For supercar and motor sport lovers, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is an event that has it all. With the latest mouth-watering supercars from all of the world’s premier brands, to classic cars and racing cars of yesterday and today, this is an annual celebration of all things fast, and is one for the bucket list.
Each year, Goodwood commissions artist and designer Gerry Judah to create a central feature representing the year’s chosen theme. This year, the event celebrates the racing history of one of Supercartribe’s favourite marques, Aston Martin.
2019 represents 60 years since the legendary 1959 victory – and second place – at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by the ground-breaking Aston Martin DBR1. The winning car, driven that year by American Carroll Shelby and Britain’s Roy Salvadori, will greet visitors to Goodwood this weekend from the top of Judah’s latest stunning creation, which reimagines a continuous race circuit reaching high into the sky.
Bespoke Vantage
Like many luxury and prestige brands, Aston Martin offers bespoke versions of its models for discerning owners, and the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ division has created a run of six Aston Martin Vantage designed as its own tribute to the anniversary of that iconic win, and the history of the marque in racing.
Each design commemorates a famous Aston Martin racing car, and only 60 will be built, with customers able to choose which of the six designs they wish to own. The ‘Vantage Heritage Racing Editions’ introduce the new aero package that will become available on all future Vantages, with increased downforce, a carbon fibre rear wing and interior trim, plus other detail touches including lightweight wheels, making this version of the Vantage very special indeed.
The Six Designs
The six very special racing cars represented by the Vantage Heritage Racing Editions start with the simply legendary ‘Razor Blade’, a record-breaking car from 1923. The modern representation is finished in green and silver to acknowledge the original car’s streamlined aluminium body which was built by the De Havilland aircraft company.
The Aston Martin Ulster, the most successful of the marque’s pre-war racing and road models, is represented by the ‘Italian Progettista’, a Vantage finished in glorious red as the team cars were, while a yellow and green livery adorns a third edition, reflecting the colours of the racing cars in the David Brown era.
The mighty Aston Martin AMR1 Group C racing car of 1989 inspires the red, white and blue colour scheme of the fourth Heritage Vantage, while the ‘The Le Mans Winner’ colour scheme is the legendary and undoubtedly iconic ‘Gulf’ blue and orange finish, which we believe will be the popular choice. The final design is ‘The Next Generation’, evoking the current green and lime colours of the present day Aston Martin racing cars.
Aston Martin CEO and President expressed his pride at the marque being celebrated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed:
“It is a great honour to be celebrated at Goodwood Festival of Speed this year. Racing is a crucial component in Aston Martin’s DNA and it is something that we have pursued since the inception of the company more than 100 years ago. We have raced all around the world but the core passion and commitment that we’ve displayed has remained the same since our first race on Aston Hill.”
The six very special Vantage’s will take their place under the spectacular central feature for the duration of the Festival of Speed.
Images Copyright of: Aston Martin.
