Customers and fans of Aston Martin saw a different side to the luxurious and relatively “sensible” V8 Vantage, with the release of the GT8 variant. Being the lightest and most powerful V8 Vantage ever built, it was immediately evident that this was a much more hardcore and barebones version of the beloved sports car. Only 150 examples of the GT8 were ever built, making it one of the rarest Aston Martin models to have ever come to market and accelerating demand to an all-time high upon its release in 2017.

The GT8 retains the 4.7 litre V8 as found in the standard V8 Vantage S but receives a slight power upgrade from 430bhp to 440bhp and delivers a soundtrack that is matched by very few cars on the market. It was available with either a 6-speed manual or Aston’s 7-speed Sportshift II transmission, with many customers opting for the manual option for that more analogue, race car feeling. The use of carbon fibre is plentiful on the exterior, including the front splitter, front and rear bumpers, wings, side sills and rear diffuser which all contribute towards the GT8’s weight savings. Aston also nods to its Vantage GTE race car in many areas, with the most noticeable feature being the cut away front wheel arch, as well as the optional aero kit which adds the large rear wing and additional elements to the front splitter.

0-62mph is achieved in 4.4 seconds which, while maybe not having the shove of some rivals, is still plenty when you consider that this car has been primarily developed for its ability to take corners and demolish track times. The GT8 is a very attractive package for anyone who is looking for a pure, analogue feeling race car for the road – with the looks, capability and driving feel to match.