Vehicle Description
Chassis No. DBRS9/7
The Aston Martin DBRS9 was conceived as a user-friendly alternative
to the potent but complex DBR9, which was built to compete in the
premier GT1 class of the FIA GT Sports Car Championship. The DBRS9
was instead homologated for the newly minted FIA GT3 class, which
was developed to attract growing privateer teams to professional GT
racing and bring one-make series like Ferrari Challenge to an
international stage. Aston's offering was built to order through
Aston Martin Racing and Prodrive at AMR's factory in Banbury, UK.
Based on the road-going DB9, the DBRS9 sported an aluminum
monocoque chassis with carbon fiber bodywork and a DBR9-spec roll
cage. It was powered by a 5.9-liter V12 producing 550 horsepower
and, interestingly, could be had with either a six-speed H-pattern
or sequential manual transmission.
This 2006 DBRS9, chassis number DBRS9/7, was sold new in February
2006 to Autosport Designs, one of the many teams that were joining
the popular SCCA Speed World Challenge GT class. Autosport Designs
campaigned two DBRS9s and scored a season-best fifth place at Road
America, with drivers Tom Papadopoulos and Johnny Mowlem at the
wheel. Post-season, the Aston's V12 powerplant received several
upgrades including Vanquish S cylinder heads, new pistons,
crankshaft, and connecting rods, and a dry-sump lubrication system,
pushing its output to 600 horsepower. Its Koni suspension was also
revised with Moton shock absorbers with adjustable sway bars.
The car was sold to John Sinders, then part owner of Aston Martin,
who tasked Rahal Letterman Racing (RLR) with updating the DBRS9 for
use in SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge before the start of the 2008
season. Under the watchful eye of Bobby Rahal himself, the crew
moved the engine six inches back, shifting the weight distribution
rearward by five percent, revised the suspension, and lowered the
ride height. Clad in RLR colors and with sports car ace Tommy
Milner at the wheel, the DBRS9 secured pole position and finished
second at Road Atlanta as well as fastest lap at Mid-Ohio where it
would finish in fourth place.
DBRS9/7 retired from racing after 2010 and joined the esteemed
Mancuso Collection in Illinois, where it was painted Aston Martin
Racing Green. It then passed to private collector Jeff Urbina
before a public sale in 2015. Under the care of its current owner,
the Aston's V12 powerplant was sent to Katech Engines in Michigan
for a full engine rebuild and dyno testing. With the engine
removed, Scott Lagasse Racing inspected and serviced other critical
components including the fuel system, clutch, brake master
cylinders, and suspension. Service records show this roughly
$46,000 restoration took place from 2019 to 2021.
With approximately 26 customer DBRS9s built, and DBRS9/7 is
believed to be the only example in the United States. It is now
clad in an AMR Green livery along with the more approachable
six-speed H-pattern manual transmission. The sale includes
extensive service paperwork and DBRS9 technical documentation from
Aston Martin. Eligible to participate in series like HSR and
Masters Historic Racing, this gentleman's racer fits well into most
appropriate historic racing events and is a formidable weapon at
any track day.
