Aston Martin DBR1
| Debut | 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Constructors' Championships | 1 (1959) | ||||
The Aston Martin DBR1 is a
In August 2017, car DBR1/1 was sold for a world record price for a British-made car of US$22,555,000.[1]
Design
Following changes to the rules for sportscar racing, entrants no longer had to use cars which were road legal, or based on road legal cars, such as the Aston Martin DB3S. Therefore, with the ability to create a sportscar from a clean slate for 1956, Aston Martin created the DBR1, with Ted Cutting as chief designer.[2][3][4] The body evolved from the DB3S's shape, featuring a much lower profile. Most notable was that the back of the front wheel well was no longer left open. Instead, the DBR1 featured full bodywork with a large triangular vent on the side, a design trait which would become standard on all future Aston Martins.
The DBR1 was initially fitted with a smaller 2.5-litre (2493 cc) new all alloy racing engine (RB6.250) very loosely derived from the racing version of the
Racing history
1956
Debuting at the non championship 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans, David Brown's Aston Martin racing team set out with the 2.5-litre DBR1/1 alongside two older 2.9-litre DB3Ss. Although performing well through most of the race against larger engined cars such as the winning Jaguar D-type with its 3.4-litre engine, the DBR1 suffered gearbox failure after 246 laps whilst lying seventh, forcing drivers Reg Parnell and Tony Brooks to retire.
1957
Making a full debut in the
1958
For 1958, DBR1/3 was completed and Aston Martin now had three cars with which to compete. The World Sports Car Championship was now restricted to cars of no more than 3-litres and the team's DBR2 model with its 3.7-litre engine was ineligible. David Brown therefore chose to concentrate on the Championship with the DBR1, leaving the DBR2 for non-championship races. The team did not enter the opening round in Buenos Aires which was won by Ferrari, deciding instead to race at the following round, the 12 Hours of Sebring. Neither DBR1 managed to finish, both suffering gearbox failure, although in the hands of Moss it was the fastest car in the race. This was followed at the Targa Florio, with the new DBR1/3 also suffering a gearbox failure and not finishing but not before Moss had broken his old lap record set in the Mercedes 300SLR by over a minute. At the 1000 km Nürburgring, where the DBR1 had won the previous year, Aston Martin managed to repeat their victory, with Moss and Jack Brabham's DBR1/3 beating a large contingent of Ferraris and Porsches. Unfortunately the bad luck returned at Le Mans, with all three DBR1s failing to finish again. However, at the season ending Tourist Trophy, Aston Martin managed a 1-2-3 finish with Moss and Brooks driving the winning car (DBR1/2) ahead of Salvadori/Brabham in DBR1/1 and Shelby/Stuart Lewis-Evans in DBR1/3. However Ferrari had chosen not to compete having already won the championship and the race was only of four hour duration and consequently only half points were awarded. This victory allowed Aston Martin to finish second in the constructor's championship behind Ferrari.
1959
Returning again for 1959, Aston Martin had completed two more chassis, DBR1/4 and DBR1/5. The first car was actually a conversion from a
With the constructors championship now closely contested by Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin, the team appeared at the final round, the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood. Aston Martin entered three DBR1s, as well as privateer Whitehead's DBR1/5. During the race, DBR1/3 which had been leading caught fire whilst refuelling in the pits, damaging the car too badly to continue and leaving Aston Martin without room to refuel their other cars. To salvage Aston Martin's hopes of the championship, Whitehead withdrew his entry from the race in order to allow Aston Martin to use his pits stall and finish the race. Moss took over the car driven by Shelby and Fairman and in DBR1/2 was able to secure victory and the championship. The remaining Aston, DBR1/4, in the hands of Trintignant/Frere came fourth. Aston Martin scored 24 points from their three victories with Ferrari in second place with a net 18 points, 22 gross and Porsche third also with a net 18 points but 21 gross. This was the only World Sports Car Championship won by Aston Martin.
Privateers
Following Aston Martin's success in 1959, David Brown decided to make a move to Formula One with the DBR4 and DBR5 that ultimately proved unsuccessful. Thus the factory's David Brown Racing Department would no longer compete in sports cars. The four DBR1s retained by the factory, including the rebuilt DBR1/3, were sold off to customers for use in various series.
Notable privateers included
DBR1/4 is notable for having appeared in the 1959 film adaptation of The Sound and the Fury.
Chassis
Included are a list of victories by each chassis.
- DBR1/1 – Completed 1956
- 1959 1000 km Nürburgring
- DBR1/2 – Completed 1957
- 1957 Spa Sportscar Race
- 1957 1000 km Nürburgring
- 1957 Spa Grand Prix
- 1958 Goodwood Tourist Trophy
- 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans (overall winner)
- 1959 Goodwood Tourist Trophy
- 1960 Rouen Grand Prix (as a privateer)
- DBR1/3 – Completed 1958
- 1958 1000 km Nürburgring - Moss/Jack Brabham (overall winner)
- 1961 Charterhall - Flockhart (overall winner)
- DBR1/4 – Completed 1959 (conversion from DBR3/1)
- None
- DBR1/5 – Completed 1959
- None
DBR3
Aston Martin used a chassis initially meant for the DBR1 to construct a car known as DBR3, and given the chassis number DBR3/1. The car was different in that it used Aston Martin's newly designed 3.7-litre (3670cc) Straight-6 from the Aston Martin DB4, downsized to 3.0-litre (2990cc). The car was used in only a single race in 1958 before it was deemed uncompetitive. DBR3/1 was thus given a normal Lagonda Straight-6 and rechristened as DBR1/4.
References
- ^ Kirby, Cameron (21 August 2017). "Stunning Aston Martin DBR1 breaks auction record". Wheels Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ Supercars.net. "1957 Aston Martin DBR1". Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
- ^ Dron, Tony. "Aston Martin DBR1 1959". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
- ^ Melissen, Wouter. "Aston Martin DBR1". Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
Racing With The David Brown Aston Martin's by John Wyer
External links
