Issue 32 - Fuel the Passion (FTP) Weekly Roundup
Week Ending 12th July 2026
Editor’s Introduction - Dan, Fuel the Passion
Image © Fuel the Passion. Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 just leaving parc fermé to head to the Start line at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026
When I mentioned recently to some, that I wasn’t planning to attend Goodwood Festival of Speed this year, that was genuinely the case. I went last year, filmed the event for the Fuel the Passion YouTube channel, and this year my focus had been on catching up with the edit queue, including the Alnwick Castle AMOC Spring Concours film. But plans sometimes change in the best possible way.
Late last week, I received a very kind invitation from Blackthorn Racing to attend Goodwood on Thursday as their guest. As I was already heading south to take my Dad to the RAC Concours earlier in the week, it suddenly became an opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 slowly approaching the Start line at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026
I’m very grateful to Blackthorn Racing, and especially to Claude Bovet and Julien Draper, for the invitation and for the access they arranged. It made the day very special.
Goodwood is already one of those events where you can barely take everything in, but to spend time with a team, see their Aston Martin Vantage GT3 up close, and get a glimpse behind the scenes gave the day a completely different feel. Blackthorn had brought along their Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3, the very car that raced at the 24 Hours of Spa.
It was presented exactly as it finished the race, still wearing the marks of that extraordinary weekend.
Standing beside it at Goodwood, with the car preparing to take on the famous hill, was a reminder of how quickly stories can move from the race track, to the screen, to somewhere as iconic as the Festival of Speed. A new Fuel the Passion Short that was released on Saturday captures the car at close quarters and showing just what made its Goodwood appearance so special. If you haven’t yet had chance to watch it, you can HERE. It’s only 56 seconds long.
You can also watch the Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 make one of its runs up the Goodwood Hill later in this week’s Roundup, where I’ve included a direct link to the relevant moment in Goodwood’s own coverage.
I also spent time around Aston Martin’s own Goodwood display, where the current range drew plenty of attention. It was lovely simply to stand back for a moment and listen to people’s reactions. The words “beautiful”, “stunning” and “so nice to see a British brand here” were heard more than once, and that tells its own story.
Image © Fuel the Passion, The amazing Singer artwork outside Goodwood House. FOS 2026.
Goodwood’s extraordinary central sculpture provided a fitting backdrop to the week. Created to celebrate Singer, the Californian company renowned for reimagining classic Porsche 911s, it suspended three cars high above Goodwood House on sweeping white structures, part engineering statement, part artwork, and impossible to ignore beneath the clear blue sky.
This week’s Roundup reflects that wider feeling. It’s been a busy few days across the Aston Martin world: Goodwood, the new S models, Valkyrie and Vantage GT3 racing activity, the latest on Aston Martin’s future road-car strategy, Formula One frustration at Silverstone, the wait for the AMR26 upgrade, and a Car of the Week that ties neatly into our own Buyers Guide work.
So, yes, the editing schedule took a small hit this week. But sometimes Fuel the Passion is not just about sitting at the desk editing and writing about the stories. Sometimes it’s about being there, meeting the people, seeing the cars, hearing the engines, and remembering exactly why we do this in the first place. So grab a drink, probably a cool one in this weather, relax and let’s dig in.
NEW YOUTUBE SHORT: Battle-Scarred Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | Spa 24H Finisher at Goodwood — WATCH NOW ◆
NEW YOUTUBE SHORT: Battle-Scarred Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | Spa 24H Finisher at Goodwood — WATCH NOW ◆
Motorsport: From Silverstone Frustration to Norisring History
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Vantage wins in DTM.
My visit to Goodwood gave this week a very personal beginning, but before we turn to the cars on the hill and Aston Martin’s wider news, last weekend’s racing deserves first place. It produced two very different pictures of the marque: another deeply difficult Formula One weekend at Silverstone, followed by an historic breakthrough for the Vantage in Germany.
A British Grand Prix to Endure
Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes. The two AMR26 F1 cars on track at Silverstone, British Grand Prix 2026.
Charles Leclerc won a dramatic British Grand Prix for Ferrari, finishing ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. A few days after Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone, I was fortunate enough to see the actual British Grand Prix winner’s trophy at close quarters during the RAC Concours in Epsom. Displayed in its Louis Vuitton presentation trunk between cars representing very different eras of Grand Prix racing, it made an impressive sight.
