Aston Martin Racing is delighted to confirm that its GT3 race car, the DBRS9, is now eligible for the 2007 Mediagroep Van Dyck Belcar Race series in the newly created GT3 class.
The DBRS9 is based on the DB9 road car, but shares many design features with the full GT1 specification DBR9. It uses the road car’s aluminium bonded chassis with a DBR9-based roll cage. Aston Martin Racing’s engineers have tuned the standard 12 cylinder, six litre engine to produce approximately 520bhp and reduced the overall weight by 480kg to 1280kg, to increase the power to weight ratio. Much of this is down to the extensive use of carbon composite materials for all the body panels (except the roof) and on the interior trim, as well as polycarbonate side and rear windows.
The DBRS9 has a six-speed H-pattern gearbox with new, shorter ratios for competition use (a six-speed sequential box is also available). The car’s ride height has been lowered and the double wishbone suspension has been rose jointed and fitted with two-way adjustable Koni dampers and stiffened competition springs.
The DBRS9 is produced in limited numbers at Aston Martin Racing headquarters in Banbury, England.
While Aston Martin Racing’s focus has been to optimise the DBRS9’s performance, it has also been designed with practicality in mind. Both the seat and steering wheel are easily adjustable, and there is the option of a passenger seat, for demonstration drives. Removable body panels, a modular chassis and a package of spares simplify service and maintenance.
The DBRS9 made its racing debut in 2006 scoring pole positions and race wins in various championships. The DBRS9 has performed very well in the inaugural FIA GT3 championship. Six Aston Martins were entered in this championship, run by two teams, Italian sportscar specialists BMS Scuderia Italia and one of Britain’s top teams, Barwell Motorsport. Competing against a grid of over 40 cars, produced by eight different manufacturers, the DBRS9 was regularly the fastest car in the field and was a regular visitor to the podium (5 out of 10).
FIA GT3 competitor, Barwell Motorsport’s Leo Machitski, also competed in the British GT Championship in the newly formed GT3 category. Against class rivals Porsche, Lotus and Ascari, Machitski claimed the British GT3 Championship Drivers’ title at Silverstone last month.
The Belcar Series is one of Europe’s premier GT race championships attracting a diverse grid from over 40 teams. The newly created GT3 class and acceptance of the FIA GT3 homologated cars is a very exciting development for the series, ensuring a consistent set of regulations for both team and series organisers. Aston Martin Racing is confident that the DBRS9 will be amongst the front running cars in the class, whilst also challenging the Belcar Specials for overall results!
Mediagroep Van Dyck Belcar promoter, Marc Martens, says “In adopting FIA GT3 cars in a separate class in our championship, Belcar is taking an option on the future of GT racing. On a Belgian national level GT1 and full GT2 cars are way too expensive to create an even more exiting championship; GT3 spec cars are more accessible. Therefore we’ll work on a rulebook that ought to give equal opportunities to FIA GT3 cars and Belcar Specials. Obviously, we are looking forward to having Aston Martin as a new brand in our already extensive line up.”
Aston Martin Racing will be attending the Belcar meeting during the Racing Festival at Spa this weekend with its test and development car. The car will be on display in the Belcar paddock all weekend and representatives of AMR will be in attendance to meet with existing Belcar competitors and those interested in an Aston Martin DBRS9.