Aston Martin DBR9 is go

The British Supercar manufacturer has not yet specified which championships it will contest or the teams it will link up with, though Prodrive is responsible for the design, development and management of the DBR9 racing programme.

Aston Martin had already revealed plans to develop a race version of the new DB9 in conjunction with Prodrive - the company responsible for Subaru's World Rally Championship team and the Le Mans class-winning Ferrari 550 Maranello. Now it has released the first picture of the car and further details of its plans

The first DBR9 is already under construction at Prodrive's Banbury HQ and it will compete during 2005 in selected international sports car events, including Le Mans 24 Hours.

Aston's statement continues: "Three Aston Martin Racing Works teams will then be appointed to compete in major international sports cars series. These will be independent teams each racing two DBR9s with the full factory support of Aston Martin Racing."

Privateers will also get a chance to run the new car as Aston Martin Racing says it will also make a very limited number of DBR9 racing cars available to selected customers. These cars will be prepared to the same specification as the Works cars.

"The design of DB9 lends itself to be translated perfectly into the DBR9 race car," said Jeremy Main, Aston Martin's Director of Product Development & Motorsport. "While DBR9 has been planned for outright performance, every surface sculpture and design detail has been developed to the same high standards as our road cars."