Image © Fuel the Passion. The actual British Grand Prix Formula 1 Trophy, RAC Concours, Epsom, 2026
Looking closely at the base, I could see Charles Leclerc’s name newly engraved alongside those of some of Formula One’s most celebrated drivers. His name now follows Lando Norris, who won his home British Grand Prix in 2025, and joins a remarkable roll call of champions and iconic Silverstone winners.
As you can see above from the photograph, the case itself carried the line “Victory Travels in Louis Vuitton”, which made me smile. Even the British Grand Prix trophy, it seems, likes to travel in suitably prestigious style.
For Aston Martin Aramco, however, its home race brought no relief from the problems that have defined the opening half of the season. Fernando Alonso finished 18th and Lance Stroll 19th, one lap behind the leaders and occupying the final two classified positions.
Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes. Alonso waiting with his AMR26 at Silverstone 2026.
Expectations were already modest after both AMR26s qualified on the back row. Alonso was due to start 21st, with Stroll behind him following a ten-place grid penalty for a battery change, but Alonso’s car stopped on the formation lap. Although he managed to restart it, the interruption forced him to begin from the pit lane. Both drivers started on the Medium tyre, changed to Hards during the race and then fitted Softs under the late Safety Car, but the car’s underlying performance left them with little opportunity to progress.
Stroll’s afternoon was made more difficult by persistent understeer and an unpredictable balance. After already reaching the permitted number of track-limit warnings, he committed three further infringements within nine laps and accumulated 15 seconds of penalties. Those penalties didn’t alter his finishing position, but they illustrated just how difficult the AMR26 was proving to place consistently around Silverstone’s faster corners.
Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes. Mike Krack at press conference, British Grand Prix 2026
Mike Krack described performance as the factor limiting the team’s opportunities, while Alonso said the race was largely used to learn as much as possible for future development.
There’s little value in trying to dress the result up as anything other than disappointing, particularly at the circuit sitting almost opposite the AMR Technology Campus. Yet it was also entirely consistent with Aston Martin’s recent level, rather than an unexpected collapse.
The meaningful question now is whether the substantial development package planned for Hungary can begin to change that position.
Thiim Makes DTM History for Aston Martin
If Silverstone was difficult viewing, the Norisring delivered an almost perfect answer from Aston Martin’s GT racing programme.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Vantage racing in DTM.
Nicki Thiim and Comtoyou Racing secured Aston Martin’s first victory in the modern DTM last Saturday and then repeated the achievement on Sunday.
Thiim took pole position for both races and converted each into victory, completing a faultless weekend for the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 on one of the championship’s most distinctive street circuits.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Thiim soaks up victory at DTM.
The result carried considerable personal meaning for Thiim. His father, Kurt Thiim, won the DTM title in 1986 and remained a major force in the series into the 1990s. Nicki has spoken openly about his ambition to return the Thiim family name to the top of the championship, making the Norisring double particularly emotional.
For Aston Martin, the significance goes beyond two race wins. The Vantage has now become a genuine DTM front-runner, and Thiim leaves the halfway point of the 16-race season leading the Drivers’ Championship by nine points.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Thiim celebrates win.
After Comtoyou Racing’s previous success with Aston Martin in GT World Challenge Europe, this was another emphatic demonstration of what the team and Vantage GT3 can achieve together.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Comtoyou Racing celebrating their double win at Norisbring, DTM 2026.
Until now, the FTP Motorsport Hub hadn’t followed the DTM in detail, simply because we were already committed to covering so many other championships involving Aston Martin.
Nicki Thiim’s double victory at the Norisring changes that.
With an Aston Martin now leading the Drivers’ Championship, this has become a season we need to follow through to the finish. A dedicated DTM section is now live in the FTP Motorsport Hub, with full coverage of Rounds 03 and 04 already available. Reports from the opening two rounds at the Red Bull Ring and Zandvoort will be added soon.
The remaining 2026 DTM rounds have also been added to our Next Aston Martin Race countdown, so readers can follow the season as it develops.
Blackthorn Battles Through the Hungaroring Heat
Aston Martin was also represented at the Hungaroring as the International GT Open season reached its fourth round.
Blackthorn Racing paired Charles Bateman with Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy graduate Kobe Pauwels in the #97 Vantage GT3, with Pauwels making his GT Open debut. They finished fifth in the Pro-Am class in Saturday’s opening race, which was won overall by Pietro Armanni and Alex Fontana in the ZRS Motorsport Porsche.
