Aston Martin Racing has unveiled the DBR9, which will spearhead the British
 marque’s return to international motor racing in 2005.
 
   The car was shown to a selected audience for the first time on 4th November
 2004 at Aston Martin’s headquarters at Gaydon in the UK. An intensive testing
 program now follows for Aston Martin Racing prior to the DBR9’s debut race
 scheduled for the 12 hours of Sebring, Florida, in March 2005.
 
   Aston Martin Racing will run two cars at Sebring and then move to Europe to
 prepare for the Le Mans 24 hours in June 2005. This will mark Aston Martin’s
 return to the race which was won outright in 1959 with Roy Salvadori and Carroll
 Shelby. In recognition of this, the DBR9 will follow the Le Mans-winning DBR1 and
 Works DB3S and carry the same green and yellow livery as the cars which
 dominated sports car racing in the late 1950s.
 
   Aston Martin Racing will build 12 Works cars, which will be run by three Works
 teams in the major international GT series. A limited run of only 20 racing cars,
 prepared to the same specification, will also be built and made available to
 selected customers to race or keep in private collections. The DBR9 GT racing
 car is based on the latest Aston Martin production sports car - the DB9 - but is
 significantly modified for competition use.
 

   The DB9’s bonded-aluminum body architecture is shared with the DBR9 and provides both with a lightweight rigid chassis. The race
 engine uses the same aluminum cylinder block and head as the DB9’s 450bhp 6-litre V12 unit, but with racing modification it is expected
 to produce in the region of 600bhp.
 
   The DB9’s double wishbone suspension configuration is retained on the DBR9, but features up-rated components and a revised
 geometry for racing purposes. Formula One style carbon brakes are fitted front and rear and a competition, six-speed sequential
 gearbox is mounted at the rear axle.
 
   The DBR9 was styled by Aston Martin Racing’s own design team who made extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimize
 the aerodynamics before producing the final body surface. The panels are hand made from carbon-fiber composite, helping the car to
 meet its 1,100kg minimum weight and giving it a power to weight ratio of 550bhp per tone - more than double that of the road car.
 
   Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin, said: “We need to create heightened awareness for Aston Martin around the world
 and motor sport will allow us to do this.
 
 
   Another article by Aston Martin

   “We took four years to find the ideal partner in David Richards and Prodrive and together have created Aston Martin Racing. The DBR9
 is the first step in our return to motor sport and I know that our customers and enthusiasts alike are looking forward to seeing Aston
 Martin racing again at an international level in 2005.”
 
   With a very rigid chassis, lightweight materials, optimum weight distribution and a powerful Aston Martin 6.0 liter, normally aspirated V12
 engine, the road going DB9 is an excellent starting point for the production of DBR9.The name DBR9 is derived from the original Le Mans-
 winning DBR1 car which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but the World Sportscar title too. Aston Martin Racing will build 12
 individually numbered DBR9 Works cars, which will be run by three Works teams in the major international GT series. A limited number of
 cars will also be built and made available for private individuals to race or keep in collections.
 
   The DBR9 uses the DB9 road car’s aluminum chassis and uses the V12 engine’s cylinder block and heads to develop the race unit. After 
 this the car is re-engineered for competition use. The gearbox on the DBR9 is a 6-speed sequential unit. The double wishbone
 suspension is purpose-built and there are large diameter carbon brakes front and rear. The wheels have also been specially designed for
 the car by OZ Racing and are made from forged magnesium. In the cockpit, a carbon composite dashboard, lightweight racing seat and
 the driver’s instrument panels, have replaced all the original car’s trim. The aerodynamic package of the car has been developed using
 computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Combined with the desire to follow the same lines as the DB9 road car, this has helped define the
 overall body shape. All the panels have been specifically hand crafted to fit the DBR9, and, to save weight, are all manufactured in carbon
 fiber composite (except the roof). The large rear wing is also made from carbon fiber, while to complete the aero package, the under side
 of the car is flat from the front to the rear diffuser. The result is a GT racing car with outstanding performance but with the beauty and
 integrity of an Aston Martin.
 
 Aston Martin Official Website
 Aston Martin DBR9 Race Team Official Website