2010 Aston Martin V8 GT2 by Jota Racing

TopSpeed

By Kirby Garlitos

Published Dec 17, 2012

When Aston Martin->ke347 Racing engineers designed the Vantage GT2 a few years ago, it was built to be a strong competitor in the GT2 race series. Racing team Jota Racing has even been a loyal partner of Aston Martin since the two companies inked a deal back in 2010 that allowed Jota Racing to use the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 in its forays into the world of GT2 racing.

Recently, the two proved that their relationship was as strong as ever after Jota unveiled its official 2013 GT2 race car: the Vantage GT2.

The car itself is based on the V8 Vantage, which shouldn’t be confused with the V12 version that’s being used in the GT3 series. Building it to adhere to racing regulations, the GT2’s body is made from bonded aluminum structure, a material taken directly from the V8 Vantage, and integrating an aerospace-specification-steel roll cage. Every component of the body, excluding the roof, is made from lightweight carbon fiber.

Additionally, an advanced aerodynamic package is part of the car’s overall set-up, with the components including a carbon fiber splitter, flat floor and diffuser, and a carbon rear wing. With all these changes, the Vantage GT2 only weighs 1,175 kg (2,590 pounds), a shade over the 1,150 kg (2,535-pound) minimum weight that the FIA requires.

The V8 GT2 retains a host of the road car’s engine mechanics, including the cylinder block, heads and crankshaft, while also using competition-spec components on the cylinder heads, connecting rods, valves, camshafts and the racing exhaust system. The engine itself is a 4.475-liter V-8 engine that produces in excess of 450 horsepower and 369 pounds-feet of torque. The engine mates to a mid-rear mounted, six-speed paddle-shift transmission with a ‘flat shift’ and competition clutch.

Finally, Jota Racing dressed up its GT2 Vantage in its own team colors: a white front body with a grey rear and orange trims throughout the race car and completed with the usual sponsorship badges. It’s a stylish package that doesn’t go overboard with the overall colors. This is definitely a car to look out for on the GT2 starting grid next year.