Image © Blackthorn Racing. Used for editorial purposes.
Sunday’s race was won by Tom Emson and Tom Lebbon for Elite Motorsport. Blackthorn again completed the race fifth in Pro-Am, although Pauwels received a ten-second penalty following contact with the Am-class Lamborghini of Seweryn Mazur.
It wasn’t the result the team will have wanted, but the #97 still brought home points on a weekend where track position and overtaking proved particularly difficult.
The race ended early following an accident involving the #14 Good Speed Racing Aston Martin. Tomasz Magdziarz spun while exiting the final corner and struck the pit-wall area, leaving the Vantage stranded in a dangerous position and prompting an immediate red flag. Most importantly, the driver was reported to be unharmed. Although the video below is a long video, if you click on the thumbnail below it will take you straight to the Good Speed Racing Aston Martin having its unfortunate crash;
The next International GT Open round takes place at Paul Ricard from 17th - 19th July, giving both Aston Martin teams little time before the championship resumes.
This Weekend: Valkyrie Returns to Interlagos
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Attention now moves to Brazil, where the FIA World Endurance Championship resumes with the 6 Hours of São Paulo.
The #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie of Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble arrives at Interlagos seeking a sixth consecutive WEC points finish.
The British pairing has scored at every race held so far in 2026, including eighth place at Le Mans, Valkyrie’s best result yet at the 24-hour race. Tincknell believes Aston Martin returns to Brazil as a very different proposition from 12 months ago, while Gamble has allowed himself to mention the possibility of challenging for Valkyrie’s first podium.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
The #009 Valkyrie of Alex Riberas and Marco Sørensen has endured a more difficult start and is still searching for its first points of the season. Both drivers feel Interlagos could suit the car, having marked a noticeable step forward for the programme during Valkyrie’s debut campaign. Team principal Ian James has set the target of placing both cars in the points while remaining alert to the opportunities created by a short, busy circuit.
Heart of Racing also brings two Vantage LMGT3s to São Paulo. Kobe Pauwels moves directly from his Blackthorn appearance in Hungary to replace Dudu Barrichello in the #23 car, joining Gray Newell and Jonny Adam.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. #27 Vantage, WEC
Barrichello is missing his home WEC round because he’s travelling to Canada to defend his IMSA GTD championship lead. The sister #27 Vantage will be shared by Ian James, Mattia Drudi and Zacharie Robichon.
The six-hour race begins at 11:30 local time, 3:30pm in the UK on Sunday 12th July. As usual, we’ll carry the key outcome in next week’s Roundup, with the full Aston Martin results, race analysis and updated championship positions added to the FTP Motorsport Hub. Due to positive feedback during the 24HR Le Mans, where we placed the three LIVE onboard Video Streams all next to one another on our front page, we’ve done it again for this 6 Hours of São Paulo.
Just look out for the segment below near the top of our HOME page. Click on the image below and we’ll take you straight there.
Road to Race Returns to Le Mans
Before leaving the FIA World Endurance Championship, Aston Martin has just released the second episode of Road to Race: Season Two, taking viewers behind the scenes with The Heart of Racing at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans. We’ve featured previous episodes of the series in the Weekly Roundup, and this latest film is one of the strongest yet.
The episode follows both sides of Aston Martin’s Le Mans programme, showing the work required to prepare and run the two Valkyrie Hypercars and two Vantage LMGT3s at the world’s biggest endurance race. It captures the physical and mental pressure of the build-up, the constant refinement through practice, the intensity of qualifying and the quieter human moments that are often lost once the race begins.
There’s also a useful sense of how far the Valkyrie programme has moved forward. As we know from our own coverage here at FTP, both Hypercars reached the finish, with the #007 taking eighth place, Aston Martin’s best Valkyrie result at Le Mans so far. On the GT side, the #23 Vantage secured a podium finish, while the sister #27 had been in contention before a gearbox failure ended its challenge.
I’ll include a direct link to the full episode, which runs for just under half an hour and is well worth watching for anyone following Aston Martin’s developing Valkyrie and Vantage programmes;
More than anything, the film reinforces a theme that runs through all successful endurance racing: the result belongs to the whole team. Drivers, engineers, mechanics and support staff all have to manage a week of relentless pressure before the 24-hour race even begins.
