Aston's V12 Zagato goes racing

We’ve already shown you a sneak peek of Aston Martin’s new V12 Zagato endurance racer on our Facebook page, but now it’s official. The racer is returning to the Nürburgring Nordschleife this weekend for final preparations ahead of the 24-hour race at the end of June. Two of the cars will take part in a four-hour warm up race used as a test session ahead of the twice-around-the-clock Green Hell spectacle on June 25 and 26. Aston Martin’s 68-year old CEO Dr Ulrich Bez will lead the driver team. As the modern interpretation of Aston’s fruitful 50-year relationship with Zagato stemming from the DB4GT Zagato, the V12 Zagato revives memories of one of the most beautiful cars ever built. Underneath it’s a pure V12 Vantage, with a 510bhp 6.0-litre engine driving the rear wheels. The Vantage has already taken class victories at the ‘Ring before, giving the Zagato model a great chance to succeed where the original straight-six-engined DB4GT Zagato couldn’t. Its attempt at an outright 1961 Le Mans Mans win wasn’t to be, with both entered cars retiring.