Aston Martin DBR2
 Aston Martin DBR2/2 at Monterey Historics 2004 |
|
| Category | Le Mans Racer Sports car racing |
|---|---|
| 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 sliding block differential |
| Length | 13 ft 2.5 in (402.6 cm) |
| Width | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) |
| Height | 3 ft 2.5 in (97.8 cm) |
| Axle track | 4 ft 5 in (135 cm) |
| Wheelbase | 7 ft 9 in (236 cm) |
| Engine | Aston Martin 3,670 cc / 3,910 cc / 4,164 cc, FR Layout |
| Transmission | David Brown 'S 532' 5-speed Manual |
| Weight | approx 1,765 lb (801 kg) |
| Tyres | Avon |
| Competition history | |
| Notable entrants |
 David Brown
|
| Notable drivers |
Tony Brooks, Roy Salvadori, Noël Cunningham-Reid, Carroll Shelby, Stirling Moss, Paul Frere
|
| Debut | 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans |
The Aston Martin DBR2 was a sports racing car built in 1957 as a sibling to the Aston Martin DBR1, yet competing in a larger engine capacity group.
The DBR2 was created from a short lived Lagonda project known as DP166 (DP for Development Project), This was a multi tube, back bone space frame chassis designed by Willy Watson. This was a progression from the DP115 'wide tubed ladder type' chassis which was similar to that used in the DB3S. Both the DP115 and the DP166 chassis were originally fitted with the failed Lagonda 4.5L V12 engine. All Three of the DP166 chassis made were leaning up against the wall of the Feltham racing department awaiting their fate, that was until the chief race car designer for Aston Martin at that time Ted Cutting was asked by John Wyer to build two race cars from two of the three chassis. The engines to be used were the new Tadek Marek designed 6 cylinder, 3.7 litre unit. He had just completed this engine for the forthcoming DB4. Ted Cutting was allocated four of the six prototype DB4 engines made, these to be used in the DBR2 cars. This was much to the dismay of Tadek Marek. When Ted Cutting got his hands on the newly designed DB4 engines, he made some fundamental changes to the oil delivery system before the unit was fitted into the production DB4s. In 1958, due to the horrific crash at Le Man some years before, a 3000 cc limit was put on championship race car engines, so the DBR2s at 3.700 cc could no longer compete at championship events. Sir David Brown then had the idea to send both the DBR2s to the USA and to use them as a promotional tool for his new DB4. Both DBR2s were sent to the USA with Rex Woodgate and used to good effect.
The all aluminium bodies for the DBR2 were also designed by Ted Cutting. This was a similar design to the one he later used on his Le Man winning Aston Martin DBR1. The DBR2 was slightly larger and more aerodynamic. These cars would be christened DBR2/1 and DBR2/2.
DBR2/1 initially began competition at the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it unfortunately retired, this was due to a poorly performing carburation system, which in effect was a single carburetor for each cylinder, this problem was resolved for the cars next outing when these were replaced with three twin side draft Weber DCO 50s. DBR2/1 only notable success for 1957 was at the Daily Express Trophy at Silverstone Circuit in the hands of Roy Salvadori. DBR2/1 was entered for the August 1957 Spa Grand Prix. During practice the car was performing well in the hands of Noel Cunningham-Reid, however on his last practice lap, Noel saw what he thought to be one of his team mates up-side-down in a ditch, he was unable to stop and help due to other race car traffic, however, with this on his mind he entered the next bend to fast, he came off the track, went down an embankment when the car turned over, Noel was thrown clear landing in a pile of pine cones, looking up just at that moment to see his car smash into a tree. After an inspection of the recovered car by John Wyer, he deemed the car to badly damaged to continue. Upon return to Feltham, it was found that the chassis was quite badly damaged in critical areas. With this car being booked in to race at Silverstone about three weeks later, it was decided to remove everything of use from the damaged chassis and transpose it to the spare chassis. The damaged chassis was to be disposed of, but ended up in the possession of John Willment.
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