Week Ending 21st June 2026

Editor’s Introduction - Dan, Fuel the Passion

There are some weeks where one story dominates, this week feels slightly different. One Aston Martin idea seems to run through several very different stories: the Valkyrie.

‍ ‍Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.‍ ‍

At Le Mans, the Valkyrie Hypercar continued Aston Martin’s difficult but meaningful return to the top class of endurance racing. Away from the race, reports that Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing are evaluating a possible future development step for the car showed that the programme is already thinking about what comes next, and on the road-car side, a small US recall affecting a tiny number of track-pack Valkyries reminded us that this remains one of the most extreme machines ever put into customer hands.

That mix of progress, pressure, development and imperfection is what makes the Valkyrie story so fascinating. It’s not a simple tale of success or failure, it’s the story of one extraordinary Aston Martin idea being tested in almost every possible arena: road car, race car, engineering project and reputational challenge.

We’ll keep the Le Mans section deliberately brief this week, not because it was unimportant, but because Fuel the Passion has already covered it in depth. The website now has a dedicated Le Mans section, the WEC pages of the FTP Motorsport Hub have been updated, and we’ve also been working on a longer featured article looking at Aston Martin and Le Mans in a much wider historical context. So here, the aim is simply to mark the key outcomes: a Vantage GT3 podium in LMGT3, the Valkyrie’s best Le Mans finish so far, and another reminder that the 24 Hours of Le Mans rarely gives anything away easily.

Beyond Le Mans, it’s been a week of sharp contrasts. Aston Martin’s Formula 1 weekend in Barcelona was deeply difficult, with both cars retiring and the wait for a major update package becoming ever more painful. At the same time, Adrian Hallmark’s latest comments on Aston Martin’s future direction offered a clearer view of a smaller, more focused company built around discipline, variants, brand strength and profitability rather than chasing volume for its own sake.

Image © Fuel the Passion. Screenshot taken from Part 1 | How Aston Martin Built the First-Generation Vanquish, available on the Fuel the Passion YouTube now

There’s also a strong Vanquish thread running through this issue. That feels fitting, because by the time this Roundup goes live I will have been at Wilton Concours de Légendes and will be heading to the AMOC Festival at the British Motor Museum, where 25 years of Vanquish will be one of the big themes of the weekend.
With Fuel the Passion’s own Vanquish 25th Anniversary films now going live in collaboration with Aston Martin Owners Club and the Aston Martin Heritage Trust, this week feels like a very good moment to reflect on why Vanquish still matters.

So this is a full issue, but not one that needs shouting about. It’s a week of progress, frustration, recognition, heritage and future direction which, in many ways, is Aston Martin all over.

**Affiliate link note:** Some links may be affiliate links, which means Fuel the Passion may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Le Mans in brief: progress, podiums and unfinished business

Le Mans has already had plenty of space on Fuel the Passion this week, so I don’t want this section to become a second full race report. As mentioned, the detailed coverage now sits where it belongs, in the dedicated Le Mans area of the website and within the WEC pages of the FTP Motorsport Hub, while the longer Aston Martin and Le Mans feature will allow us to step back and tell the wider story properly. For the Roundup, the important thing is to mark the outcome and even in brief, it was a significant weekend.

Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.

The headline from an Aston Martin point of view was the LMGT3 podium for the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3, driven by Gray Newell, Dudu Barrichello and Jonny Adam.
Third in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a serious achievement, and it gave Vantage another class podium at the race while also marking a first Le Mans podium for The Heart of Racing.

There was also a very special human story behind Jonny Adam’s Le Mans podium this year.

Through Blackthorn Racing, Jonny has been supporting Race Against Dementia with his Le Mans 24H Helmet Campaign. His special Race Against Dementia-inspired helmet carried the names of supporters who had contributed to the campaign, bringing together a community connected by motorsport, admiration for Jonny’s achievements and, for many, a personal connection to dementia.

Image © Blackthorn Racing. Used for editorial purposes.

That would’ve been meaningful whatever happened in the race. But to see that helmet go on to stand on the Le Mans podium with Jonny, Gray Newell, Dudu Barrichello and the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin made the story even more powerful. The campaign has generated vital funds for Race Against Dementia’s research programmes, while also turning a racing helmet into something much more personal: a symbol of support, memory, hope and shared purpose.

