Aston Martin DBR1
Aston Martin DBR1/4, next to an Aston Martin DB3S/10 at Silverstone Classic 2008
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| Category | Le Mans Racer Sports car racing | ||||
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| Constructor | Aston Martin Lagonda LTD | ||||
| Designer(s) | Ted Cutting | ||||
| Technical specifications | |||||
| Chassis | Multi-tubular, space frame design | ||||
| Suspension (front) | Torsion bar and trailing arms | ||||
| Suspension (rear) | De Dion with longitudinal torsion bars and Watt linkage | ||||
| Length | 13 ft 2.5 in (4,026 mm) | ||||
| Width | 5 ft 4 in (1,630 mm) | ||||
| Height | 3 ft 2.5 in (978 mm) | ||||
| Axle track | 4 ft 3.5 in (1,308 mm) | ||||
| Wheelbase | 7 ft 6 in (2,290 mm) | ||||
| Engine | Aston Martin 2,493 cc / 2,922 cc, Straight six, FR Layout | ||||
| Transmission | David Brown CG537 5-speed Manual | ||||
| Weight | 1,765 lb (801 kg) | ||||
| Tyres | Avon | ||||
| Competition history | |||||
| Notable entrants |
 David Brown Border Reivers
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| Notable drivers |
Tony Brooks, Reg Parnell, Roy Salvadori, Les Leston, Noël Cunningham-Reid, Stuart Lewis-Evans, Carroll Shelby, Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Maurice Trintignant, Jack Fairman, Paul Frere, Jim Clark
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| Debut | 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans | ||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 1 (1959) | ||||
The Aston Martin DBR1 was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time. It is most famous as the victor of the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, Aston Martin's only outright victory at the endurance classic. It is one of only three cars in the 1950s to win both the World Sports Car Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours in the same year (the others being the Ferrari 375 Plus in 1954 and the Ferrari 250TR in 1958). In addition the six World Sports Car Championship victories was a record for any car in the 1950s and remained a record in the championship until surpassed by the Ferrari 250TR. The three consecutive triumphs in 1959 at the Nürburgring, Le Mans and the Tourist Trophy equalled the record set by the Ferrari 250TR with its three consecutive victories at the start of the 1958 season.
Following changes to the rules for sportscar racing, entrants no longer had to use cars which were road legal, or based on road legal cars, such as the Aston Martin DB3S. Therefore, with the ability to create a sportscar from a clean slate for 1956, Aston Martin created the DBR1, with Ted Cutting as chief designer. The body evolved from the DB3S's shape, featuring a much lower profile. Most notable was that the back of the front wheel well was no longer left open. Instead, the DBR1 featured full bodywork with a large triangular vent on the side, a design trait which would become standard on all future Aston Martins.
The DBR1 was initially fitted with a smaller 2.5-litre (2493 cc) new all alloy racing engine (RB6.250) very loosely derived from the racing version of the Lagonda Straight-6 engine to comply with that year's Le Mans 24 Hour regulations whilst the RB6.300 Straight-6 (2992 cc), rated at 250 hp (186 kW) was developed for the 1957 season.
Debuting at the non championship 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans, David Brown's Aston Martin racing team set out with the 2.5-litre DBR1/1 alongside two older 2.9-litre DB3Ss. Although performing well through most of the race against larger engined cars such as the winning Jaguar D-type with its 3.4-litre engine, the DBR1 suffered gearbox failure after 246 laps whilst lying seventh, forcing drivers Reg Parnell and Tony Brooks to retire.
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