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Aston's new Le Mans racer

Aston Martin has released images of its new AMR-One endurance racer. Can it topple the mighty diesels?

These are the first images of the new Aston Martin Le Mans racing car, called the AMR-One.

It certainly looks the part, with the iconic Gulf livery that has graced the bodywork of recent Aston endurance racers and Le Mans greats like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 917.

Power comes from a bespoke (but curiously small displacement) 2.0-litre six-cylinder engine complete with turbocharger and intercooler. Seems that ever-tightening emissions rules have even forced Le Mans racers to lop off a few cylinders.

Aston hasn't said what kind of speeds the AMR-One is capable of on the track, but we do know that it has a lightweight carbon fibre chassis and a unique six-speed gearbox by racing transmission specialist Xtrac.

Those piloting the AMR-One for the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup will include Darren Turner from Britain and his German team mate Stefan Mück - along with another as yet unnamed driver.

They'll be manning the car labelled 007 - a none too subtle hint at Aston's association with James Bond.

The second car - 009 - will be driven by Adrian Fernandez, Andy Meyrick and Harold Primat.

Aston's AMR-One will hit the endurance circuits as part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup this year. Testing is due to start this month (March 2011).

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Published on March 2, 2011