Image © Blackthorn Racing. Used for editorial purposes.

Jonny described the helmet, the names and the heartfelt messages he received as extra inspiration during the race. Returning to Le Mans after five years away and standing on the podium again was clearly special in its own right, but this campaign added another layer of meaning to the result.

There’s also a strong Blackthorn Racing connection here. Jonny is part of the Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn programme in 2026, racing the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO in GT World Challenge Europe, as well as being linked to Blackthorn’s International GT Open programme.

Image © Blackthorn Racing. Used for editorial purposes.

His most recent Blackthorn outing before Le Mans came at Monza in GT World Challenge Europe at the end of May, and his next listed Blackthorn appearance is another major one: the **CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa**, where he’s due to share the #56 Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Aston Martin with Romain Leroux, Giacomo Petrobelli and Lorcan Hanafin.

So while Jonny’s Le Mans podium came with Heart of Racing, the story also sits within the wider Aston Martin GT racing community that Fuel the Passion has been following closely this year. It’s a reminder that motorsport can still be about more than lap times, results and trophies. Sometimes, a podium carries a much bigger story with it.

Image © Blackthorn Racing. Used for editorial purposes.

I’ve never met Jonny, but I have followed and admired his Aston Martin racing career for a long time, and of course, anyone who races Aston Martins is always going to have our support here at Fuel the Passion.
If you’re able to donate (*a link is coming up*), even a small amount could make a real difference. Around 1,500 to 2,000 people now read the FTP Weekly Roundup, **and if even a fraction of us gave £5**, that would quickly become a meaningful contribution to Race Against Dementia.

When you follow the link, there’s also the option to leave Jonny a comment. If you do donate after reading this, feel free to mention Fuel the Passion in your message and that you donated via our link. You never know, perhaps one day we may be able to speak to Jonny properly about his Aston Martin racing career, now that would make a very special FTP Featured Driver article.

If you would like to support Jonny Adam’s Race Against Dementia campaign, I’ve included the link below and please don’t be put off by the pre-determined amounts, please donate whatever amount you’re comfortable with in the ‘other’ amount box. Every pound makes a difference. Thank you.❤️

Support Jonny Adam’s Race Against Dementia Campaign

It was also a weekend of what might have been. The #27 THOR Vantage GT3, shared by Ian James, Zach Robichon and Mattia Drudi, had shown real pace. Drudi put the car on pole in LMGT3 and set a new qualifying lap record, and the car led for several hours before late technical trouble turned a strong run into Le Mans heartbreak. Racing Spirit of Léman’s #59 Vantage GT3 also reached the finish, adding another Aston Martin presence to the final order.

Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.

In Hypercar, the #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie of Tom Gamble, Ross Gunn and Harry Tincknell finished eighth overall. It was the best Le Mans result so far for the Valkyrie programme and another points finish in what remains a very difficult, very competitive class.
The #009 Valkyrie had also looked on course for a points finish before late technical trouble dropped it down the order.

That’s Le Mans, it rewards speed, preparation and execution, but it also has a habit of exposing every weakness. For Aston Martin, 2026 was not a fairy-tale return to the top step, but it was another meaningful step forward: a Vantage podium in GT, a Valkyrie finish inside the overall top ten, and more evidence that this programme is learning with every race.

Valkyrie’s next step: the development question

The natural follow-up to Le Mans is what happens next for the Valkyrie Hypercar programme.

Motorsport.com reported this week that Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing are evaluating whether to use the car’s first major development step, potentially for 2027, to address some of the Valkyrie’s underlying weaknesses. Auto Action also picked up the story and gave a useful explanation of the evo-joker system.

In simple terms, an evo joker is a controlled development allowance. Once a Hypercar is homologated, its specification is largely locked, but evo jokers allow manufacturers to make meaningful upgrades in areas such as aerodynamics or suspension without having to start again from scratch. Because manufacturers only have a limited number available, choosing when to use one becomes a strategic decision.

