Aston Martin to Showcase One-77 at Canadian International Auto Show

Irvine, CA, 10 February 2012 – Aston Martin will premiere the company’s ultimate supercar; the One-77 at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto next week as the 750bhp sports car makes its public debut in the region.

Joining the British marque’s presence at the show in conjunction with dealer partner Aston Martin of Ontario, the appearance marks the culmination of a One-77 tour of the Americas which started late last year and affords Canadian enthusiasts a rare opportunity to see the car in person. The One-77 will be joined on the stand by a new Virage and V8 Vantage S, both of which were launched last year.

The One-77 is testament to Aston Martin’s combination of advanced technological processes and highly skilled workforce. Formed around a full carbon fiber monocoque, the One-77 is immensely strong and light, with 3,500 carbon fiber elements combined to make up the car’s structural elements. Giving added resonance to the car’s appearance in Toronto, this carbon fiber basis has been developed and produced in conjunction with automotive specialists, Multimatic (MTC) of Canada.

Julian Jenkins, Vice President Aston Martin the Americas said: “Whilst our time with the One-77 in this region was limited we were keen to show this very unique Aston Martin in Canada before it returns to the UK and the Canadian International Auto Show offered the perfect showcase.

“We are therefore delighted, in conjunction with our dealer partner Aston Martin of Ontario, to offer enthusiasts the opportunity to see the One-77 for the first time in Canada.”

Aston Martin’s design and engineering teams have overseen the intense One-77 development program throughout the three years it has taken from the car’s initial conception in October 2007 to commencing the first production of the strictly limited 77 examples in late 2010.

The example of the One-77 to be displayed in Toronto is the final pre-production engineering development car, which has covered some 14,000 miles incorporating extensive endurance testing at Nardo in Italy and the Nürburgring in Germany. While the car will not be offered for sale in Canada this pre-production car showcase offers an insight into the testing and development carried out on the One-77 project, with this particular car still having been painstakingly assembled over approximately 2,700 man-hours by a team of 27 technicians inside a purpose-built facility at Aston Martin’s Gaydon, England headquarters.

The One-77, powered by a 7.3 liter V12 engine producing 750bhp and 553lb.ft of torque, is being built to order for no more than 77 customers and is Aston Martin’s ultimate expression of design, engineering and craftsmanship. With its handcrafted aluminum body and full carbon fiber monocoque chassis, the One-77 is the most powerful naturally-aspirated road car in the world today.

NEW ADDITION TO CANADIAN MOTORSPORT HALL OF FAME FEATURED IN DISPLAY AT THE CME

TORONTO, ON / FEBRUARY 2, 2012 – The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame will feature the latest addition to the Hall’s collection at its display during the Canadian Motorsports Expo. The three-day show runs February 10, 11 & 12 at the International Centre, adjacent to Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

The vehicle is a Grand-Am Daytona Prototype, owned by the Wilkins Family. The car – Riley Chassis #001 – is the first-ever Riley DP produced for Grand-Am competition, and was active between 2003 and 2011. Originally owned by Chip Ganassi, the car won several races for Ganassi Racing. It also won while being race-prepped and run by Woodbridge, Ontario’s AIM Autosport.

The car’s appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo, Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News, will mark the first time that the vehicle – restored to its most memorable ‘AIM era’ colours – will be publicly displayed by the Hall of Fame. The vehicle was loaned to The Hall late last year.

In addition to exhibiting the AIM Daytona Prototype, the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (CMHF) booth at the CME will be staffed by several inductees to the Hall, including Canadian racing champions Craig Hill, Bill Brack, Ron Fellows and Ross de St. Croix. Hall of Fame Chairman Dr. Hugh Scully and motorsport journalists Dean McNulty (Toronto Sun) and Norris MacDonald (Toronto Star) will also be making guest appearances at the CMHF booth during the show.

“Having Riley DP Chassis #001 make its public debut for the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame – in the AIM colours that Canadians remember so well – is very big news for the Canadian Motorsports Expo,” said the CME’s David Weber. “The car, the inductees and special guests will educate and entertain racing fans at the show. We appreciate that the Hall is making the CME part of its efforts to promote Canada’s great racing history.”

Several other members of the Hall of Fame are also expected to be on hand to meet with show visitor and to discuss the Hall’s future plans. Be sure to stop by the CMHF exhibit (Booth #417) in Hall 6 for details on inductee and special guest appearances during the CME. For more information about the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, contact Sid Priddle at sidpriddle@yahoo.ca. Or visit them on the web at www.cmhf.ca.

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

New customer sport top model for 2012 race season

Stuttgart. The new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is ready to race. The top model of Porsche Motorsport’s customer racing vehicles will head into the 2012 season with extensive modifications. Particularly striking at first glance are the changes to the body: the width of the new GT3 RSR has grown by 48 millimetres. Built to conform to the A.C.O. “LM” GTE regulations, the 911 represents the crowning pinnacle of a range of successful customer sport race cars that are based on the 997 type 911 GT3 RS street sports car.

Powering the new 911 GT3 RSR is a particularly efficient six-cylinder boxer engine with a four-litre capacity. With a mandatory air-restrictor, it generates 460 hp (338 kW) and drives the 310 millimetre wide rear wheels. The diameter of the front wheels has increased by 30 mm to now measure 680 millimetres. The Porsche sequential six-speed gearbox is operated via paddle shifts on the steering wheel.

The nose and rear panels are adapted to the flared front and rear wheel arches, as are the door sill and the wheel arch coverings. The aerodynamic concept is complemented by a new ducting of the intake air. Openings in the rear side sections, as known from the turbo variants of the Porsche 911, replace the air scoop on the engine hood, which is very similar to the 911 GT2 RS street sports car.

The new 911 GT3 RSR can be raced at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Le Mans Series, the American Le Mans Series as well as the International GT Open and in other series and races.

“Our customer teams can expect a technically mature, high performance race car with which they will be highly competitive at international long distance races,” assures Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “Our test programme on various international race tracks is currently running at full speed. We are very pleased with the car’s performance and driveability.”

The new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR will be delivered to customer squads around the world from January 2012. The selling price is 498,000 Euro plus value added tax of the respective countries.