2011 Aston Martin AMR-One - Images, Specifications and Information

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Since returning to motorsport in 2005, Aston Martin has been one of the most prolific manufacturers of racing cars. Aston Martin Racing (a joint venture with racing experts Prodrive) soon after offered a model for each of the four major GT categories, while the works team focuses on top level prototype racing. After fielding an Aston Martin engined and modified Lola chassis for two years, drastic rule changes ahead of the 2011 season encouraged the British manufacturer to develop a new prototype racer from the ground up.

The single biggest revision to the LMP1 regulations was a drastic displacement reduction for all three types of engines, which rendered the V12 previously used by Aston Martin obsolete. The limit was now set at 3.4 litre for naturally aspirated petrol engines, 2 litre for forced induction petrol engines and 3.7 litre for turbo diesel engines. With an eye on the road-car line-up, a petrol engine was the only way to go for Aston Martin. While other manufacturers developed either a naturally aspirated V8 or a turbocharged 'four', AMR surprised the racing world by going for a 2-litre straight six.

Although Prodrive was well versed in developing existing designs into race and rally winners, designing a sports racer from the ground up was a new challenge. A further complicating factor was that the project did not get the green light until late in 2010. By that time rivals Peugeot and Audi were already out testing their new-for-2011 designs. It was designated the 'AMR-One', which should not be confused with the AMR1 of, which was the last prototype built and raced by Aston Martin. The plan was to build a total of six cars to be used by the works team and favoured customers.

Due to time and budgetary restraints, the AMR-One was developed entirely using the latest computer technologies and many components were first created by a 3D-printer for mock-up purposes. The result was a very unusually shaped machine with a tall belt-line and an intricate and beautifully sculpted cooling architecture. By contrast both the Peugeot and Audi designers have focused on making their cars as low as possible. The front is dominated by a very tall nose that separates the two air-intakes. These feed fresh air to the various side-pod mounted radiators. The hot air exits just ahead of the rear wheels.

Equally unusual is the engine used to power the AMR-One. Displacing just under two litres, it is the first turbocharged straight six engine used in a top level prototype for over two decades. Officially rated at 540 bhp, it is bolted to the chassis as a semi-stressed member; steel subframes share part of the load. The six-speed gearbox is supplied to AMR by experts XTrac. Suspension is of a more conventional design with double wishbones, push-rod actuated coil springs over dampers and a third-damper on both ends. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes provide the stopping power.

Finished in the familiar powder-blue and orange colours of main sponsor Gulf Oil, the first AMR-One was revealed in March; just six months after the project started. After a handful of tests, it was entered in the Le Mans Series opener at Paul Ricard but it failed to impress in this 'public test'. The next outing was the official Le Mans Test at the end of April where two cars were entered. It turned out to be a disastrous session as the two cars completed a combined 12 laps due to engine problems. The issues prompted Aston Martin to withdraw from the Spa 1000 km race and concentrate fully on getting the cars ready in time for Le Mans.

The official reading was that a coating on a liner in the engine was the source of the problem and that a fix was in the works. Some very experienced engineers suggested that the engine struggled with the loads of the car and Audi's Dr. Ulrich Baretzki even called the choice of a straight six engine 'incomprehensible' in an interview with MotorSport Magazine. Aston Martin nevertheless continued their development work and the AMR-One was subjected to various tests ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It will be very interesting to see if Aston Martin Racing can prove its critics wrong or that the small British team have finally bitten off more than they can chew. Taking in account the results of the previous outings, reaching the finish with one of the two entries should be considered a formidable achievement. Hopefully the reliability issues will be sorted enough to get an impression of the raw pace the unconventional AMR-One is capable of.