Vantage Heads North to Canada
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
At the same time, Aston Martin’s IMSA GT challenge continues at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
There’ll be no Valkyrie GTP entry at this particular round because the headline classes are LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD. Instead, attention centres on the Vantage GT3 and Dudu Barrichello’s championship campaign. Barrichello leads the GTD standings by 157 points and will share the #27 Heart of Racing Vantage with Canadian driver Roman De Angelis, a two-time class winner at the circuit historically known as Mosport.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
The #68 CarBahn entry, operated by YRB Racing, steps up to GTD Pro after taking a podium on its IMSA debut at Watkins Glen. Valentin Hasse Clot will share the Aston Martin with Scott Andrews as the new team continues an encouraging introduction to the championship.
The Chevrolet Grand Prix begins at 2:00pm local time, 7:00pm in the UK on Sunday, meaning Aston Martin supporters face a very busy afternoon and evening following Vantage in Canada and Valkyrie at Interlagos.
Formula One takes a weekend away from racing before returning at Spa-Francorchamps. That brief pause gives Aston Martin little respite, because beyond the results at Silverstone lies the subject that could define the next phase of its season: the AMR26 upgrade being prepared for Hungary.
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The Wait for Hungary: Hope, but No Miracle Cure
Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes.
Formula One’s short pause before Spa gives Aston Martin little time to dwell on Silverstone. The team’s attention is already fixed on Budapest, where the long-awaited development package for the AMR26 is due to appear on both cars.
Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes.
Adrian Newey has now explained that, while the basic chassis and gearbox architecture will remain, weight has been removed from both. The forward section of the chassis has consequently required fresh homologation and crash testing. The front suspension remains unchanged, but the rear suspension has been revised slightly, while a new nose and substantially altered aerodynamic surfaces form the heart of the package. The target is to bring the AMR26 much closer to Formula One’s minimum weight limit.
Newey believes the package should deliver a sizeable step, but he’s deliberately avoided attaching a lap-time figure to it. Aston Martin is still improving the simulation and engineering tools used to predict how developments will translate from the factory to the circuit, so Hungary will be as much a test of correlation as outright performance.
Pedro de la Rosa has described the upgrade as the start of Aston Martin showing more of its potential, but his message was notably grounded. The immediate aim is to give Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll a faster, more predictable car, one that allows them to fight rather than simply complete the weekend. De la Rosa also stressed that Hungary won’t represent the end of the development programme.
Even if the package works as hoped, there’ll still be several areas requiring further improvement.
That feels like the right expectation for FTP readers. After such a difficult opening half of the season, merely returning the AMR26 to the midfield would be meaningful progress. Expecting one upgrade to turn it into a front-running car would be unrealistic.
Alonso’s Decision Is About More Than One Upgrade
The importance of Hungary has also become connected to Fernando Alonso’s future. Newey has said Alonso wants to see clear and tangible progress, and the team hopes a successful package will encourage him to remain in the cockpit for another season.
Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes.
Alonso, however, has made it clear that his decision won’t depend solely on how fast the car is in Budapest. He expects to consider his future during the summer break, but says the choice will involve several factors: whether the new car is enjoyable to drive, progress from the Honda power unit, his own energy and motivation, and the possibility of eventually returning to endurance racing or pursuing the Dakar Rally.
He remains positive about the people around him and understands the amount of work taking place at Silverstone. What he wants Hungary to demonstrate is that Aston Martin has correctly identified the AMR26’s weaknesses and is beginning to address them in a coherent way. If the drivers can finally extract the car’s potential with confidence, the result itself may be less important than the direction it confirms.
The British Grand Prix arrived too early for that answer. Spa will be another weekend of managing the car Aston Martin currently has. Budapest, though, should provide the first proper indication of whether the team has started to build something materially better.
While the Formula One operation is trying to correct the direction of its current car, Aston Martin’s road-car business has been setting out a much longer-term plan, one designed to preserve the V12, simplify future models and delay the point at which electrification becomes unavoidable.
Aston Martin Maps Out Its Next Generation
While the Formula One team is concentrating on whether one development package can begin to improve the AMR26, Adrian Hallmark has been describing a much broader transformation on the road-car side of Aston Martin, one that will shape an entirely new generation of cars.
Speaking to Auto Express, Hallmark revealed that Aston Martin is developing a clean-sheet modular architecture intended to underpin both future sports cars and SUVs.