‍Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.‍ ‍

That makes Aston Martin’s position interesting. The Valkyrie has already proved reliable, distinctive and hugely popular with fans, not least because of that naturally aspirated V12 soundtrack. But reliability and popularity are not the same as regular podium contention. Le Mans showed progress, but it also showed that there are still areas where the car needs to move forward if it’s going to close the gap to the leading Hypercar manufacturers.
For me, this is not a negative story, it’s part of the process. Aston Martin has returned to the top class of endurance racing with one of the most ambitious cars on the grid. The first phase has been about arriving, finishing, learning and proving the concept. The next phase may be about development: understanding where the Valkyrie is strong, where it’s vulnerable, and how far the current package can be pushed.
That’s exactly the kind of story we should expect from a new Hypercar programme. Le Mans rarely rewards romance alone. It rewards year-after-year learning.

Valkyrie road-car recall: extreme car, extreme circumstances

The Valkyrie name also appeared in a very different kind of story this week, with reports of a small US recall affecting seven 2024 Aston Martin Valkyrie road cars equipped with the track suspension package.

This needs careful handling, because the headlines around fire risk can sound dramatic. The issue is not a normal road-use problem and it’s not connected to the Valkyrie racing programme. It relates to a very specific set of track-use circumstances involving the brake master cylinder, the ESP and traction-control systems, and the potential for brake drag and heat build-up under extreme conditions.

Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.

The remedy is straightforward in principle: affected cars will have updated brake master cylinders fitted. The number of cars involved is tiny, and the scenario described is highly specific. Even so, it’s a reminder of just how close to the edge the Valkyrie sits as a road car.

That’s part of what makes it so extraordinary, but also part of what makes it such a demanding engineering object. The Valkyrie is not a normal Aston Martin that happens to be fast.

It’s a road-legal expression of an idea that lives far closer to motorsport than most customer cars ever will.

When a car is that extreme, even small technical details can matter enormously. So this week gave us three very different Valkyrie stories: a Le Mans finish, a possible future Hypercar development path, and a tightly defined road-car recall. Taken together, they say something important. The Valkyrie is still being tested, still being understood and still being developed; on track, on the road, and in Aston Martin’s wider engineering story.

Aston Martin F1: Barcelona pain, patience and the wait for upgrades

Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes.

If Le Mans gave Aston Martin fans something to hold onto, Formula 1 gave them a much harder weekend to absorb.

Barcelona was always going to be an important marker for Aston Martin Aramco. It was Fernando Alonso’s home race, a circuit that usually gives teams a fairly honest view of where their car really stands, and another weekend in which Aston Martin had to keep working while waiting for the major update package that is expected later in the season.

The outcome was painful. Both Aston Martins qualified at the back, Alonso started from the pit lane after power-unit component changes, and both cars retired with mechanical issues. For the fans in green shirts around the circuit, and especially for those there to support Alonso, it was a difficult one.

Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes.

Mike Krack’s comments after the race were striking because they didn’t try to dress the weekend up as something it wasn’t. He acknowledged how disappointing it had been, apologised to the fans who had come to support the team, and admitted that the situation is weighing on everyone.
That matters, because at this stage of a difficult season, supporters don’t need spin, they need honesty.

The broader context is that Aston Martin has chosen not to chase a series of smaller updates, but to wait for a more significant package. That decision may yet prove to be the right one, especially with Adrian Newey now central to the team’s technical direction, but it also makes the present weekends harder to watch. Every race before that major update arrives becomes a test of patience, morale and process.

Alonso’s own comments carried a familiar message. The team has to stay together, but the upgrades need to work. That’s the key point. Aston Martin has had periods in recent seasons where developments have not delivered the expected step, so it’s understandable that there’s caution as well as hope around what comes next.

Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes.

There was also some external speculation around Alonso’s future, with Flavio Briatore’s presence around Aston Martin hospitality feeding paddock chatter.
Given Briatore’s long-standing relationship with Alonso and his current Alpine role, it was always going to attract attention. But for FTP purposes, this needs to stay in its proper place. There’s no confirmed departure, no official negotiation to report, and no need to turn speculation into a headline. The real story remains the performance of the car and the pressure that places on everyone involved.

