Aston Martin & Red Bull to develop hypercar; JLR opts to rebrand Heritage business; Classic Car Auctions in gear for first sale of the year
THE move by Aston Martin into the world of Formula 1 has been rumoured for some time and the dawn of the new F1 season has seen the manufacturer nail its colours to the mast.
However, the manifestation of its intent did catch some by surprise.
The suggestions lilting along the pit lane last year had caused people to believe the company could mount a bid to take over the Force India team and have its own livered cars taking to the track alongside Mercedes and Ferrari.
However, the Gaydon company’s involvement in the high profile sport is likely to be a little different – at least for now.
The firm has announced a collaborative arrangement with Red Bull Racing which sees Red Bull’s legendary Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey and Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman working together to produce a ground-breaking Aston Martin hypercar.
Codenamed Project ‘AM-RB 001’, the new hypercar will combine the ultimate blend of cutting edge F1 technology with Aston Martin’s signature sports car design. The combined talents of Newey, widely noted as the most successful Formula One designer of all time, and Reichman, Aston Martin’s design chief since 2005, is already setting pulses racing.
Combining the strongest elements of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Aston Martin, the new partnership unites the world’s best aerodynamicists, composite experts and manufacturers. All the parties offer different elite capabilities and the combination of all of those skills is likely to ensure the new car is something very special.
Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: “F1 offers the ultimate global stage to build wider awareness of the Aston Martin brand. However, this partnership will deliver even more than that when the hypercar that Aston Martin and Adrian Newey are in the process of developing hits the road.
“Between Q by Aston Martin Advanced, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and project partner AF Racing AG, we are going to create a car that will excite and stir the imaginations of the car designers of the future and a global audience of sports car enthusiasts.
“These are exciting times for Aston Martin and arriving hot on the heels of our DB11 launch earlier this month, this new partnership underlines that our brand really is racing again.”
Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner said the new partnership was a very exciting prospect for all involved.
“This is a very exciting project for everyone at Red Bull Racing. Through this partnership the iconic Aston Martin logo will return to grand prix racing for the first time since 1960, and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, led by Adrian, will be harnessing our Formula One DNA to produce the ultimate of all road cars. It’s an incredible project which also realises a dream and vision long held by Adrian to design a road car. We are very much looking forward to what I’m certain will be a successful partnership.”
As the designer of cars such as the Aston Martin DB11, the Aston Martin Vulcan and the One-77, Reichman holds the key to the unmistakeable design language of the modern era of Aston Martins.
“We are in the process of developing a hypercar that combines the latest in aerodynamics from F1 and the stunning design language of an Aston Martin sports car,” said Reichman. “The opportunity to collaborate with Adrian (Newey) and Red Bull Advanced Technologies will be a fascinating experience for everyone involved.
“Unconstrained by F1 regulations, we have a unique chance to create a car in its most efficient form that will represent the ultimate fusion of art and technology.”
Having an illustrious Formula One career spanning nearly 30 years, and as the designer of 10 World Championship winning Formula One cars, the partnership represents a new challenge for Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey.
“From the age of six I have had two goals in life – to be involved in the design of racing cars, and to be involved in the design of a super car,” he said. “Whilst the former ambition went on to form my career to date, the latter has always bubbled away, resulting in countless sketches and doodles over the years.
“The opportunity to now develop and realise those ideas whilst working with Marek and his colleagues from Aston Martin is tremendously exciting. It allows us to translate the technology we have developed in F1 into a new arena.”
Aston Martin is of course, no stranger to motor racing.
The brand was borne out of the racing exploits of Lionel Martin – one of the founding partners of the British marque over 103 years ago – and the company made its international motor racing debut at the 1922 French Grand Prix. While motorsport has always remained integral to the brand’s DNA, the most famous moment in Aston Martin’s significant motorsport history is the 1959 outright win at the Le Mans 24 Hours for Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby in the Aston Martin DBR1. The modern Aston Martin Racing team, formed in 2005 has taken three class wins at Le Mans and will return to Circuit de la Sarthe again this June.
To celebrate the partnership between Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the RB12s will carry the iconic Aston Martin wings logo throughout the 2016 season, making their debut at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne.
New name for JLR Heritage
JAGUAR LAND ROVER has opted to rebrand its Heritage business. The operation with henceforth be known as Jaguar Land Rover Classic.