The first models using it are expected within three to four years, placing their arrival before the end of the decade.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
The aim is to share more components across the range, reduce unnecessary complexity and potentially allow very different Aston Martin models to move along the same production line. That might sound like the sort of cost-saving exercise undertaken by every large car group, but Aston Martin’s challenge is rather different.
It builds comparatively few cars, yet currently carries much of the complexity associated with a far larger manufacturer. Greater commonality should therefore help make the business more efficient without requiring its sports cars and SUVs to feel alike.
Hallmark has also suggested that the new structure will bring worthwhile dynamic benefits. New construction techniques are expected to increase torsional rigidity without imposing a substantial weight penalty, while stiffer suspension mounting points should allow the chassis to respond more precisely. Rear-wheel steering is also planned, helping the larger Grand Tourers turn into corners with greater agility.
Mild Hybrid Rather Than Plug-In Hybrid
The new architecture will be prepared for fully electric powertrains, but Aston Martin’s first applications of it are expected to use petrol engines supported by 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. The company’s official product-cycle plan already places the gradual addition of all-electric drivetrains within the 2030 - 2035 period, alongside more efficient combustion-powered cars.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Aston Martin currently sees little value in developing conventional plug-in hybrid versions of its next-generation core models. Hallmark’s view is that the additional batteries, weight and complexity aren’t justified when real-world evidence suggests many plug-in hybrid owners rely predominantly on the combustion engine.
The proposed 48-volt system is much lighter and simpler. It can support functions such as engine-off coasting and operation in slow traffic, while potentially assisting ancillary systems and providing a modest performance or efficiency benefit.
It won’t turn the next Vantage, DB model or DBX into an electric car…
…but it should help Aston Martin retain its petrol engines while meeting progressively tighter regulations.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
There’s an important distinction here. Valhalla remains Aston Martin’s first plug-in hybrid supercar, using its electrified powertrain as an integral part of its performance. Hallmark’s comments concern the company’s next-generation core architecture rather than undoing the technology already developed for Valhalla. Aston Martin appears to regard that car as a highly specialised application, not a template that must be applied across the whole range.
A Future for the V12
For many enthusiasts, however, the most reassuring part of Hallmark’s interview concerned the V12.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Valkyrie Engine
Aston Martin has carried out further work to keep its 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 compliant with European and United States regulations. Hallmark says that by keeping V12 sales below 1,000 cars per year, the company expects to benefit from small-volume exemptions until at least 2035.
Several reports have described this as Aston Martin finding a “loophole”. FTP prefers the rather less dramatic description of regulatory breathing room.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Valkyrie Engine
The exemption isn’t permission to build unlimited numbers of V12 cars; it’s a route that allows an ultra-low-volume manufacturer to continue offering the engine in carefully controlled numbers. That could preserve the V12 for flagship models such as Vanquish, along with occasional limited-production cars in the spirit of Valour and Valiant. It also fits Hallmark’s wider strategy of making Aston Martin smaller, more exclusive and less dependent on chasing volume.
There’s still a considerable distance between describing a future architecture and delivering a finished production car. Regulations may change, customer demand can move quickly, and Aston Martin must also find a financially sustainable way to fund the programme.
A clearer indication of how much financial room Aston Martin has to deliver that programme should arrive later this month, when the company publishes its H1 2026 financial results, covering the first six months of the year. Following the cautiously encouraging direction seen in Q1, including improved margins, new-model momentum and the beginning of Valhalla deliveries, the half-year figures should provide a more complete view of whether that progress is becoming firmly established. We’ve already placed a dedicated preview on the front page of the Fuel the Passion website, and we’ll examine the results in detail in FTP Weekly Roundup Issue 35, due on Sunday 2nd August. But the emerging direction feels more coherent than an abrupt move from petrol to electric power.
Rather than abandoning electrification, Aston Martin appears to be giving itself time.
The company can continue improving the cars and engines its customers currently want, introduce mild-hybrid assistance where it brings a practical benefit, and keep the architecture ready for full electrification when both the technology and the market are better aligned.
That brings us neatly back to Goodwood, where the present-day Aston Martin range offered a very tangible snapshot of the starting point: three increasingly important S models, a new-generation Vanquish, Valhalla, Valkyrie and some rather encouraging reactions from the people seeing them together.