One useful technical note also emerged around Aston Martin’s early-season vibration issues with Honda. Earlier reports had suggested that a Honda engineer had driven the Aston Martin F1 car as part of the problem-solving process in Japan, but Honda later clarified that this was based on a mistranslation. The engineer had sat in the car while it was being evaluated on a test bench; he didn’t drive it. The corrected version is still interesting, because it shows how closely Aston Martin and Honda have been working behind the scenes to understand and resolve issues.

After the Grand Prix, Aston Martin did at least get some useful mileage at Barcelona, with Jack Crawford taking part in Pirelli’s 2027 tyre development test. AutoHebdo reported that Crawford completed 146 laps in very hot conditions, with air temperatures around 34°C and track temperatures reaching 57°C. As ever with Pirelli tyre testing, the lap times shouldn’t be read as a competitive form guide, because the run plans, fuel loads and test objectives are controlled by Pirelli. But after such a miserable Grand Prix weekend, useful mileage is still useful mileage.

For now, as we know all to well, Aston Martin’s Formula 1 story remains a difficult one. The team is asking for patience, but patience only really survives when there’s evidence of progress. Barcelona didn’t provide that evidence on track. The next major update package therefore carries a lot of weight, not just technically, but emotionally too.

Adrian Hallmark and the shape of Aston Martin’s future

Away from the race track, one of the most interesting Aston Martin stories this week came from Road & Track’s interview with Adrian Hallmark.

There was plenty in it, but the broad direction was clear: Aston Martin doesn’t appear to be chasing volume for the sake of volume. Hallmark’s view seems to be that the company needs to become smaller, more disciplined, more focused and more profitable, rather than simply trying to sell as many cars as possible.

It speaks to the heart of where Aston Martin now finds itself. For years, the company has been caught between ambition and execution: wanting to operate like a true luxury performance brand, but often dealing with the pressures of volume targets, capital demands, model overlap and financial reality. Hallmark’s comments suggest a more restrained approach, with Aston Martin potentially operating around a lower annual volume, reducing complexity, and making each model line work harder.

Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.

One of the most eye-catching parts of the interview was the idea that Aston Martin may have fewer core models in future, but more variants. That follows neatly from the S-model discussion we have covered previously on FTP, in this month’s earlier feature article.
The recent DBX S, Vantage S and DB12 S stories have already shown how Aston Martin can create sharper, more distinct versions of its existing cars without necessarily needing to create entirely new nameplates.

As we explored in that featured article, the key, of course, is that variants need to mean something. A stronger badge, a little more power and a different trim package are not enough on their own. The best Aston Martin variants work when they add character, purpose and story. A more focused Vantage, a more luxurious grand tourer, a sharper S model or a special-edition DBS all make sense when they give customers a clearer emotional reason to care.

Hallmark’s comments also touched on the continued importance of the V12, with…

…Aston Martin apparently committed to keeping that engine alive for as long as regulation and markets allow.

Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.

That will matter deeply to a lot of Aston Martin enthusiasts. In a world moving rapidly towards electrification, the V12 is no longer just a power unit, it’s part of the brand’s emotional identity.

There was also caution around electrification. Rather than pushing quickly into EVs or plug-in hybrids simply because the wider industry is doing so, Hallmark seems to be taking a more pragmatic view of what makes sense for Aston Martin as a low-volume luxury manufacturer. That doesn’t mean electrification goes away, but it does suggest Aston Martin is trying to avoid committing to technology before the market, the customer base and the business case are ready.

I’ve also been looking through a longer Oxford Marketing Society conversation with Hallmark, recorded earlier this year, and that gives useful wider context to this Road & Track interview. What stands out is that Hallmark’s view of Aston Martin is not simply about building faster cars. He talks about brand discipline, customer relationships, personalisation, Formula One reach, and the need for Aston Martin to communicate British luxury without constantly saying the words.

His description of Aston Martin as elegant and sophisticated on the surface, but powerful and potent underneath, gets very close to why the brand still has such emotional pull. It’s also why the “fewer models, more variants” idea could make sense if executed properly. Aston Martin doesn’t need to be everywhere. It needs to be unmistakably Aston Martin wherever it chooses to be.

That’s easy to say and much harder to deliver. But Hallmark’s message feels more focused than simply promising growth. It sounds like a company trying to understand what it should be, what it should stop doing, and where its greatest strengths really sit.

