Carrera DIGITAL 132 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3

Carrera DIGITAL 132 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 "AMR Bilstein, No.97", Silverstone 2013
" Item No. 30676 The

successor to the Aston Martin DBR(S)9, which has been used in racing since 2006 (certainly Carrera no stranger to us ) entered the GT3 racing arena in 2012 with a V12 engine and a 6-liter displacement, delivering approximately 600 PS and 700 Nm, to compete against the Porsche 911, Audi R8, and Mercedes SLS. For true fans, a slightly stripped-down road version is, of course, also available.

This model, featuring the familiar yellow-and-blue Bilstein design, is the result of a technical collaboration between the automaker Aston Martin and the suspension specialist Bilstein. Competitions in the German VLN series—with a particular focus on the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring—proved to be a solid start for the V12 Vantage’s return to racing. In 2013, it managed to secure 10th place overall in the 24-hour race. This Carrera 1:32 scale model was raced in the British Blancpain Endurance Series, where Aston Martin is moving toward establishing a factory team. New races at the 24-hour events at Spa and the Nürburgring are planned.

Appearance: The yellow-and-blue color scheme stands Carrera out beautifully on the track. The new Aston Martin looks great among the GT field. I like the front view with the slit-eye headlights and the massive rear spoiler. From the side, the gap between the tires and the wheel wells is still a bit too wide.

Technology: Basically all familiar components, even though the vehicle itself is new.
The headlights are white, bright enough, and barely shine inward. The taillights, which appear blue, are actually red. The brake light, in particular, is highly visible. The tires provide good grip. True to the prototype, the tires are quite thin, so skidding should be done with caution. Maybe there will be matching Orthmann parts or something similar for this car—it certainly deserves them.

Workmanship: As for the paint job, there are minor—and I mean minor—imperfections and an annoying chip on the left C-pillar. All other components, such as decals and technical parts, are flawless and neatly assembled. One thing I would have liked to see changed is the antenna. If it were made of a more flexible material, you could leave it on without worry during a race; as it is, the antenna—which sticks out slightly toward the rear—is very vulnerable.

Handling: At 102 grams, the car is a bit heavy, but it has a good balance of wheelbase, length, and width and can Carrera certainly compete in the GT series . The chassis offers room for tuning using weights. I find the handling—with and without the magnet—to be well-balanced, pleasant, and lively.

Bottom line: Finally, a “new” manufacturer is back on the Carreratrack in the GT3 circuit . I think we might see more variants, such as the cars from the Fischer Racing Team. In 1:24 scale, the car would certainly look great too, but will that ever happen??? If you take a look at the starting lists… there are still quite a few other manufacturers who haven’t been racing in 1:32 scale yet.

CoMod Jörg