Aston Martin Racing

Aston Martin Racing, commonly abbreviated as AMR, is the motorsport identity used for Aston Martin Lagonda's sports-car racing activities. The organization was established in 2004 through a partnership between Aston Martin and Prodrive, the British engineering and motorsport group founded by David Richards. Its initial purpose was to return Aston Martin to international endurance competition with the DBR9, a competition car derived from the DB9 road car. The DBR9 made its racing debut in 2005 and immediately established AMR as a significant GT competitor. AMR's work has combined factory-backed racing, customer-car development, engineering support and technology transfer to Aston Martin's road-car programs. Although Prodrive has built the cars at its facilities, Aston Martin has remained involved in design, branding, engine development and the integration of racing knowledge into production vehicles. The program has produced cars for several international categories, including GT1, GT2 and GTE, GT3, GT4, Le Mans Prototype classes and, from 2025, the Le Mans Hypercar and IMSA GTP categories. The DBR9 delivered early success in endurance racing. Aston Martin Racing won its first event, the 2005 12 Hours of Sebring, and also captured the RAC Tourist Trophy that year. In 2006, the team competed through the American Le Mans Series and recorded five victories, including Petit Le Mans, while finishing second in the GT1 championship. The DBR9 then gave Aston Martin its first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1959, winning the GT1 class in 2007 and repeating the achievement in 2008. AMR expanded into prototype competition in the late 2000s. In 2008, a DBR9-derived V12 was installed in a Lola B08/60 LMP1 chassis through a program involving Charouz Racing System. A more extensive works effort followed in 2009 with the Lola-Aston Martin B09/60. The program won the 1000 km of Catalunya and secured the Le Mans Series drivers', constructors' and team titles, although its Le Mans result was less successful than the wider season. The subsequent AMR-One prototype struggled with reliability and pace in 2011, leading Aston Martin to return its primary focus to GT racing. The V8 Vantage became AMR's central competition platform during the 2010s. Vantage-based cars were developed for GTE, GT3 and GT4 competition, with the Vantage GTE forming the basis of Aston Martin's FIA World Endurance Championship program from 2012. The team achieved major results in the championship, including the 2014 LMGTE-Am Le Mans victory, the 2016 LMGTE-Pro teams' title and drivers' World Endurance Cup, and the 2017 GTE-Am drivers' and teams' titles. In 2017, a Vantage GTE also won the GTE-Pro class at Le Mans. A new-generation Vantage GTE was revealed alongside the road-going Vantage in November 2017 and entered the 2018–19 WEC super season. In December 2020, Aston Martin announced that it would end its factory LMGTE-Pro program and concentrate more heavily on Formula One, while continuing customer-supported LMGTE-Am activity. That customer program changed operationally in 2023 when Paul Dalla Lana retired and withdrew NorthWest AMR; The Heart of Racing took over the entry while retaining the NorthWest AMR identity and race number for regulatory reasons. Aston Martin announced a return to the top level of endurance racing in 2023. In partnership with The Heart of Racing, AMR developed the Valkyrie AMR-LMH for the FIA World Endurance Championship's Hypercar category and the IMSA SportsCar Championship's GTP class. The car uses a race-adapted 6.5-litre Aston Martin-Cosworth V12, together with an Xtrac seven-speed sequential gearbox. The program entered both championships in 2025, marking a new phase in Aston Martin's endurance-racing strategy.