A Focused Aston Martin Display at Goodwood
The longer-term platform strategy describes where Aston Martin intends to go next, while Goodwood offered a concise snapshot of where the marque stands today.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Approaching the Aston Martin stand at the Goodwood Supercar Paddock 2026
Aston Martin’s presence was relatively modest compared with some of the larger manufacturer displays, but it still brought together a strong cross-section of the current range. The DB12 S, Vantage S and DBX S formed the main focus, supported by the Vanquish, Valhalla, Valkyrie and AMR25 Formula One car.
Image © Fuel the Passion DB12 S and the Vantage S, Goodwood FOS 2026
We’ve already covered the detailed performance figures and technical changes behind the three S models in previous Roundups and in the FTP Featured Article, so there’s little value in repeating every statistic again here. The more interesting point is what the S badge is beginning to mean across the range.
Rather than creating entirely separate cars, Aston Martin is using the badge to sharpen the character of models that already exist. The DB12 S leans further into performance without abandoning its grand-touring role, the DBX S aims to make an already remarkably capable SUV feel more responsive, and the Vantage S pushes the smallest of the three closer to the driver-focused end of the spectrum.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Vantage S, Goodwood FOS 2026
Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn drove all three ahead of Goodwood and chose the Vantage S as his favourite. His verdict wasn’t based solely on power or acceleration, but on the car’s balance, steering, suspension response and sense of involvement. That feels significant because it supports the question we explored in our recent Featured Article: an Aston Martin S model should feel more rewarding, not merely look faster on paper.
During my Thursday visit, I didn’t personally see the DBX S on the Aston Martin display, although it formed part of the official Goodwood programme. The other cars drew a steady flow of visitors, and it was revealing simply to stand back and listen.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Aston Martin Valkyrie, Goodwood FOS 2026
As mentioned in the introduction “Beautiful Astons”, “stunning cars” and “so nice to see a British brand here” were among the comments I heard more than once. There was also considerable admiration for the rear styling, although with the Vantage, Vanquish, Valhalla and Valkyrie nearby, it wasn’t always obvious which car had prompted the reaction.
That’s one of Goodwood’s real strengths. Specifications and technical explanations can tell us what’s changed, but seeing people encounter the cars in person reveals whether the design and presence still create an emotional response. From what I heard on Thursday, Aston Martin’s current range certainly does.
While the S models showed how Aston Martin is sharpening the cars it already builds, another familiar part of the marque’s identity was also back in the news this week: its long relationship with James Bond, and whether 007 will continue to drive an Aston Martin in the next film.
Why James Bond Still Matters to Aston Martin
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Global Bond Day 2018.
Goodwood showed how strongly Aston Martin’s current cars can connect with people face to face, but the marque’s reach has never depended on motor shows and race circuits alone. For more than six decades, James Bond has introduced Aston Martin to audiences who might otherwise never have encountered the name.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Global Bond Day 2018.
Regular readers may reasonably feel that we’ve returned to the Bond question a few times recently. That’s because the story continues to move in small but relevant stages as the next film develops and fresh comments appear in the media. We’re not suggesting there’s been a major new announcement each time; rather, we’re following an enduring Aston Martin relationship as new information adds to the picture.
The latest contribution came when Auto Express asked Adrian Hallmark whether Aston Martin still wanted to be involved with the franchise. His response made it clear that he doesn’t regard the association as something the company has outgrown. Hallmark sees Bond as a recurring global showcase for the marque, complementing Formula One, endurance racing and Aston Martin’s wider promotional activity.
The influence reaches across generations. Hallmark recalled meeting a 32-year-old Japanese customer who had purchased one of the ten Valkyrie LM cars and had also encouraged his father into the brand. When asked what first drew him towards Aston Martin, his answer was simply: Bond.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Global Bond Day 2018
It’s only one customer’s story, but it illustrates the extraordinary reach of the partnership. Even someone buying one of Aston Martin’s most modern, technologically ambitious and exclusive cars could trace their first awareness of the marque back to 007.
Hallmark also admitted that during his time at Bentley he’d been “wildly jealous” of Aston Martin’s Bond relationship, particularly as Ian Fleming’s original character drove Bentleys in the novels. That perhaps explains why he now views the association not merely as a piece of heritage, but as a continuing part of Aston Martin’s global identity.
