Car of the Day 9.29.09
Landin Williams and Evan Griffey, 9.29.2009
With its direct connect to the road it is easy to understand why Grand Touring racing has been a bright spot in motorsports. The cars are based on real road going models and their affluent buyers appreciate a lively racing pedigree. The DBR9, named after the 1959 Le Mans-winning and ’59 World Sportscar champion DBR1, is the race version of Aston Martin’s DB9.
In 2005 the DB9 shed its 007 libido and hit the racing scene like a ton of bricks, seeing the checkered flag in its debut race, the 12 Hours of Sebring. The DBR9 impressed further with back-to-back GT1 class wins at the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2007 and 2008.
The Bell Motorsports #008 was one of the cars that helped put Aston Martin back on the map in sports car racing, campaigning in the American Le Mans series in 2008. The DBR9 is a serious racing machine with extensive use of carbon fiber parts everywhere on the body except the roof which is aluminum. A thunderous 6.0-liter, 620-horsepower V12 engine provides propulsion as the sleek coupe engages in wheel-to-wheel combat with its main rival in the American Le Mans Series; the Chevy Corvette. In FM3 the DBR9 is a no-nonsense drive that requires firm concentration and a soft touch. With its R2-826 rating big dividends and super quick lap times await intuitive drivers who can tame the beast.
2008 Aston Martin DBR9 #008 Gallery
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