Vanquish 25, road-car recognition and Aston Martin’s wider design language

If Hallmark’s comments gave us the strategy, the Vanquish gave us the emotion.

Image © Fuel the Passion. A herd of lovely First Generation, Aston Martin Vanquish, at Alnwick Castle, AMOC Spring Concours 2026.

Vanquish has been a recurring thread on FTP recently, but this week it moves properly centre stage. That feels right, because the AMOC Festival at the British Motor Museum is placing a major focus on 25 years of Vanquish, and Fuel the Passion’s own Vanquish 25th Anniversary films are now going live in collaboration with AMOC and the Aston Martin Heritage Trust.

The first of those films looks at the first-generation Vanquish through the cutaway car at the Aston Martin Heritage Trust Museum, with Steve Waddingham helping to explain how that car was built and why it mattered. The second film moves to the second-generation Vanquish, again using the AMHT cutaway to show how the model evolved into a later Gaydon-era flagship with carbon-fibre bodywork, VH architecture and that naturally aspirated V12 at its heart.

What I like about these films is that they allow Vanquish to be treated as more than just a beautiful shape or a Bond-era icon. They show the engineering, the construction and the decisions behind the car. They also help explain why Vanquish has carried such weight for Aston Martin across three generations.

Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. First Generation Vanquish.

That point was reinforced by Motor1 this week, with Jeff Perez publishing two timely Ian Callum features. The first looked back at why the original Vanquish still matters, with Callum reflecting on Project Vantage, the 1998 Detroit concept, the importance of the rear haunch and the way the car helped define the modern Aston Martin visual language.
The second focused on Callum’s own Vanquish 25 project, effectively giving the original designer a second chance to refine the car he created.

That’s a fascinating idea. Most designers never get to revisit one of their most famous cars in that way. With the Callum Vanquish 25, the changes are not about destroying the original idea, but sharpening it: revised details, new materials, a reworked interior, mechanical improvements and the option of a manual gearbox. Whether someone prefers the purity of the original or the refinement of the Callum version, the very existence of the project says something important.

Twenty-five years later, the first-generation Vanquish still has enough design strength and emotional gravity to be worth reinterpreting.

CarBuzz also joined the Vanquish anniversary theme this week, looking across the three generations and arguing that the second-generation facelift model, with the later ZF eight-speed automatic and AM29 engine, may be the sweet spot for buyers. That’s a slightly different angle, but it adds to the same wider point: Vanquish is not just a single model from Aston Martin’s past. It’s now a proper bloodline.

There was also recognition for the current Vanquish from Robb Report, which named it the winner of its Grand Tourer category in the Best of the Best 2026 automotive awards. In the same feature, Valhalla won the Hybrid category. We’ve already touched on the strong reception to Valhalla in recent Roundups, so there’s no need to repeat that full story here, but the Robb Report recognition is another useful sign that Aston Martin’s current road-car line-up is being taken seriously.

Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.

The Vanquish award is especially well timed. In a week where we’re looking back at 25 years of Vanquish, it’s good to see the newest generation being recognised for the very qualities the name has always needed to carry: speed, beauty, presence and the ability to turn a long journey into something more memorable.

Aston Martin also released a short official film this week from its first UNLEASHED event of the year, held at Paul Ricard back in April. There’s no narration, just polished footage of a very special Aston Martin track weekend, but the description says plenty: Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso was involved, and the event included the first customer-driven Valkyrie LM.

That makes it a neat little addition to this week’s wider Valkyrie thread. Away from Le Mans, away from the road-car recall and away from the development questions around the Hypercar programme, UNLEASHED shows another side of Aston Martin’s performance world: customer experience, circuit driving and the idea of giving owners access to something far beyond the normal road-car environment. I’ve included the short 53 second video below;

Aston Martin’s design language also appeared in a more unusual place this week, with Japan’s first Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition helicopter delivered to ‘NOT A HOTEL’. This is not Aston Martin building helicopters, and it’s important to be clear about that. It’s an Airbus helicopter with interior and exterior design input from Aston Martin, applied by Airbus Helicopters craftspeople in Oxford.

