New Aston Martin LMP1

[Jon King]

What do people think of the new Aston Martin LMP1
 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89690

[Chris24]

No, don't like it.

It doesn't look anything like the artists impression we saw ages ago which actually had some Aston design influences to it, this has nothing that could even remotely make you think it was an Aston. Don't like the black on the colour scheme either and in general I think the car looks ugly.

Also, its not going to Sebring !!!!!!! Who am I going to support now. No Drayson Racing as they are going electric racing and now no works Aston team either.

[landman]

540 bhp from a 2 litre turbo?

Holy smokes!

The car's not as pleasing on the eye as the Lola Aston Martin, but I for one don't really mind about the looks just as long as it's able to compete with the tractor-powered cars.

[lofty]

interesting that audi go closed cockpit and aston go open.

[geoffd]

hhhmmmm, yes, it has lost some of the Aston influences shown on the original design which is a shame,  but lets not forget that it's designed to go racing!  Can't see many Audi or Pug roadcar influences in the R18 or 908....  Ugly? Pretty?  I'll make up my mind when I see it in the flesh or on the track.

Shame about the name though, AMR One just brings to mind the Group C car from the late 80's,  if it was to have a number then it should have been AMR Three of course.

Should be good to have a different engine note from that straight 6.

Let's hope they sign a decent driver for the vacant seat in 007, one Jonny Cocker seems to be free at the moment.....

Roll on June

[gt6]

I prefer open top LMP's, looks good and different from the closed entries from Pug and Audi, lets hope it goes better than them.

[Brad Zarse]

You can't see the peugeot or audi design influences??  Have you SEEN the most recent ranges of each company!?!?! 

I am of the same opinion though - That car is dog ugly - I really hope they revise that front end, sooner rather than later!!

[Andy Zarse]

No, don't like it.

It doesn't look anything like the artists impression we saw ages ago which actually had some Aston design influences to it, this has nothing that could even remotely make you think it was an Aston. Don't like the black on the colour scheme either and in general I think the car looks ugly.

Also, its not going to Sebring !!!!!!! Who am I going to support now. No Drayson Racing as they are going electric racing and now no works Aston team either.

Ginetta Zytek anyone?  

Chris, there's loads more photos on pistonheads, the rear lights are distinctively Aston. And David Richards (or "Dave mate" as he's known to you and I ) reckons it sounds better than it has any right to. Personally, I didn't like the previous car in Gulf colours, BRG rules on Astons.

Anyhow I don't care as long as it's competitive!

[Steve Pyro]

 BRG rules on Astons.

Aston Racing Green - very different to the colour used on Jags.

[Lazy B'stard]

I don't think it is too bad looking but the paint job does it no favours. The black carbon looks like it has had a shunt and has been gaffer taped together.
 The reasoning is that its the part that gets dirty in a race and it 'will look as good when it returns to the pits as it did at the start'. I think that should be rephrased as 'looks as bad as'. I like my endurance cars to look dirty, they look like they have endured.
It also looks very long. i suspect that it will need several sets of front and rear bodywork over the 24hours as the drivers will be knocking chunks of it off at regular intervals, thus negating the 'Keep it clean' idea.

[Barry]

I'll reserve judgement till I see it hammering around Tetre Rouge.

Doesn't look brill in the photos, but on the track?  We will see.

[Lord Steve]

I think it looks very ugly. However, cleverer people than me have no doubt designed it in a wind tunnel to within a gnats of it's life.
I don't know, it's just not very Aston looking, the same way that the Pugs and Audis aren't very Pug and Audi looking.
If it wins or leads the race we'll all be behind it no doubt but I do prefer closed top cars in LMP1 - that's just my hangover from group C.
Thing is, and you may or may not agree.......Aston? 2 litre? Doesn't compute!

Aston's have V8s or V12s.

They'll be running electric / diesel / hydrogen / solar scalextric cars next. It's all getting very silly and I don't like it.

[Kpy]

Thing is, and you may or may not agree.......Aston? 2 litre? Doesn't compute!

Aston's have V8s or V12s.

2 litre turbocharged, which is the equivalent of 3.4 litres normally aspirated.

Last time (the only time) Aston Martin won LM outright was with a straight 6.

[IanS]

Higher stressed 2.0 turbos have often suffered with reliability over 24 hours lets pray they have ironed this one out.  Good luck

[geoffd]

Higher stressed 2.0 turbos have often suffered with reliability over 24 hours lets pray they have ironed this one out.  Good luck

Yes, I'm not expecting great things this year,  I just hope they have the funding available for a multi-year project, and that the full six cars get built and see plenty of track action in Europe and the US.