Aston Martin DBR9 Coming to Gran Turismo Is Like a Late Christmas Gift

The news, which was shared on the official Gran Turismo TV channel, doesn’t include too many details, but the Aston Martin should be part of Gr. 3, so it’ll be part of the same group as other beasts, such as the Ford Mustang Gr. 3 and the Alfa Romeo 4C Gr. 3.

Specifics as to when the update is supposed to land aren’t yet available, but this is exciting news anyway. Several other models are also expected to arrive in GT Sport sometimes this year, including the Lamborghini Vision GT and new Porsche cars, so there’s a chance a future update could include them all, making it one of the most exciting releases of 2020.

Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 made its debut nearly 15 years ago in the 2005 Sebring 12 Hours, managing to win the LMGT1 category but finishing third in the Le Mans 24 Hour. The first GT1 class victory at Le Mans was recorded in 2007, a moment that the company decided to celebrate with a limited-edition DB9 launched as DB9 LM, with LM standing for Le Mans.

The DBR9 is obviously based on the Aston Martin DB9 and uses the same chassis, but the manufacturer applied a series of modifications to develop higher performance. The 6.0-liter V12 engine now develops a total of 625 horsepower and 746 NM, allowing for an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in no less than 3.4 seconds.

For comparison, the original Aston Martin DB9 was announced at the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show with the same 5.9-liter V12 engine as the Vanquish, this time generating 450 horsepower. The DB9 was able to go from 0 to 100 kph(62 mph) in 4.7 seconds, with a maximum speed of 299 kph (186 mph).