Even so, it’s an interesting little brand-extension story. The helicopter will become part of ‘NOT A GARAGE’, a luxury mobility service connecting ‘NOT A HOTEL’ locations in Japan, and a second ACH130 Aston Martin Edition has already been ordered. It’s niche, but it fits the wider Hallmark theme rather well. Aston Martin’s identity is not only about cars. At its best, it’s about a design language, a set of cues and a feeling of restrained performance luxury that can travel beyond the road.

Finally, there was another future-product note worth watching, with Carscoops publishing spy-shot coverage of what appears to be a more hardcore Aston Martin Vantage prototype testing at the Nürburgring. The name is not confirmed, and neither is the specification, so this needs to remain firmly in the cautious category. But with more aggressive aero, a sizeable rear wing and a sharper-looking package than the standard Vantage or Vantage S, it does appear to support the idea that Aston Martin may not be finished developing more extreme derivatives of its current sports-car range.

Taken together, these stories all point in a similar direction. Aston Martin’s future may be about discipline and focus, but the cars still need emotion. Vanquish gives that emotion through heritage. Valhalla gives it through technology, Vantage gives it through sporting intent, and even the ACH130 story, unusual as it is, shows how far Aston Martin’s design identity can travel when it’s handled carefully.

Car of the Week - 2020 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Edition

That brings us neatly to this week’s Car of the Week. Adrian Hallmark’s comments about fewer models but more variants are not just a future strategy. Aston Martin has been using special editions for years to add story, rarity and emotion to its core model lines. Few modern examples show that better than the DBS Superleggera On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Edition.

This particular car caught my eye after appearing in a recent HWM Aston Martin walkaround video with Stuart. It’s a 2020 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera OHMSS Edition, currently listed at HWM Aston Martin of Walton-on-Thames at £216,995. More importantly from an enthusiast’s point of view, it has covered just 1,799 miles from new and is one of only 50 examples produced.

As always with this section, this is not an advert and it’s not about pushing anyone towards a particular car. It’s simply an enthusiast’s observation when something interesting appears in the Aston Martin world.

The DBS Superleggera OHMSS Edition was created to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. That connection matters, because the film gave Aston Martin one of its most famous screen appearances through the original DBS driven by George Lazenby’s James Bond. The modern DBS Superleggera version doesn’t try to become a replica of that earlier car, but it does draw on the association in a way that feels restrained and appropriate.

The colour is a big part of that. The car is finished in Olive Green, which immediately gives it a very different character from a standard DBS Superleggera. HWM’s walkaround also highlights the specific OHMSS details, including the veined front grille, traditional-style Aston Martin badges with a creamier inlay, the carbon lower body package, unique multi-spoke wheels in a black and diamond-turned finish, and the satin chrome or aluminium side strakes set into carbon-fibre housings.

Around the rear, the car carries smoked rear lights, a carbon-fibre spoiler and chrome tailpipes. It’s still recognisably a DBS Superleggera, but the details pull it gently towards the Bond reference without becoming too theatrical.

The interior is where this edition becomes even more interesting. The car has a pure black leather cabin with fluting and quilting on the seats, heated and cooled seats, grey-blend headlining, carbon-fibre air-vent surrounds, dark chrome interior jewellery, contrast red stitching and red velvet door pockets. There are also red-tinted carbon-fibre paddles, a leather and carbon-fibre steering wheel, heavy-pile mats and the 007 edition-of-50 sill detailing.

That’s what makes it work for me. The best Aston Martin special editions are not simply about badges, contrast stitching or a numbered plaque, they need a story, they need a reason to exist, and this DBS has one. It links a modern flagship Super GT with one of Aston Martin’s most important cultural touchpoints, while still allowing the underlying car to be the main event.

The DBS Superleggera itself is already a serious Aston Martin. It sits in that bruising, beautiful part of the range where grand touring comfort meets huge front-engined V12 performance. Add the OHMSS story, the limited-production status, the Olive Green finish and the Bond connection, and the car becomes more than a specification. It becomes a small piece of Aston Martin storytelling.

Image © Fuel the Passion, AMOC International Concours Event 2025, Austria.

I also seem to have crossed paths with this model more than once. I have seen examples at Beaulieu, during the AMOC Austria trip, and at JCT600 Aston Martin Leeds during 2025.
Seeing another one appear now, in the same week we’re talking about Aston Martin variants, special editions, Bond, Vanquish heritage and the future direction of the brand, made it feel like the right choice.

