Robin Shute will helm the British automaker's first Race to the Clouds.
British outfit Venture Engineering (a partner of Aston Martin Racing) has announced that it will campaign the first-ever entry of an Aston Martin at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Aiding the company in its quest to conquer the race will be Robin Shute, who has won the event overall three times, including last year's event. He's also the first Brit to be crowned King of the Mountain, so hopes are high.
In his arsenal will be a racecar based on the AMR Vantage GT3, which is based on the Vantage road car, specifically the regular V8 version. The contender will feature the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 but with special adaptations for the Race to the Clouds.
The changes will include an engine remap, work on the dampers, bespoke gearing, and "an upgraded aero and reduced weight package." This year, the car will enter the Time Attack 1 class, but whatever it achieves at the 101st running of the event, the team aims to come back in 2024 with even more upgrades as it plans to develop the car for a run in the Unlimited class.
Should these ventures prove successful, it would be a romantic way to commemorate Aston Martin founder Lionel Martin's run at the Aston Clinton Hill Climb in 1913.
"We're excited to push the limits of the incredibly successful Vantage GT3 in a new racing discipline," said Andy Williamson, commercial director at Venture Engineering. "We also look forward to working with our technical partners over the coming months and years to develop this project into a winning entry."
Among the other notable entries at this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb are the Rivian R1T, the BMW XM Label Red, and Michael "Mad Mike" Whiddett's four-rotor Mazda 3.
Tanner Foust will also be present in a retro Radford Type 62-2, but Venture Racing's biggest competitors will be the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4RS Clubsport, which will compete in the same class as the AMR Vantage GT3.
Porsches tend to do pretty well at this event, so it will be interesting to see how competitive the Brit can be. We'll find out on Sunday, June 25, when this year's PPIHC takes place.
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