Aston Martin unveiled the V12 Vantage GT3 in 2011 as a replacement for the DBRS9 in the FIA Group GT3 class. The car used a V12 engine producing 625 bhp and 746 Nm of torque, with a kerb weight of 1,250 kg. It competed successfully in domestic and international GT series for seven years. At the 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour — its last major event — it led until the final minutes against newer machinery before finishing second. The V12 Vantage GT3 was ultimately the last GT3 race car in international competition to use a V12 engine.
The current Vantage GT3 is based on the 2018-onward Aston Martin Vantage, which itself uses the Mercedes-AMG 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The racing version of this powertrain is tuned to produce 542 PS and 700 Nm of torque. The drivetrain pairs the V8 with an Xtrac 6-speed quick-shifting sequential gearbox and an Alcon motorsport multi-plate clutch. Suspension uses Ohlins four-way adjustable dampers, braking is handled by Alcon hardware, and the anti-lock braking system is supplied by Bosch. The complete car has a dry weight of 1,245 kg.
The GTE-spec Vantage AMR, used in the FIA World Endurance Championship, was designed from the outset to be convertible to GT3 specification, sharing significant structural architecture with the GT3 variant. The GTE car uses the same Mercedes-AMG V8 engine, paired in that form with a 6-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox.
An all-new Vantage GT3 based on the facelifted 2025 model year Vantage was unveiled on 12 February 2024. The updated car was also offered as an Evo conversion kit for existing 2019-generation Vantage GT3 customers, preserving residual value in the customer racing fleet.
The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is represented in Assetto Corsa Competizione as part of the SRO GT3 class, simulating its real-world role in the GT World Challenge Europe and related championships. In the simulation, the car exhibits characteristics associated with a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive GT3 built around a stiff aluminum bonded platform. Drivers in ACC describe it as predictable under braking and offering strong straight-line stability, with setup work often focused on managing rear tyre temperatures across long stints. The twin-turbocharged V8 provides accessible torque relative to naturally aspirated rivals.
Aston Martin also produced a Class 1 touring car version of the Vantage for the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season, developed in partnership with HWA AG and R-Motorsport. This Vantage DTM was Aston Martin's first entry in the DTM and replaced Mercedes-Benz in the championship after Mercedes withdrew to focus on Formula E. The DTM program was separate from the GT3 customer racing effort.
The transition from the V12 Vantage GT3 to the current Vantage GT3 reflected a broader shift in Aston Martin's engineering strategy, moving from proprietary powertrains toward the use of Mercedes-AMG components following the commercial partnership between the two manufacturers. The new GT3 generation successfully maintained Aston Martin's presence in international customer GT racing, preserving the brand's long competition history that stretches back to Le Mans victories in the 1950s. The car's dual eligibility — with the GTE variant competing in the World Endurance Championship and the GT3 in SRO championships — demonstrated the design's versatility.
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