This is the Aston Martin Vantage GT3. It replaces the DBRS9 and is based on the Vantage road car. The V12 one.

It will be built around the Vantage's VH aluminium structure, will feature a lightweight dry-sumped 6.0-litre V12 producing upwards of 600bhp and 516lb ft of pulling power, and house the latest race-developed ABS and traction control systems. Naturally.

The use of future tense is necessary because this thing doesn't exist, yet. That pretty picture you see above is a rendering, and the first car will be ready in July this year. Pity that first car.

It will be subjected to a tornado of twiddling and violence and more twiddling and pain and... well, you get the message. Once the shakedown is complete, ten customer cars will be built ready for the start of the 2012 racing season. More on this as it occurs.

Speaking of racing, have you seen our rather pleasant gallery of Gulf racing cars? It's rather pleasant...

Tags: vantage gt3, vantage, aston martin