That’s why the DBS Superleggera On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Edition is this week’s Fuel the Passion Car of the Week. Not because it’s the loudest or most extreme Aston Martin for sale, but because it shows how a special edition can add genuine emotional value when the story behind it is strong enough.

FTP Update

It’s been one of those weeks where Fuel the Passion has felt very much connected to several different Aston Martin stories at once.

The biggest focus has been Vanquish. The first two films in the Fuel the Passion Vanquish 25th Anniversary series are now going live, produced in collaboration with Aston Martin Owners Club and the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. As already mentioned, Part 1 looks at the first-generation Vanquish through the cutaway car at the AMHT Museum, while Part 2 moves on to the second-generation Vanquish and its place in Aston Martin’s modern story.

Those films have been a real privilege to make. Being able to film the cutaway cars with Steve Waddingham and use them to explain not just what Vanquish looks like, but how it was built and why it mattered, is exactly the kind of Aston Martin storytelling Fuel the Passion was created for.

Image © Fuel the Passion. Screenshot of the 3rd Vanquish film, hopefully will go live soon!

There’s also a third Vanquish film waiting in the background, which I hope will be able to go live once the final Aston Martin Lagonda clearance process is complete. This is the film we previously released a trailer for, recorded at Aston Martin Works, where Steve Waddingham interviewed a number of AML employees who were involved with the first-generation Vanquish when it was new, and who are still connected with these cars today.

I completely understand that Aston Martin is a busy organisation, and that anything involving employees, heritage, the Works site and the wider brand needs to go through the right checks before release. But I do hope the film eventually gets the support it needs, because it shows something very special: the passion and dedication of the people behind the cars.

As enthusiasts, owners and admirers, we often talk about the design, the engines, the badge and the history. But Aston Martin is also made by people. People who care deeply about what they build, preserve, restore and support. That’s what this film captures, and it’s why I’m so keen for it to be seen when the time is right. For now though, the trailer to that film, in case you haven’t seen it, is below;

Work has also continued on the Le Mans side of the website. The dedicated Le Mans section has now been built out, the WEC pages within the FTP Motorsport Hub have been updated, and the longer featured article on Aston Martin and Le Mans, as you may have seen advertised on the front page, has reached the point where it can tell the story properly rather than simply react to one race weekend. That matters to me, because Le Mans is too important to Aston Martin to be treated only as a result sheet. That new featured article, called ‘Aston Martin and Le Mans - The Long Road Back to Victory’ goes live on 5th July 2026. You may already have seen the preview on the front page of the website, and I’ve also included it within this week’s Roundup. It’s a bigger, more reflective piece, looking at why Le Mans matters so deeply to Aston Martin, from the 1959 DBR1 victory through to the modern Valkyrie Hypercar programme.

The FTP Motorsport Hub has also continued to evolve. The Le Mans, Spa and Imola WEC tables have been updated into the newer FTP-style format, and the aim remains to make the Hub a genuinely useful place for anyone wanting to follow Aston Martin-related motorsport without having to dig through dozens of separate series pages.

Away from the computer, this is also a big Aston Martin weekend. On Saturday I’ll be at Wilton Concours de Légendes at Wilton House, and on Sunday I’ll be at the AMOC Festival at the British Motor Museum, where 25 years of Vanquish will be one of the main themes. That’s one of the reasons this week’s Roundup has had to be completed a little earlier than usual.

The FTP Vantage will, of course, be part of the weekend as well. These are exactly the sort of trips that remind me why the car sits at the centre of Fuel the Passion. It’s not just transport to an event, it’s part of the experience, part of the filming story and part of the reason every mile still matters.

Image © Fuel the Passion. Onboard a DB2/4 at Aintree. New FTP film coming soon.

As always, there’s more editing waiting in the background. The Aintree Sprint film is not far from being finished, that will go live next week.
There’s some lovely onboard footage of some varied Aston Martins out on track. The sound is intoxicating and I hope it allows you to imagine what it’s like to enter the Speed Championship.