Nothing has yet been confirmed about the cars that will appear in the next Bond film, and Aston Martin’s involvement shouldn’t be treated as guaranteed. Hallmark’s comments do, however, make one thing clear: if the opportunity is there and the partnership can be used well, Aston Martin still sees considerable value in it.
That feels like the right balance. Aston Martin shouldn’t need Bond to explain everything the company is today. Formula One, Valkyrie, Valhalla, its GT racing programmes and the new generation of road cars are building audiences of their own. But dismissing a relationship that continues to introduce people around the world to the marque would make little sense.
Bond remains part of Aston Martin’s story, not the whole story, but still an unusually powerful chapter.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Global Bond Day 2018
From one familiar Aston Martin association to a rather less familiar-looking prototype, the latest spy photographs suggest that an even more focused version of the Vantage may now be taking shape.
A More Focused Vantage Begins to Emerge
Bond may represent one of Aston Martin’s longest-running associations, but the latest pictures to appear online point towards something far more contemporary and considerably more aggressive, for the Vantage range.
A heavily disguised Vantage prototype has been photographed testing with a prominent rear wing, a deeper front splitter, more pronounced side skirts and substantial changes around the rear diffuser. I’m not able to reproduce the photographs within the Roundup, but I’ll provide a link to the original autoevolution report so readers can see the car and judge the changes for themselves.
The most noticeable development is the exhaust arrangement. An earlier version of the prototype attracted plenty of attention, including in a previous FTP Weekly Roundup because it appeared to have an extraordinary eight tailpipes. The latest car looks much closer to its intended form, with four exhaust outlets positioned centrally beneath the rear bumper.
That change may be about more than appearance. Moving the exhausts towards the centre potentially creates more freedom around the outer sections of the diffuser, where cleaner airflow could help the aerodynamic package work more effectively. Until Aston Martin explains the engineering, however, that remains an informed interpretation rather than a confirmed detail.
The large rear wing is impossible to miss, while the revised front and side treatments suggest this car is being developed with greater downforce and track use in mind. Comparisons with Aston Martin’s GT3 and GT4 racers are inevitable, although this remains a road-car prototype rather than a competition machine.
The report refers to the car as a future Vantage RS, while earlier coverage has also used the possible RS and AMR names. Aston Martin hasn’t confirmed either the designation or the final specification, so it’s better at this stage to think of it simply as a more focused Vantage under development.
More power from the familiar twin-turbocharged V8 seems likely, but the more interesting improvements may come through reduced weight, sharper chassis tuning and greater aerodynamic performance. The existing Vantage S already develops the standard car in a meaningful direction, so any model positioned above it will need to offer more than another modest increase in output.
We’ll continue following the prototype as it develops. For now, the latest photographs suggest Aston Martin isn’t finished expanding the Vantage family and that the next version could be the most uncompromising interpretation of the current car yet.
Away from future road cars, the Aston Martin Formula One Team has also been using the quieter side of its programme to show what happens behind the scenes at Silverstone, from driver preparation and simulator work to encouraging the next generation into science and engineering.
Beyond the Lap Time: People, Preparation and the Next Generation
The Vantage prototype hints at what Aston Martin may build next, while activity at the AMR Technology Campus has offered a reminder that the future of the marque also depends on the people being encouraged, trained and inspired today.
Image © Honda Motor Co. Ltd & Aston Martin Aramco. Used for editorial purposes.
Results on track will always dominate Formula One coverage, particularly during a season as difficult as this one has been for Aston Martin Aramco. But two recent team features have looked beyond the AMR26 and into the preparation, facilities and educational work taking place behind the scenes at Silverstone.
The second episode of Maaden’s Driven to Greatness series brought Olympic rower Husein Alireza to the Technology Campus, where Team Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa introduced him to the physical demands faced by Formula One drivers and mechanics.
The film begins in the composite shop, where Pedro explains that this is effectively where the Formula One car is born, before moving through the team gym, reaction and peripheral-vision training, neck-strength exercises and the simulator. It also includes a particularly interesting visit to the non-destructive testing department, where components are carefully inspected for tiny cracks before being cleared for use on the car. The message is straightforward: outright performance matters, but safety, precision and attention to detail come first.
There’s a good balance of technical insight and humour throughout, particularly as Husein discovers how physically demanding even the simulator can be. Pedro’s closing explanation is perhaps the most revealing part of the film: the facilities are impressive, but the real purpose of the visit was to show the mentality of the people working inside them a culture built around mastering individual crafts, constant improvement and the shared ambition to win.
