How many DBR9s have been made?

neiltbag · 28 Apr 2006, 23:39 (Ref:1597253)

According to the Prodrive site, Aston's original plans were:

"Aston Martin Racing will build 12 Works cars, which will be run by three Works teams in the major international GT series. A limited run of only 20 racing cars, prepared to the specification, will also be built and made available to selected customers to race or keep in private collections."

Which of the cars delivered so far are part of the 12 works cars, and which are part of the other 20?

The first customer car was the Cirtek car I believe, so is that the 3rd car built? By my count there are 10 completed chassis:

Aston Martin Racing: 2
BMS: 2
Race Alliance: 2
Cirtek: 2
Phoenix: 1
Larbre: 1

The Aston website also talks about a test car too.

Anyone care to shed any light on what's what with the DBR9?

panoz.lmp1 · 29 Apr 2006, 06:37 (Ref:1597335)

Currently 14 existing chassis are known.

19dodge · 29 Apr 2006, 14:04 (Ref:1597555)

theres one more in Brazil owned by the Dinz family(i believe).

i bet Phoenix has a 2nd one sitting around, maybe even Larbre too.

so that would make 13.

Francesco · 29 Apr 2006, 14:51 (Ref:1597581)

BMS has 3 cars not 2

19dodge · 29 Apr 2006, 18:45 (Ref:1597668)

As yes, but the third one is their spare chassis (that they will run at Le Mans), correct?

Audi R8R · 29 Apr 2006, 20:27 (Ref:1597721)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19dodge

As yes, but the third one is their spare chassis (that they will run at Le Mans), correct?

It's still a chassis though, correct?

JAG · 29 Apr 2006, 20:58 (Ref:1597744)

You'd think with all those sales Prodrive would have the budget to run a factory team in the ALMS.

Then again maybe the AM program is simply a cash cow and not a serious attempt to dethrown GM.

Garp · 1 May 2006, 08:41 (Ref:1598587)

Quote:

You'd think with all those sales Prodrive would have the budget to run a factory team in the ALMS.

No way, those sales are nowhere near enough to run a factory effort.
If that should be possible the sales have to be tenfold of what they are now.
The income of those 13 cars is probably just enough to pay for one season.

JAG · 1 May 2006, 14:07 (Ref:1598763)

This was supposed to be a factory program, the head of Aston even called for protoypes to be phased out to allow Aston, Maserati and Corvette to go for overall wins.

Prodrive are entering F1 in 2008, yet they can't put together a full season budget for the ALMS????

ss_collins · 1 May 2006, 14:37 (Ref:1598780)

F1 is vastly more attractive than GT racing from a sponsorship point of view.

LMP racing really is the future - GT's have a place but perhaps more in the Super GT format (watched my first race recently - well impressed)

Garp · 1 May 2006, 15:35 (Ref:1598813)

Quote:

perhaps more in the Super GT format

Yes yes yes, please, pretty please.

Pretty please with sugar on top

Super GT, the best and most consistend form of Sportscar/GT

JAG · 1 May 2006, 15:48 (Ref:1598818)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss_collins

F1 is vastly more attractive than GT racing from a sponsorship point of view.

LMP racing really is the future - GT's have a place but perhaps more in the Super GT format (watched my first race recently - well impressed)

I agree, but your not telling me if the will was there, at the very least, they could have run a semi factory effort with a team such as Acemco, if money was tight.

You may argue that Aston need a large budget to match GM, I would say what about the performace breaks they've been given, the equivalent to millions of dollars worth of development for free.

As for Super GT, it looks great but I doubt there's the will amongst GT manufactuers (in Europe/US) to spend the cash required to run one of those machines. You may as well head straight for P1/P2.

Bramzel · 1 May 2006, 17:54 (Ref:1598889)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

I agree, but your not telling me if the will was there, at the very least, they could have run a semi factory effort with a team such as Acemco, if money was tight.

If the will was there yeah. But the will apparently isn't there, and I can understand why. Prodrive's a company. They want to make money, not waste it. The Aston is ran by teams who've bought it and has proven itself, no need to do that any further. So why throw away money? The car has proven itself, I'd keep my money for future programs.

JAG · 2 May 2006, 12:27 (Ref:1599328)

The Astons proven its not as good as a C6.R.

In that case, it's little better than a further developed 550.

Audi R8R · 2 May 2006, 13:05 (Ref:1599351)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

The Astons proven its not as good as a C6.R.

In that case, it's little better than a further developed 550.

That's yet to be proven in European competition.

**John Turner** · 2 May 2006, 13:07 (Ref:1599354)

I don't agee with that. The C6R is the benchmark car and is the result of many years of continuous development. That makes the DBR9 achievements in its first season pretty meritorious. The 550 was close to the end of its development potential and whilst Prodrive clearly incorporated lessons they had learned from it, the Aston is not merely a Ferrari in different clothes.

Now as far as the numbers built are concerned, I am anxious to identify chassis nos. and to whom they went, for the chassis archive, so that we don't have to start chasing history in 20 years time! I can tell you that the first privately owned DBR9, which went to Cirtek in July 2005 is DBR9/101.

neiltbag · 2 May 2006, 17:03 (Ref:1599477)

Yes, I'd be curious to see a list of chassis numbers too.

JAG · 2 May 2006, 17:29 (Ref:1599495)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi R8R

That's yet to be proven in European competition.

Other than Le Man and possibly the LMS I don't think you can prove either way, as the quality of the teams and success ballast play such a large role in FIA GT.

tux · 2 May 2006, 17:52 (Ref:1599512)

i can tell thee that aston martin vs corvette will be a great battle at houston and mid ohio and at silverstone his coming weekend

TheNewBob · 2 May 2006, 18:20 (Ref:1599532)

I think Aston will need to beat 'Vette with it's works team at Le Mans for anyone to accept that it's just as capable a car. That's the true test - the cars in their strongest form in the toughest race.

panoz.lmp1 · 2 May 2006, 18:25 (Ref:1599536)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19dodge

theres one more in Brazil owned by the Dinz family(i believe).

i bet Phoenix has a 2nd one sitting around, maybe even Larbre too.

Phoenix has only ONE chassis...

**John Turner** · 2 May 2006, 21:32 (Ref:1599701)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNewBob

I think Aston will need to beat 'Vette with it's works team at Le Mans for anyone to accept that it's just as capable a car. That's the true test - the cars in their strongest form in the toughest race.

I agree; that's why I said that the C6R is the benchmark. Having said that, even if the Aston fails to achieve that ultimate goal, it doesn't invalidate it as fine competition GT car, and clearly there are a number of teams who have bought them who already take that view. There certainly doesn't seem to be anything else around that can take the fight to the Corvette.

The Badger · 3 May 2006, 00:00 (Ref:1599763)

I hope that Saleen can !!!

**John Turner** · 3 May 2006, 17:08 (Ref:1600178)

Yes, that would be good, too! It needs to take a fairly big step forward though doesn't it?

Bramzel · 3 May 2006, 18:56 (Ref:1600232)

Actually, considering the performance of Zakspeed during the testdays and the performance of Acemco (same chassis basicly, and also fast drivers) that the Zakspeed would be a serious outsider for sunday.

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