What's all this about?

It's a video that charts the development of that gorgeous new Aston Martin Vantage GTE race car we saw only a week ago. For nine minutes, exult in the gestation of the GTE, from a mere concept to the fully finished article.

Why is this of importance?

Because the old Aston Martin Vantage GTE was a highly successful racing car, right up until the end of the 2017 season, despite being based on what was getting to be a very old road car in the shape of the V8 Vantage.

For instance, it picked up the Team Champion trophy in the 2016 World Endurance Championship series and, perhaps most famously, won a thrilling last-lap battle with a Chevrolet Corvette to scoop the GTE Class win at the 2017 Le Mans 24-hour race. So the new Vantage GTE has some very big boots to fill, which is why Aston Martin is taking its development so seriously.

Can you fire me some thoughts of the Aston Martin top brass?

Sure thing. Dr Andy Palmer, the president and CEO of Aston Martin, said: "We decided to replace the current Vantage road car and - since it's really necessary to take race technology from the track to the road and from the road to the track - it's really important that we design both simultaneously. It's always important that you have a champion and Vantage is our champion."

And in which series will the Aston Martin Vantage GTE compete?

The new Vantage GTE will take on the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, Ford, BMW and indeed that pesky Corvette once more at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2018. So far, the Vantage GTE had a shakedown in August and has completed more than 8,750 miles of testing in the UK, as well as overseas in Spain and at the Sebring circuit in the US.

Anything else?

To watch the video on the all-new Aston Martin Vantage GTE, click
right here.

Matt Robinson - 26 Nov 2017