Based on the Aston Martin DB9 road car, the DBR9 retains the chassis, engine block, and cylinder heads of the road car's V12 engine. The rest of the car is re-engineered for high-performance competition use. The DBR9's bodywork is a blend of optimum aerodynamic performance and the styling of the DB9 road car. All body panels are constructed from carbon fibre composite (except the roof) to minimize the car's weight. To complete the aerodynamic body, the bottom of the car is flat all the way from the front to the rear diffuser. A carbon fibre wing has been added to optimize rear downforce. The engine develops 625 bhp (466 kW; 634 PS) and 746 N⋅m (550 lb⋅ft) of torque, using two 31.2 mm (1.2-inch) air restrictors. Completely unrestricted, however, this engine is capable of developing over 750 bhp (559 kW; 760 PS) and over 880 N⋅m (649 lb⋅ft) of torque. The DBR9 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.4 seconds, and 0 to 100 mph (161 km/h) in 6.4 seconds.
For the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, modifications were made to the DBR9 design to improve performance and driver comfort. New regulations required the installation of an air conditioning unit to prevent overstressing drivers. A heat-resistant white roof was added to all new cars to assist in keeping cockpit temperatures down. Performance modifications included the removal of two cooling vents from the car's side mirrors, improving aerodynamics.
The DBR9 won the Sebring 12 Hours for its LMGT1 category in 2005, but finished third at the 24 Hours of Le Mans behind Corvette Racing due to fuel problems. In 2006, the DBR9 finished second at Sebring behind a Corvette, and a similar result occurred at Le Mans. Despite not winning at Sebring and Le Mans, Aston Martin Racing regularly challenged Corvette Racing for victory in the American Le Mans Series, with victories at Lime Rock Park, Miller Motorsports Park, Mosport, Petit Le Mans, and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Aston Martin finished second in the 2006 ALMS GT1 Manufacturer's Championship, earning the factory team an automatic entry to the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In the Le Mans Endurance Series, Larbre Compétition took the Team's Championship, with victories at the 1000 Kilometres of Istanbul and 1000 Kilometres of the Nurburgring, a second-place finish at the 1000 Kilometres of Jarama, and a fifth-place finish at the 1000 Kilometres of Donington.
The DBR9 competed in the 2006 FIA GT Championship, but the season was lacklustre with only two victories at Mugello and Dubai. The Phoenix Racing Aston Martin DBR9 narrowly missed victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. BMS Scuderia Italia cited tyre compound issues with their Pirellis as a factor in their lack of success.
For 2007, Aston Martin won the GT1 class at Le Mans with the #009 Aston Martin Racing DBR9. Larbre's DBR9 also finished third in class. All entered DBR9s finished the race. To celebrate this victory, Aston Martin built a limited edition of the DB9 called the DB9 LM (Le Mans), which featured a unique colour, Sarthe Silver (named after the track where the Le Mans racing is held), DBS clear taillights, specific wheels, Magnum silver meshes and crossbar, Sport Pack as standard, a specific interior with red stitching and tertre rouge facia trim. All cars were individually numbered and are highly sought-after today.
Later in 2007, Aston Martin launched the DBS road car, which incorporated styling cues from the DBR9 and the James Bond film Casino Royale. Aston Martin Racing's DBR9s raced in 2006 and 2007 under the numbers 007 and 009, in honour of James Bond. Unlike the DB9 LM, a cosmetic package limited to 60 cars, the DBS incorporated technology from the racing world, including carbon fiber and aluminium bodywork, engine upgrades, and a new interior.
In 2008, Prodrive continued to field a two-car factory team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while Larbre and Scuderia Italia moved on from Aston Martin. The #009 car, with a Gulf Oil sponsored paint scheme, driven by Darren Turner, Antonio Garcia, and David Brabham, won its class.
A Le Mans-spec DBR9 participated in the 2009 Super GT season, marking Aston Martin's debut in the series.
