Fans will probably hear it before they see it. The incredible V12 in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has arrived at TRG-AMR North American headquarters, and its sound-and looks-are unrivaled. The stunning GT3 is expected to make its debut at Road America in the Rolex Grand-Am Series in August. Completely homologated now with installation of the Bosch electrical system, it will be the first of what the team hopes to be a strong contingent of GT3s running at the top level of sports car racing throughout North America.
The anticipated arrival of TRG-AMR’s GT3 occurred last Friday, and the team wasted little time getting the Aston Martin Vantage valuable track time, testing almost immediately at its hometown track, Sonoma Raceway. An Aston Martin engineering team has come straight from the factory in the UK to help assist in the final preparation of the car for its inaugural test.
Aston Martin has been dominant in Europe this year, and TRG-AMR looks to echo that trend on this side of the Pond. The car itself comes equipped with a lightweight 6.0L V12, combined with a six-speed sequential transmission. Wins and podiums are no stranger to this beast. Its sister car, the Aston Martin Vantage GTE, is scheduled to debut in 2014.
While scheduled for its maiden run with the Rolex Grand American Series at Road America, August 10, the GT3 will also compete at Laguna Seca (Sept. 8) and Lime Rock Park (Sept. 28) as well. The GT3 will make its maiden Pirelli World Challenge GT class debut starting with the Sonoma Raceway event August 25th.
In 2014, with the unification of the sports car world into the United SportsCar Racing series as a result of the Grand-Am/ALMS merger, the Vantage GT3 will compete in the new GT Daytona class.
A show car version of the Vantage GT3 has been touring with the team throughout the course of the season and has easily been one of the fans’ highlights every race.
In addition to the GT3, TRG-AMR also competes with the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in Grand-Am’s Continental Tire Challenge and the Pirelli Word Challenge’s GS class. In 2014, TGR-AMR is schedule to roll out the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge Series of North America with the paddle shift version of the GT4 for sportsman drivers.
Kevin Buckler, Team Owner on the team’s first Vantage GT3:
“We are incredibly excited to get this fabulous Aston Martin under our roof. We have been building the North American Aston Martin program one block at a time, and the GT3 is the next block. These are incredible race cars, and we look forward to getting it on the track and into competition.”
Andrew Williamson, Customer Program Manager:
“We’re thrilled to have TRG-AMR receive its first Vantage GT3. It’s a fantastic race car and has been highly competitive in the European championships. It’s great to see on American soil and we hope to see a few more in the future!”