The 2019 Vantage GT3 was a clean-sheet design built around the same bonded-aluminium platform as the new Vantage road car, which itself was developed in part using technology and powertrain components sourced from Mercedes-AMG. Aston Martin Racing designed the racing variant to be convertible between GT3 and GTE specifications, sharing a similar mechanical foundation with the Vantage GTE that competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The GT3 is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine — the same Mercedes-AMG M177 unit used in the road car — producing approximately 542 PS (399 kW; 535 hp). Drive is transmitted through an Xtrac 6-speed sequential gearbox, and the car features an Alcon motorsport multi-plate clutch, Ohlins four-way adjustable dampers, Alcon brakes, and a Bosch anti-lock braking system. The dry weight of the car is 1,245 kg (2,745 lb), and balance-of-performance regulations allow output to be adjusted depending on the specific championship.
A key design priority for Aston Martin Racing was ensuring the Vantage GT3 could be maintained and operated efficiently by customer teams without requiring factory support. The car features straightforward serviceability, with well-packaged mechanical components and an accessible control architecture. The Xtrac sequential gearbox and Alcon braking components are proven items widely used across GT3 machinery, reducing the spare-parts burden for customers.
The suspension employs Ohlins four-way adjustable dampers at each corner, allowing teams to tune setup across a broad range of track conditions and driving styles. Aerodynamic bodywork was developed with a large adjustable rear wing and a front splitter designed to work within the GT3 regulations, providing appropriate downforce levels without requiring the more complex aerodynamic elements found on GTE or LMP cars.
The Vantage GT3 made its competitive debut in the 2019 season, being fielded by a number of customer teams in Europe, Asia, and North America. Teams running the car competed in championships including the British GT Championship, Blancpain GT Series, Intercontinental GT Challenge, and various national GT3 series.
The car showed competitive pace on arrival, with Aston Martin Racing providing ongoing technical support to its customer network. The Vantage GT3 proved well-suited to endurance racing formats given Aston Martin Racing's long heritage in events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
In 2024, an evolved version of the Vantage GT3 based on the facelifted 2025 model year Vantage was unveiled on 12 February 2024. This updated car was also made available as an upgrade kit for teams already operating the 2019-specification car, allowing existing customers to keep their machinery competitive without a full replacement.
The Vantage GT3 represented an important commercial pillar for Aston Martin Racing, with GT3 customer revenues helping to fund the programme's wider activities including the factory GTE effort. The car extended Aston Martin's presence in customer motorsport significantly beyond what had been possible with the V12-engined predecessor, given the greater appeal of the turbocharged four-litre platform in terms of running costs and parts availability.
The convertibility between GTE and GT3 specification was a practical engineering decision that reduced the development cost and gave Aston Martin Racing the ability to draw on lessons from the factory-backed GTE programme and apply them directly to the customer GT3 car. This cross-pollination of technical knowledge was central to the Vantage's competitive positioning in the crowded GT3 marketplace of the late 2010s and 2020s.
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