The rebranded division will continue to provide cars, services, parts and 
experiences for Classic Jaguar and Land Rovers and their owners.
Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “Renaming the rapidly growing global business to Jaguar Land Rover Classic best reflects the division’s overall capabilities in providing the best cars, services, parts and experiences for our customers. We aim to build an even more successful future by celebrating and nurturing Jaguar and Land Rover’s past.”
Jaguar Land Rover Classic can now accommodate full restorations of classic vehicles at its UK sites, as well as providing a repair and maintenance service for customers.
Jaguar Classic will continue to use the historic Browns Lane facility in Coventry, where the six continuation Lightweight E-types were built together with a newly developed Land Rover Classic workshop at Solihull for the restoration of Land Rovers, especially the now defunct Defender. Fully factory restored Jaguars and Land Rovers are now also available for purchase.
Jaguar Land Rover Classic Parts supplies genuine parts for models whose range has been out of production for over a decade.
The parts catalogue has over 30,000 individual and guaranteed parts, available to order from JLR’s global retail network. Specialist technical advisors have extensive product knowledge and selected parts are available to order on the day for collection at local retailers.
In addition to cars, services and parts, the Classic business also offers customers the opportunity to experience a selection of Jaguar and Land Rover’s most iconic models with Classic Drives. This is complemented by the second season of the Jaguar Classic Challenge race series for pre-1966 Jaguar models, which begins on May 2 at Donington Race Circuit in Derbyshire.
From pocket rockets to the Rocket Man
A COLLECTION of more than 100 amazing cars goes under the hammer at Classic Car Auctions’ first sale of the year this weekend.
The sale, at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, near Leamington Spa, takes place tomorrow (Saturday).
It will be CCA’s biggest sale to date and includes an array of classics from supercars to the more mundane, ‘everyman’ cars.
Headlining the sale is an expertly restored 1966 Ford Mustang 289 2+2 Fastback. This is the ‘must have’ model with the desirable ‘four on the floor’ manual gearbox. With restoration works addressing the bodywork, interior, engine and gearbox, this is believed to be one of the best examples on the market. It is estimated at between £34,000 and £38,000 and enters the auction alongside six other American classics.
For Japanese performance car fans, an incredibly rare 1979 Mazda RX-7 is estimated at between £10,000 and £12,000. The UK right hand drive car is in time warp condition coming from a 36 year ownership and is showing just 35,000 miles.
Another Japanese performance icon entering the sale is a limited edition 2000 Subaru Impreza P1. One of just 1,000 made and only 669 believed to be left on the road, this example is estimated at between £10,000 and £12,000.
Fast Ford prices continue to rise, and so a rare 1985 Ford Sierra XR8, estimated at between £8,000 and £10,000, could prove a canny purchase for someone. As one of only 250 ever made, this South African import has travelled relatively few miles and offers future icon status.
Two important Aston Martin barn finds also feature in the sale. A rare manual 1973 Aston Martin V8, one of just 288 produced is estimated at between £35,000 and £40,000. A 1990 Aston Martin Virage, also with a manual gearbox is estimated at between £20,000 and £25,000. Both await new owners to restore them back to their former glory.
For Aston Martin enthusiasts looking for a newer example, a 2000 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante, with an impeccable service history is also up for grabs. With just 34,000 miles on this odometer, this well cared for example is estimated at between £32,000 and £35,000.
There are many hot-hatches going under the hammer including a very rare 1987 Fiat Strada Abarth 130TC, believed to be one of just five UK road registered examples. Showing just 8,928 miles on the clock and with original paintwork, it is estimated at between £8,000 and £11,000.
Another special Fiat is a 1939 Fiat 500 Topolino originally owned by the second Duke of Westminster. One of just 400 made, this fully restored comes with an exceptionally low mileage of just 1,593 miles, and is estimated at between £12,000 and £15,000.
For music fans, a 2005 Maserati Quattroporte V first owned by Elton John will be auctioned with an estimate of between £15,000 and £17,000.
CCA general manager, Guy Lees-Milne said: “This is our biggest catalogue yet and we have a fantastic selection of classic and modern cars on offer in our first sale of the year. With so many cars on offer, many with fascinating histories and provenance, we’re expecting a packed auction hall on sale day.”
