The Aston Martin Vantage has played a significant role in GT3 racing since the debut of the V12 Vantage GT3 in 2012. The modern Vantage GT3 was built on the new turbo V8 engine before the 2019 motorsport season. Both of these cars are available in Assetto Corsa Competizione.
In 2024, Aston Martin delivered the upgraded Vantage GT3 EVO to fix the main problems with the 2019 Vantage. The previous version had a narrow operating window, a somewhat unpredictable handling balance and high tyre wear. The main goal of the EVO update was to address these issues and make the car more customer-friendly.
The Vantage LMGT3 EVO is a part of the 2024 DLC pack 4 or the 2024 season pass in Le Mans Ultimate. Watch this lap guide with the Vantage LMGT3 at Spa by Gregor Schill on the Coach Dave Academy YouTube channel to learn how to drive this car:
Car Specifications & Key Features
The Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 EVO has a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which produces approximately 535 horsepower before balance of performance adjustments.
The Vantage LMGT3 EVO retains the front mid-engine layout, where the engine sits ahead of the cockpit, while the gearbox is positioned at the rear axle. This ensures:
- Better weight distribution for improved handling balance
- Higher inertia for more predictable handling
- Improved cooling due to larger air intakes in front
At the rear, Aston Martin has made several modifications to the 2024 car:
- Larger rear wing, shifting more downforce toward the back, making the car more stable at high speeds
- Updated diffuser with a curled-up trailing edge, enhancing rear downforce
- Centralised air intake for gearbox cooling, with airflow exiting between the diffuser and rear bumper
Handling & Performance on Track
These features and recent updates are accurately replicated in Le Mans Ultimate. When you drive the Vantage, one thing is clear: it’s a very stable car. Even aggressive setups keep the rear stable on acceleration as long as the wheel isn’t at an extreme angle, and the car remains predictable. This makes it a good choice for new sim racers looking for something reliable and confidence-inspiring.
However, stability comes with a few drawbacks. The car feels floaty, it doesn’t respond as sharply as mid-engine cars like the Ferrari 296 LMGT3 or McLaren 720S LMGT3 EVO. There’s also noticeable understeer, especially if you aren’t using enough trail braking to rotate the car into corners.
On the other hand, braking hard can induce snap oversteer, making corner entries tricky. So while the car is stable at high speeds, you still need to wrestle it when pushing hard in corners.
The V8 Vantage GT3 is relatively gentle on its tyres over long runs, especially the Porsche 911 LMGT3 R. It allows running full stints without severe performance degradation.
Best Tracks for Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 in Le Mans Ultimate
Given its strengths, the Vantage LMGT3 is particularly well-suited to circuits that reward stability over medium- and high-speed corners. Here are some of the best circuits to exploit the car’s strengths:
- Circuit of the Americas, thanks to the technical first and third sectors. For example, the Heart of Racing team recorded the first LMGT3 class victory for the new Vantage at CoTA, leading 160 out of 164 laps
- Interlagos also plays perfectly to the car’s strengths. In the 2024 6H of São Paulo, the Heart of Racing team scored a competitive P2 behind the Porsche 911 GT3 R
The intrinsic stability of V8 Vantage LMGT3 becomes a significant advantage in wet or changeable conditions. Softening the suspension and slightly increasing ride height can improve traction and compliance when it starts to rain.
Setups For Optimal Performance
As the official title partner of Le Mans Ultimate, all setups are tuned with in-house knowledge of how the brand-new tyre model operates. With the Aston Martin Vantage, you get qualifying, safe race, pro race setups and telemetry data so you can see how our pro drivers extract the time.
Gain seconds in lap time with our incredible Le Mans Ultimate setups developed by professional sim racers and qualified engineers.
- Setups
- Data
- Lap Guides
How It Compares to Other Cars in the Class
The Vantage positions itself as a balanced, beginner-friendly option in the LMGT3 field. Vantage offers a more forgiving driving experience but less rotation in corners than mid-engine cars (Ferrari 296 or McLaren 720S EVO).
Compared to front-engine cars (BMW M4 or the Ford Mustang), the Vantage feels more nimble and less cumbersome thanks to the lower centre of gravity. It may not match Ford’s top speed, but it is more predictable and flexible.
Final Verdict: Is the Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 the Right Choice for You?
The Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 in Le Mans Ultimate is an excellent option for sim racers who appreciate a balanced and stable GT3. Predictable handling and moderate tyre wear make Vantage a strong contender in endurance events.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to drive for beginners due to predictable behavior | Less nimble and sharp in corners than mid-engine GT3s, and the Porsche |
| More agile due to shorter wheelbase and lower center of gravity than other front-engine GT3s | Tends to understeer on entry and feel a bit floaty with safe setups |
| Competitive in wet conditions |
- Aggressive Drivers: 8/10
- Endurance Racers: 9/10
- Casual Sim Racers: 8/10
Wrapping Up
The Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 is one of the best endurance racing machines in Le Mans Ultimate. The V8 Vantage offers stability, efficiency and a rewarding driving experience, and can be a top-tier choice in any LMGT3 with a good setup and driving approach.
Looking for more Le Mans Ultimate car guides? Check out some of our other reviews!
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