The world’s toughest 24-hour race at the Nurburgring circuit this weekend will see Aston Martin entering a bevy of sports cars led by not one but two specially prepared racing examples of the freshly revealed V12 Zagato Concept.
Based on the existing V12 Vantage chassis, the concept model was designed by Italian coachbuilder Zagato to celebrate its partnership with Aston Martin in the 50th anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato. The prototype received its public debut at the Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D’Este in May this year, winning the Design award for Concepts and Prototypes.
The show car was then turned into the number 3 race car, nicknamed by the company ‘Zag’ (red), which will be piloted in the 24 hour race by Aston Martin CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, the company’s Nürburgring Test Centre Director, Wolfgang Schuhbauer and automotive journalists Horst von Saurma and Matthew Marsh.
The second V12 Zagato concept racer is car number 5 nicknamed ‘Zig’, and it is finished in a green hue. It will be driven by One-77 Chief Engineer Chris Porritt, sports car driver Oliver Mathai, automotive journalist Richard Meaden and amateur racer Peter Cate.
The V12 Zagato(s), which is destined to spawn a limited run production version within the next year, will be joined by a V8 Vantage GT4 nicknamed ‘Smurf’ and three customer team V8 Vantages bringing the Aston Martin presence in the race to a total of six cars.
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