Aston Martin Racing was formed in 2004 as a partnership between Aston Martin and Prodrive. The project was designed to bring Aston Martin back to international sports-car racing, beginning with the DBR9, a substantially modified racing derivative of the DB9. The car debuted in 2005 and won at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the RAC Tourist Trophy during its first season. The DBR9 became the foundation of AMR's GT program. In 2006, the team contested the full American Le Mans Series season, winning five races and finishing second in the GT1 championship. In 2007 and 2008, Aston Martin won its GT1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, re-establishing the marque as a major endurance competitor. AMR also developed customer-oriented versions of its cars, including the DBRS9 for GT3 and V8 Vantage derivatives for GT2, GT3 and GT4 categories. AMR briefly moved toward prototype racing. In 2008, a DBR9-based V12 was installed in a Lola B08/60 LMP1 car in cooperation with Charouz Racing System. The following year, the Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 became the basis of a larger works effort. Although one of the cars finished fourth overall at Le Mans, the program's strongest results came in the Le Mans Series, where Aston Martin won the 2009 drivers', constructors' and team championships. The successor AMR-One, introduced in 2011 with a smaller turbocharged engine, suffered severe performance and reliability problems. After its unsuccessful Le Mans appearance, AMR returned to GT racing. The V8 Vantage GTE became Aston Martin Racing's principal factory platform in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The program started in 2012 and achieved a series of class wins and championships. In 2014, Aston Martin won the LMGTE-Am class at Le Mans and the associated FIA Endurance Trophy for teams and drivers. In 2016, the marque won the LMGTE-Pro teams' championship and the World Endurance Cup for GT drivers. In 2017, AMR secured the GTE-Am drivers' and teams' titles, while Darren Turner, Jonny Adam and Daniel Serra won the GTE-Pro class at Le Mans. The second-generation Vantage GTE was unveiled in parallel with the road-going Vantage in 2017 and entered the 2018–19 WEC super season. In late 2020, Aston Martin announced that it would end its factory LMGTE-Pro program to concentrate on Formula One, while continuing customer-funded LMGTE-Am competition. The customer effort changed hands in 2023 after Paul Dalla Lana retired; The Heart of Racing assumed the entry while preserving the NorthWest AMR name and number. In October 2023, Aston Martin announced a new top-class endurance project. The Valkyrie AMR-LMH was created for the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar class and IMSA's GTP class. Its powertrain combines a modified 6.5-litre Aston Martin-Cosworth V12 with an Xtrac seven-speed sequential gearbox. The car entered both championship environments in 2025. Its first WEC season began with reliability difficulties at the Qatar 1812 km, but the cars showed progress before Le Mans, where one reached Hyperpole 1 and both finished within the overall top fifteen.

• 2025

  Valkyrie enters top-class endurance racing

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  The Valkyrie AMR-LMH begins competition in WEC and IMSA.

• 2023

  Valkyrie AMR-LMH project announced

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  Aston Martin announces plans for WEC Hypercar and IMSA GTP entries from 2025.

• 2020

  Factory LMGTE-Pro program ends

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  Aston Martin announces a strategic shift away from factory LMGTE-Pro racing.

• 2017

  New Vantage GTE is revealed

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  AMR unveils the second-generation Vantage GTE for the 2018–19 WEC super season.

• 2014

  LMGTE-Am Le Mans victory

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  Aston Martin wins the LMGTE-Am class at Le Mans and the related FIA Endurance Trophy.

• 2012

  Entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  AMR begins its V8 Vantage GTE-based WEC program.

• 2009

  Lola-Aston Martin wins the Le Mans Series titles

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  The B09/60 program wins the drivers', constructors' and team championships in the Le Mans Series.

• 2007

  Le Mans GT1 victory

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  Aston Martin wins the GT1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

• 2005

  DBR9 makes its racing debut

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  The DBR9 begins competition and wins the 12 Hours of Sebring and the RAC Tourist Trophy.

• 2004

  Aston Martin Racing is established

  [1]Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org

  Aston Martin and Prodrive establish a joint sports-car racing program.

Premium British endurance-racing and customer-motorsport division combining Aston Martin design and engineering with Prodrive competition expertise.

• GT1 racing car · 2005

  Aston Martin DBR9

  A heavily modified competition version of the DB9 and AMR's first major racing car. The DBR9 formed the basis of Aston Martin's return to international GT endurance racing, competing in events including Sebring, the American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It delivered class victories at Le Mans in 2007 and 2008 and was also developed into the DBRS9 GT3 car.

• GT3 racing car

  Aston Martin DBRS9

  A GT3-oriented derivative of the DBR9 created for customer and international GT competition. It extended the DBR9 concept into a category with broader customer participation before the Vantage became AMR's main GT3 platform.

