A celebratory year for Aston Martin at the Festival of Speed

At Goodwood this year, Aston will be celebrating both the 60 years since it first won the World Sports Car Championship and 70 years since an Aston first raced at the West Sussex circuit. 

In 1949, the British manufacturer made its first appearance at Goodwood, with W.G. Bingley finishing 10^th in the five-lap Lavant Cup at the Easter Meeting.

A decade later, Aston Martin’s debut Championship was won at Goodwood in a race which, while successful, was not without incident. Contesting the 1959 RAC Tourist Trophy were Stirling Moss and Roy Salvadori in a DBR1, which caught fire in the pits while refuelling. Jumping into the sister car of Carroll Shelby and Jack Fairman, Moss went on to win the race (with a lap to spare) and with it the Championship. 

Another cause to celebrate in 1959 was Aston Martin’s 1-2 finish at the Le Mans 24 Hours, when Roy Salvadori and Caroll Shelby stormed to victory ahead of their David Brown Racing Dept teammates Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frère.

So, as you could imagine, the 2019 Festival of Speed is an important milestone for Aston Martin, and the manufacturer will be pulling out all the stops to make it an unforgettable weekend. 

In commemoration of the Le Mans win, a new limited edition, Vantage AMR, finished in a Vantage 59 livery, will make its dynamic debut on the hillclimb, accompanied by the new, also-unseen-in-motion DBS Superleggera Volante. With a new seven-speed manual transmission and motorsport inspired adjustments, the Vantage AMR promises to be something quite special.

Meanwhile, the all-new Rapide E will feature in the First Glance paddock before being driven up the hill by Aston Martin Racing works driver Darren Turner. The manufacturer’s first foray into the world of EVs, the Rapide E is powered by an 800V, 65kWh battery, which powers two rear-mounted electric motors that produce more than 600hp and 950Nm of torque combined.

A fourth dynamic debut will be seen from AM’s first SUV, the DBX, a camouflage prototype of which will run up the Hill from the First Glance paddock. Chief Engineer, Matt Becker, will put it through its paces ahead of its launch later this year. 

And representing Aston in the Supercar Paddock will be the ‘Lava Collection’, featuring each of the four Vanquish Zagatos – the Volante, Coupe, Shooting Brake and Speedsters – in the iconic Lava Red. In addition, in celebration of 100 years of Zagato, the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation will be on display on Aston Martin’s stand.

When it comes to track performance the Vulcan AMR Pro and the current World Endurance Racing Vantage GTE will also be running up the Hill, with the latter driven by Aston Martin Racing works driver Jonny Adam, fresh from last month’s Le Mans 24.

And finally, a number of other great racing cars from times gone by will represent successes at Brooklands, the Circuit de la Sarthe and Silverstone. Each car will feature in the Aston Martin moment, which will take place on each day of the Festival of Speed, in honour of the manufacturer’s 106 years of history.

President and Group CEO of Aston Martin, Andy Palmer, commented: “We are a business that is currently experiencing a momentous period of growth. Attending the Festival of Speed allows us to showcase our latest developments in electric and SUV technology while celebrating the rich history of our past.

“Aston Martin is proud to have been involved in the Festival of Speed since it began in 1993. It’s a nerve-wracking experience every time I drive up the hill in front of the crowds, the margin for error is tiny, but there is such an extraordinary atmosphere that it is like no other motor show on earth. It’s this excitement that keeps both participants and visitors returning year after year.”