Aston Martin is no stranger to GT racing, the classic British brand having been one of the biggest supporters of the discipline over the last couple of decades. From fighting at Le Mans with its GT1, GTE, and GT3 monsters to giving younger drivers a chance with its GT4 machine, the marque is an ever-constant up and down the GT competition ladder.
The GT4 vehicle has been available in iRacing for some time, and has established itself as a cornerstone of the class. This guide will run you through everything you need to know about Aston’s challenger, and whether it’s the right car for you to start or build on your GT4 journey.
The Vantage GT4 Is A Popular Choice For Real-Life Teams
The second-generation Vantage GT4 made its debut at the 2019 24 Hours of Nurburgring, ahead of a full-time debut for the 2020 motorsport season. The vehicle made an impression immediately, claiming both the 2020 GT4 European Series and British GT Championship titles in its first full campaign.
It has gone on to win a wide range of other races and titles in the years since, before then being replaced for the 2024 season by a new Evo variant, which reflected the facelifted Aston Martin Vantage road car that arrived for the 2025 model year.
Despite featuring a similar powerplant to the Mercedes-AMG GT4, the Vantage stands out to fans due to its classic Aston Martin lines and pedigree.
- The Vantage GT4 is a good car for beginners to utilize due to its benign handling balance and relatively cumbersome style, making it easier to predict how the car behaves when you overstep the mark. To get a feeling for how the vehicle handles, take a look at one of Coach Dave Academy’s professional drivers attacking the Brands Hatch GP track with it.
Car Specifications & Key Features
The Vantage GT4 is one of several GT4 entries that features its engine placed ahead of the front axle, rather than in the middle like the Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 Clubsport and the McLaren 570S GT4. The powerplant in question is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, the same one used in the Mercedes-AMG GT4. It produces around 470 hp, which can be altered depending on the BOP subjected to it.
Like its fellow GT4 contenders, the Vantage GT4 relies very little on aerodynamic downforce, which helps to reduce dirty air and make the racing it’s involved in closer. You can change the rear wing angle to change downforce levels, which can be used to help rear stability at tracks with faster corners and reduce drag at more flat-out venues. As a result, it relies on mechanical grip from the tires and its adjustable independent suspension setup.
- iRacing replicates all these aspects in-game, and allows you the same setup parameters available for the real-life version
If you feel you need to brush up on your driving before jumping behind the wheel of the Vantage, then Coach Dave Academy’s Never Lift driving guide is here to help!
Handling & Performance on Track
For drivers familiar with the Mercedes-AMG GT4, the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 features a very similar handling balance. Due to its heavy front-mounted V8, the Vantage presents you with a more cumbersome and less agile balance, ensuring it isn’t as light on its feet as the likes of the mid-engined models.
This does, however, mean it’s more approachable at the limit, as it won’t snap if you overstep the mark like an equivalent mid-engined car would. This makes it easier to throw into medium and high-speed corners without worrying about losing the rear, which is useful for drivers new to the GT4 discipline.
That said, the front-heavy nature of the car means it tends to understeer, which can catch you out if not used to it. When driven incorrectly, you’ll find you need to continuously bleed off the throttle to help get the nose back in towards the apex, which means more off-throttle time and less time going forwards.
- Trailbraking is important to achieving a good laptime due to the lack of downforce helping turn the car in, doing this will allow you to control the heavy car better and not overload the front tires
- The Vantage GT4 enjoys excellent braking ability compared to its rivals, which helps when attacking or defending from other drivers
- The Aston’s understeer tendencies can cause you to lose time if carrying too much entry speed, as you’ll need to wait longer before getting back on the power on corner exit
- This can also lead to increased front tire wear, which can make being consistent over long stints tricky
- Its twin-turbo engine boasts smooth power delivery, ensuring traction isn’t much of a concern
- The Vantage GT4 uses TC and ABS, which can be altered depending on the track conditions
- Trailbraking will help to prevent ABS from kicking in, though its front-engined layout will help keep weight on the front tires and reduce the likelihood of the system kicking in
Best Tracks for the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in iRacing
The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 is a bit of a jack of all trades but master of none in iRacing, with its excellent braking ability being its most stand-out attribute. Its safe balance makes it a handy proposition for more demanding circuits, as the slightest mistake won’t lead to it escorting you to the nearest gravel trap.
- Its excellent braking ability and solid straight line speed make it effective at tracks with high-speed tracks with several heavy-braking sequences, like Monza and Road America
- The front-engined layout also makes it good over kerbs, so tracks like Oulton Park and Imola also play to its strengths
- The Vantage GT4’s relative lack of agility compared to some of its rivals means it won’t be quite as sharp a tool when changing direction or in sustained high-speed bends, which are found at tracks like Spa and Barcelona-Catalunya
- It’s also a good choice in wet conditions due to its naturally safer balance
The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 has been successful at a wide range of circuits, proving its dependability and trustworthiness over long distances and at a variety of circuits.
- If you aren’t sure which tracks you’ll need to get the most from your new Aston Martin Vantage GT4, check out Coach Dave Academy’s guide to the ten best tracks to buy in iRacing.
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How It Compares to Other Cars in the Class
Due to featuring the same engine and layout as the Mercedes-AMG GT4, the Vantage feels remarkably similar from a balance perspective, though its slightly shorter wheelbase ensures it’s a little more agile through the bends.
- Mid-engined rivals like the McLaren 570S GT4 have more natural rotation through slow and high-speed bends, allowing you to carry more momentum, though they can be snappier in nature
Those who enjoy driving more aggressively, such as throwing the car over kerbs and on corner entry, should get on well with the Vantage GT4 due to its forgiving handling balance. Making sure to scrub the required speed off before you turn in is important to fend off pesky understeer, though.
Tracks like Imola and Monza, which feature heavy braking zones and liberal use of kerbs, will therefore complement the Vantage GT4’s strengths.
- To explore the differences between every GT4 car in iRacing, check out Coach Dave Academy’s guide to which of the current crop is best.
Final Verdict: Is the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 the Right Choice for You?
Drivers who are looking to get into GT4 racing for the first time will relish the handling of the Vantage GT4, as it’s approachable and will allow you to make small mid-corner mistakes without snapping and firing you into the nearest obstacle. It also affords good traction and is excellent under braking, making it a safe place to start your GT4 journey.
These traits also make it easier to be consistent over longer race distances, which will help you hone your racecraft before moving to trickier vehicles.
| Pros | Cons |
| Front-engine layout affords it consistent and approachable handling balance | Straightline speed isn’t amazing |
| Excellent braking means attacking and defending are made easier | Lacks agility in changes of direction and through sustained medium and high-speed corners |
| Stable in wet conditions, especially when compared to mid-engine rivals |
- Aggressive Drivers: 7/10
- Endurance Racers: 9/10
- Casual Sim Racers: 8/10
Wrapping Up
All in all, the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 provides an excellent starting point when starting out in the GT4 class, though cars like the Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 Clubsport have a higher ceiling when it comes to ultimate pace.
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