Aston Martin DBR9
 An Aston Martin DBR9 at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009 |
|
| Category | Le Mans Racer GT1 |
|---|---|
| Constructor |
Aston Martin Prodrive |
| Technical specifications | |
| Chassis | Aluminium frame, with Carbon fibre panels |
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone with adjustable Koni dampers |
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone with adjustable Koni dampers |
| Length | 4,687 mm (184.5 in) |
| Width | 1,978 mm (77.9 in) |
| Height | 1,195 mm (47.0 in) |
| Wheelbase | 2,741 mm (107.9 in) |
| Engine | Aston Martin, 6,000 cc (370 cu in), all aluminium, DOHC, 48 valve V12 naturally aspirated, 600 bhp, 740 Nm, front-engined, longitudinally mounted |
| Transmission | 6-speed sequential manual |
| Weight | 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) |
| Competition history | |
| Notable entrants |
 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Racing BMS Aston Martin Racing Larbre Team Modena Jetalliance Racing
|
| Debut | 2005 12 Hours of Sebring |
| Teams' Championships | 1 (2006 LMS) |
| Constructors' Championships | 1 (2006 FIA GT) |
| Drivers' Championships | 1 (2006 LMS) |
The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005 and racing actively in international sportscar racing until the end of GT1 category in 2011. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title. The car is most famous for taking two LMGT1 class wins at Le Mans 24 Hours (2007 and 2008) by the Aston Martin Racing factory team.
Based on the Aston Martin DB9 road car, the DBR9 retains the chassis, engine block, and cylinder heads of the road car's V12 engine. The rest of the car is re-engineered for high performance competition use. The DBR9's bodywork is a blend of optimum aerodynamic performance and the styling of the DB9 road car. All the body panels are constructed from carbon fibre composite (except the roof) to minimize the weight of the car. To complete the aerodynamic body, the bottom of the car is flat all the way from the front to the rear diffuser. To optimise rear downforce a carbon fibre wing has been added. The car goes from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
For the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Prodrive made modifications to the DBR9 design to not only improve performance, but also to increase driver comfort in the cockpit. Due to new regulations put into place by Le Mans organizers, the DBR9 required the installation of an air conditioning unit, to prevent overstressing drivers. Prodrive went further by putting a heat-resistant white roof on all new cars to assist in keeping cockpit temperatures down. Performance modifications included the removal of two, now immaterial, cooling vents from the bonnet of the car.
The DBR9 won the Sebring 12 Hours for its LMGT1 category in 2005, but came third in Le Mans 24 Hour behind arch-rivals Corvette Racing due to fuel problems. In 2006, the DBR9 was unable to repeat its success at Sebring, finishing second behind a Corvette. A similar situation occurred at Le Mans as well. Despite not winning Sebring and Le Mans, Aston Martin Racing regularly challenged Corvette Racing for victory in the rest of the American Le Mans Series schedule, with victories at Lime Rock Park, Miller Motorsports Park, Mosport, Petit Le Mans, and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Aston Martin capped their 2006 ALMS season by finishing second in the GT1 Manufacturer's Championship, earning the factory team an automatic entry to the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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