofiled cylinder heads and the engine management system tuned for race use. The engine would now produce 410 bhp, 30 bhp more than the standard road car.
After the car was introduced, Aston Martin confirmed that they would offer the V8 Vantage N24 to customers as a track car similar to a Porsche 911 GT3
Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a higher performance version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is the latest in a line of high performance models, beginning with the 1973 911 RS...
Cup. The V8 Vantage N24 is legal for use in the FIA GT4 European Cup, German VLN
VLN
The VLN, properly the Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring is an organisation of motorsport clubs of which each hosts one event of a ten-race series held on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the "VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring"...
series, Grand-Am Cup
KONI Challenge Series
The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge is a racing series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. Originating from the Canadian Motorola Cup, the series was taken over by Grand-Am in 2001 to become the Grand-Am Cup following the demise of rival IMSA's Firehawk series of similar rules...
, and various other national series. Contrary to Porsche however, Dr. Bez announced that they would not put a premium price on the N24 and that, while it was only produced in limited numbers, cost just about as much as a regular V8 Vantage.
The Vantage N24 was on sale with prices starting at approximately £78,720 excluding local taxes and delivery. This rose to £84,500 in 2007 for the standard car and £95,000 for FIA GT4 spec.
Racing history
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 first competed at the Nürburgring 24 Hours24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...
. Driven by Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez
Ulrich Bez
Dr. Ulrich Bez is a German-businessman and currently CEO of Aston Martin motorcars.-Life:He holds a doctorate in engineering from the University of Stuttgart...
, development engineer Chris Porrit, development driver Wolfgang Schuhbauer and German journalist Horst Graf von Saurma-Jeltsch in the 24 hour race. The car finished 4th in class and 24th overall, before being driven home on public roads after the race.
The N24 was featured in the British TV series Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
and driven by James May
James May
James Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....
in a quest to find the best road for driving in Europe. The decision to use the "racing version" for this kind of drive was mocked by Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
and Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
as the car lacked air conditioning and other comforts. May eventually had to drive naked, while pouring bottles of cold water over himself.
Additional racing success for the V8 Vantage in N24 trim included a first and second the 2007 European GT4 race at Silverstone, the first 3 places in their class at the 2008 Nurburgring 24 hours race (18th out of 220 cars entered overall), and strong showings in Bahrain (8th), VLN racing, and other tracks and events throughout the world. The N24 was also the basis of a one-make pan-Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
series called Aston Martin Asia Cup
Aston Martin Asia Cup
The Aston Martin Asia Cup is the world’s first ever Aston Martin one make series. All drivers will compete for the AMAC title in identical Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 race cars....
(AMAC). Competitors ran in identical N24s at various Asian circuits.