One particular highlight is the onboard footage from Peter’s DB2/4 (picture above). From inside the car, you get a real sense of the work going on at the wheel, the gear changes, the view down that long bonnet and, most of all, the sound. Peter’s car runs triple DCOE Webers, a period-style modification fitted more recently, along with a twin-pipe exhaust, and the result is a wonderful voice from that classic Aston Martin straight-six. It’s raw, mechanical and completely alive in a way that makes you understand why people enter these events in the first place. You’re not just watching an old Aston Martin being preserved; you’re hearing it being used properly. I'm looking forward to sharing that with you.

Image © Fuel the Passion. AMOC Spring Concours 2026 - Alnwick Castle, video coming soon.

We also have the AMOC Spring Concours at Alnwick video, the sights of which, as you can see above, are stunning - what a setting that was and there’s nothing better than seeing dozens and dozens of Aston Martins in stunning surroundings. That video which will come after the Aintree film, so that will remain on the list, along with the continuing Vanquish material and follow-up content from this weekend’s events. Fuel the Passion never really seems to stand still for long, but that’s probably a good thing.

Closing Reflection

By the time this Roundup goes live, I should be somewhere between two very different but equally special Aston Martin weekends.

Saturday takes me to Wilton Concours de Légendes at Wilton House, and Sunday takes me to the AMOC Festival at the British Motor Museum, where the 25th anniversary of Vanquish will be one of the main themes. After spending so much time recently working through Vanquish footage, cutaway cars, interviews and heritage material, it feels very fitting to be ending the week surrounded by the cars and the people who keep that story alive.

Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Spa-Francorchamps.

I will also be keeping one eye on Spa-Francorchamps, where the British GT Championship heads for its latest round.
It may seem slightly odd to talk about British GT racing in Belgium, but Spa is one of Europe’s great GT racing venues, and British GT has included overseas rounds before. For Aston Martin interest, Beechdean carries the main Vantage GT3 story, while MK Racing and Grange Racing by FSR continue the Vantage GT4 momentum.
Coverage will of course appear in the FTP Motorsport Hub early next week, once the results are known. For now we wish the teams well.

That contrast probably sums up this week rather well. On one side, Aston Martin has been at Le Mans, Barcelona, Paul Ricard, Spa and the Nürburgring testing headlines. On the other, it’s been in museums, heritage films, special editions, owner events and community gatherings. That’s the width of the brand. It’s racing and road cars, old and new, strategy and emotion, frustration and pride.

Not every part of the Aston Martin story is easy at the moment. Formula 1 continues to be painful, the Valkyrie still has plenty to prove, and the wider business remains in a period of discipline and reset. But weeks like this also show why the story is worth following. There’s always something moving, something being learned, something being preserved and something being driven.

Before I close, just one small reminder. If Jonny Adam’s Race Against Dementia helmet campaign touched a chord with you, and you’re in a position to support it, I’ve included the donation link again below. There’s absolutely no pressure, but even a small contribution can help. If you do donate after reading the Roundup, feel free to leave Jonny a message and mention Fuel the Passion. It would be lovely to show that the wider Aston Martin community is behind him, not just for his Le Mans podium, but for the cause he’s supporting.

Support Jonny Adam’s Race Against Dementia Campaign

As ever, thank you for reading, watching and supporting Fuel the Passion. Where every mile tells a story.

Have a great week. See you on the next one! 👆

I hope you enjoy reading these Weekly Roundups. The aim is always to bring the Aston Martin news, stories and context together in one place, while adding a bit of FTP perspective along the way.

As always, I would love to know what you think. Was the #23 Vantage GT3 podium the biggest Aston Martin moment of Le Mans, or was the Valkyrie’s eighth-place finish the more important long-term sign of progress?

With Adrian Hallmark talking about fewer models but more variants, do you think Aston Martin is heading in the right direction?

Let me know in the comments below👇.

Issue 29 - Fuel the Passion (FTP) Weekly Roundup

It’s a road-legal expression of an idea that lives far closer to motorsport than most customer cars ever will.

…Aston Martin apparently committed to keeping that engine alive for as long as regulation and markets allow.

Twenty-five years later, the first-generation Vanquish still has enough design strength and emotional gravity to be worth reinterpreting.

Issue 28 - Fuel the Passion (FTP) Weekly Roundup