Video: V8 Vantage GTE art car does massive FOS burnout

In something of a renaissance period for the turbocharger, where turbos aren’t there just to bring power but efficiency as well, what has started to change with both road and race cars is the noise. The old V8 Vantage road car, for example, was a noisy little character, but the current Vantage is altogether quieter. Similarly, Aston’s current Le Mans Vantage GTE is a fast but rather gentle soul compared to the magnificent V8 howler that was the V8 Vantage GTE. That, we have to say, is a great shame.

That said, when we take a moment to look back at the old V8 Vantage GTE, now knowing how much quieter modern Le Mans racers are, we go weak at the knees. This is utterly fabulous.

The driver? Johnny Adam, a four-time British GT champion with Aston Martin, the current leader of the GT Am class in the World Endurance Championship, and the GT Pro Le Mans 2017 class winner. The car? The GT Pro V8 Vantage GTE art car that raced at Le Mans in 2015, the livery designed by German artist Tobias Rehberger. The engine, as you’ll hear, is very, very loud, and Johnny seems to be in a real hurry to get somewhere…