The Aston Martin DBR9 was last run by two customer teams in the FIA GT1 World Championship. In the past, there were up to three factory teams, and the car has also been sold to customers for private use in various racing series, such as the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, FFSA GT Championship, and Super GT.
Aston Martin Racing, run by Prodrive (2005–2008)
Aston Martin Racing Larbre, run by Larbre Compétition (2005–2007)
Aston Martin Racing BMS, run by BMS Scuderia Italia (2005–2007)
Team Modena, formerly Cirtek Racing (2005–2008)
Jetalliance Racing, formerly RaceAlliance (2006–2009)
Phoenix Racing (2006–2007)
Barwell Motorsports (2007)
Gigawave Motorsport (2007–2009)
Bell Motorsports (2008)
Strakka Racing, also under the Vitaphone Racing banner (2008)
Team Nova (2009)
Hexis AMR (2010–2011)
Young Driver AMR, run by Fischer Racing (2010–2011)
A total of 16 DBR9 chassis were made, including upgraded chassis over the five years it raced.
DBR9/1: The first DBR9 chassis, raced at Le Mans in 2005 under Aston Martin Racing, qualified on pole and finished 3rd in class. It also won the GT1 class at the 2005 12 Hours of Sebring, finishing fourth overall. In 2006, Larbre Compétition raced it in the Le Mans Series, and in 2007 they raced it in the FFSA GT Championship and the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans. This chassis competed in the 2010 and 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship seasons with Hexis AMR, eventually winning the 2011 Team's championship.
DBR9/2: Another factory Aston Martin Racing DBR9, with one class win and a best overall finish of second. Raced in the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season for Hexis AMR as Car number 4.
DBR9/3: Entered by Aston Martin Racing for the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans and competed in the 2006 American Le Mans Series season, achieving two class wins. Also raced by Larbre Compétition at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans.
DBR9/4: Raced by Team Modena in 2006 and then in 2008 by Strakka Racing at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans under the Vitaphone Racing Team banner. Achieved one class win in the LMS in 2006.
DBR9/5: Raced by Bell Motorsports in the 2008 American Le Mans Series season, with 4 podiums from 6 races entered.
DBR9/6: Raced by BMS Scuderia Italia under the name Aston Martin Racing BMS in a full 2007 FIA GT Championship season.
DBR9/7: Another Aston Martin Racing BMS car, with no podiums or class wins despite entering a full 2006 FIA GT Championship season.
DBR9/8: Raced by Aston Martin Racing in the 2006 American Le Mans Series season and won the GT1 class at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. Also raced by BMS Scuderia Italia in the 2007 FIA GT Championship season.
DBR9/9: Raced by BMS Scuderia Italia at the 2006 and 2007 FIA GT Championship seasons, with no wins. Written off at the 24 Hours of Spa in 2007.
DBR9/10: Won the GT1 class and finished fifth overall at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans.
DBR9/101: Raced under privateer teams under Russian Age Racing and Cirtek Motorsport in 2005 and 2006, picking up two wins. Then owned by Team Modena, who raced it in 2007 and 2008, including appearances at Le Mans and Le Mans Series, gaining 4 victories.
DBR9/102: Scheduled to race at the 2006 Mil Milhas Brasileiras under Capuava Racing Team but had engine problems in practice.
DBR9/103: Raced by Jetalliance Racing from 2006 to the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, with 4 wins.
DBR9/104: Raced by Phoenix Racing in a full 2006 FIA GT Championship season and once in 2007, achieving one win and seven podiums.
DBR9/105: Raced by Jetalliance Racing, with three wins and four podiums in the 2008 FIA GT Championship season.
DBR9/106: Raced by Gigawave Motorsport in 2008, with five podiums. Gigawave switched to the Nissan GT-R GT1 programme, and the car won the GT1 class at the final 2009 Le Mans Series race at Silverstone.
DBR9/109: Built for the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season and raced in the early part of the season. It was damaged in an accident at the 1000 km of Spa.
In Cars 2, Nigel Gearsley, named after steam locomotive designer Sir Nigel Gresley, is based on this race car.