• GTE endurance racing car · 2012

  Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE

  The V8 Vantage GTE was Aston Martin Racing's principal GT endurance platform during the 2010s. It competed in LMGTE-Pro and LMGTE-Am, supported customer programs and won major championship titles, including Le Mans class victories in 2014 and 2017.

• Customer GT racing cars

  Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and GT4

  Vantage-based GT3 and GT4 cars expanded AMR's customer-racing presence beyond the factory endurance program. They were designed for international series and national championships, providing teams with Aston Martin competition cars across different levels of GT racing.

• LMP1 prototype · 2009

  Lola-Aston Martin B09/60

  An LMP1 prototype developed around a Lola chassis and Aston Martin's V12 powerplant. The car represented AMR's principal prototype effort in 2009 and achieved an overall victory in the 1000 km of Catalunya, together with the Le Mans Series drivers', constructors' and team titles.

• LMP1 prototype · 2011

  Aston Martin AMR-One

  The AMR-One was a 2011 LMP1 prototype powered by a downsized, turbocharged 2.0-litre straight-six petrol engine. It experienced substantial mechanical and performance difficulties, including an extremely short Le Mans appearance, and was replaced in the team's active program by an adapted B09/60.

• Le Mans Hypercar and IMSA GTP prototype · 2025

  Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH

  A top-class endurance prototype based on the Valkyrie project and developed for WEC Hypercar and IMSA GTP competition. Its race-specific 6.5-litre Aston Martin-Cosworth V12 is modified for endurance reliability and paired with a seven-speed sequential gearbox developed by Xtrac.

• 2025Valkyrie Hypercar program

  FIA World Endurance Championship · IMSA SportsCar Championship

  In partnership with The Heart of Racing, Aston Martin introduced the Valkyrie AMR-LMH to the WEC Hypercar and IMSA GTP grids.

  Outcome. The opening season included reliability challenges but also improving pace, a Hyperpole 1 appearance at Le Mans and top-fifteen finishes for both WEC cars.

  Source
• 2012V8 Vantage GTE WEC campaign

  International endurance racing

  AMR used the V8 Vantage GTE to establish a sustained factory and customer presence in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

  Outcome. The team finished runner-up in the inaugural season's LMGTE-Pro Trophy and later won multiple championships and Le Mans classes.

  Source
• 2009Lola-Aston Martin Le Mans program

  Europe · International endurance racing

  AMR entered a works group of Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 prototypes in the 2009 Le Mans and Le Mans Series campaigns, using Gulf-inspired blue and orange colors and marking the anniversary of Aston Martin's 1959 overall Le Mans victory.

  Outcome. The program won the Le Mans Series drivers', constructors' and team titles; its highest Le Mans finish was fourth overall.

  Source

• 2023

  Approval of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH endurance projectProduct launch

  Background

  Aston Martin sought to return to the highest level of sports-car endurance racing after ending its factory GTE-Pro program.

  Action taken

  The company announced a Valkyrie-based Hypercar and GTP program for WEC and IMSA, developed with The Heart of Racing.

  Aftermath

  The Valkyrie entered both championship environments in 2025.

  Source

• 2020

  End of the factory LMGTE-Pro programStrategy

  Background

  Aston Martin was increasing its strategic focus on Formula One and reassessing its factory endurance-racing commitments.

  Action taken

  The company announced that it would end its World Endurance Championship LMGTE-Pro career and factory Vantage GTE program while continuing LMGTE-Am activity.

  Aftermath

  Customer-funded GT competition continued, later transitioning operationally to The Heart of Racing after Paul Dalla Lana's retirement.

  Source

• 2011

  Abandonment of the active AMR-One race campaignStrategy

  Background

  The AMR-One prototype showed poor pace and repeated mechanical failures in its first events, including the 2011 Le Mans race.

  Action taken

  AMR stopped entering the car in the intervening Intercontinental Le Mans Cup rounds and returned to the older B09/60 for the remainder of the season.

  Aftermath

  Aston Martin redirected its principal competition effort toward GT racing and the V8 Vantage platform.

  Source

1. 1Aston Martin Racingen.wikipedia.org