Tag Archives: Aston Martin

Best of British

Celebrations for sure as a result of Bentley’s historic win but for the first time in sixty-three years three old established British sports car marques found themselves competing together in an international endurance race – we had at Silverstone Aston Martin, Bentley and Jaguar all running in the Blancpain Endurance Series Silverstone 3 hours on May 25.

Aston Martin was represented by five Vantage GT3s with the V12 6-litre engine, a works car of this type winning this race in 2013. Bentley raced officially for the first time at Silverstone with their two M-Sport Continental GT3s and the private Generation Bentley Racing Continental GT3. The Swiss Emil Frey Racing team brought their G3 Jaguar XKR.

We note that the first ever Bentley saw the light of day at the end of 1919, the first Aston Martin appeared in May 1921 and Jaguar dates back to 1931 when William Lyons (later Sir William) presented his SS car at the Olympia Show.

Here are some of their modern representatives in practice:

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One of the Vantage V12 versions of the Aston Martin.

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One of the M-Sport Bentley Continental GT3s at Luffield

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This Jaguar XKR has been developed privately by the Emil Frey team but did not ,alas, last long in the race.

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A Bentley at Brooklands! What turned out to be the winning car reminds us that the very first race win for a Bentley car took place at the real Brooklands.

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The first of the Continental GT3s to fall into private hands, chassis no. 3, is the Generation Team car.

In the Race:

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The Bentley chases the Art McLaren down the Wellington Straight

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The Bentley leads! History was about to be made!

David Blumlein, July 2014

Aston Martin Sixes (and Sevens?)

On the journey home from La Sarthe, David Blumlein considered the new Aston Martin, its unusual engine configuration and its place in the marque’s history.

Straight, No Chaser


 

Aston Martin enthusiasts will be somewhat dismayed that the new LM P1 car, the AMR-One, underperformed greatly at the Le Mans Journée Test. It seems that the problems revolve around the car’s new Straight-Six turbocharged 2-litre engine. It is a recent and completely new design, and clearly the team just needs more time to iron out the problems.

If Six turned out to be Nine

 

 

It is exciting to find a current team putting their faith in the Straight-Six configuration, for we are very used these days to engines using V-configurations: V6, V8, V10 and V12, but in line Sixes have been long forgotten!

 

But let us not forget that in the golden era of Aston Martin history, the David Brown period, Aston Martins were nearly always powered by Straight-Sixes. When David Brown bought Aston Martin in 1947 he inherited Claude Hill’s excellent four-cylinder OHV motor- this unit powered the Spa 24 Hours winner in 1948. David Brown also bought the ailing Lagonda Company as he had his eye on the post-war Lagonda 2.6 litre, twin overhead cam, six cylinder in-line engine. This engine had been developed by no less than W.O. Bentley, who had been engaged by Lagonda in 1935.

DB2/4

 

 

The engine found a new home in the Aston Martin DB2 and for racing was quickly stretched to 3 litres. Most of the Aston Martin successes in the 1950s came with the DB3S and then the DBR1. The latter went on to win at Le Mans in 1959.

La Route est Dure

 

 

So let us not lose faith and we should look forward to more Six Cylinder Aston Martin success – it is in the marque’s heritage!

 

David Blumlein, May 2011

 

Straight, No Chaser

Breaking News

 

 

Le Castellet, Provence, was the venue yesterday for the next chapter in the long and glorious history of motorsport and Aston Martin. The Aston Martin AMR One broke cover and was seen in public for the first time.

Mind you you had to have sharp reflexes, as it covered only one installation lap before bolting back to the garage. Most of us missed this historic event.

Naturally, Our Special Correspondent, was on hand to capture the moment.

Voilà

 

Aston Martin Vanquish S

A chance to visit the Isle of Man is not to be missed, the insane, majestic Tourist Trophy course is to be cherished.

Slippery Slope?

The weapon of choice was an Aston Martin Vanquish S. This particular example was third last car built at the Newport Pagnell factory, a last link with history.

The Museum in the photo is also gone, closed as a result of the toxic presence of asbestos.

Happy days.

John Brooks, January 2011