I’ve included a link to the video so you can take the full tour for yourself;
The episode follows the opening instalment, released in June, which placed Husein alongside Fernando Alonso for a karting challenge, which if you haven’t seen that, I’ve placed it below. Taken together, the two films explore very different sides of elite driving: the instinctive reactions and race craft developed through karting, followed by the physical training, technology and attention to detail required at Formula One level.
The campus also welcomed students for the latest Make A Mark programme. Across two days, young people took part in activities involving climate science, artificial intelligence, coding, vehicle dynamics, engineering and three-dimensional printing. The second day brought together 80 students from eight secondary schools for discussions with Pedro, Maaden Chief Executive Bob Wilt, STEM Racing representatives and University of Warwick engineering student Zachary Parkinson.
There was also a practical STEM Racing challenge and an opportunity to see the thinking behind Lance Stroll’s special British Grand Prix helmet.
It would be easy to dismiss this kind of activity as partner content sitting away from the serious business of racing, but that would overlook its wider value. Formula One teams employ far more than drivers and aerodynamicists. Their performance depends on software developers, data analysts, mechanics, material specialists, designers, manufacturing experts and many other disciplines that young people may not initially associate with motorsport.
The AMR Technology Campus is intended to help Aston Martin compete at the front of Formula One. Opening parts of that world to students, athletes and future engineers also allows the team to show the scale of preparation and opportunity hidden behind two cars on a Sunday afternoon.
The AMR26 still has to deliver more on track, and no educational initiative changes the championship table. But these features reveal another side of the organisation: one built around preparation, continuous improvement and encouraging the next generation to believe that there may be a place for them within motorsport.
From those future engineers and drivers, we move to a much more immediate opportunity for today’s enthusiast, an unusually specified manual V8 Vantage that has earned its place as this week’s FTP Car of the Week.
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.
FTP Car of the Week - 2013 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 4.7 Manual
From the future engineers and drivers being encouraged at the AMR Technology Campus, we turn to an Aston Martin from a very different era, one that reminds us why the traditional front-engined, naturally aspirated Vantage remains so appealing.
Image © Fuel the Passion
This week’s FTP Car of the Week is a 2013 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 4.7 manual, currently offered by Chiltern Aston Centre at £47,850 with just 23,000 miles recorded.
What immediately sets the car apart is its colour and specification. It’s finished in Amethyst Red over an Obsidian full-leather interior, with Silver Stitching and Black Cherry carpeting. The supplying dealer describes it as a one-of-one specification, and whether or not the colour photographs ever quite capture its full depth, it certainly presents as something rather more distinctive than the more familiar silver, black or grey examples. The specification also includes Premium Audio, cruise control and an upgraded alarm, while the advertisement states that the car has a full service history and will be supplied with a warranty.
There’s an honesty to this generation of Vantage that continues to attract enthusiasts. The compact proportions, elegant shape, naturally aspirated 4.7-litre V8 and six-speed manual gearbox provide a combination that simply isn’t available in Aston Martin’s current range. It’s quick enough to feel special, but its appeal isn’t defined by chasing modern acceleration figures. Much of the enjoyment comes from the engine response, the mechanical gearshift and the sense that the driver remains central to the experience.
The price also places it in an interesting part of the market. It’s still a substantial purchase, but it’s now below the cost of many new premium performance cars that lack the same sense of occasion. That doesn’t automatically make it inexpensive to own, of course. Buying an Aston Martin well requires looking beyond the headline price and understanding the history, condition and likely future maintenance.
This is exactly where the FTP Aston Martin Buyers Guide for the VH-generation V8 and V12 Vantage can help. It isn’t a replacement for a professional pre-purchase inspection, nor does its inclusion suggest there’s anything wrong with this particular car. Instead, it gives prospective buyers a clearer idea of what to ask and what to examine before arranging a viewing.
Image © Fuel the Passion
On any similar Vantage, the quality of the service history matters as much as the number of stamps. The clutch and gearbox operation should be assessed carefully, along with the condition of the brakes, tyres, suspension, paintwork and underside. Electrical functions, door and boot struts, window operation and evidence of attentive long-term ownership are also worth checking. A proper inspection by an Aston Martin main dealer or recognised specialist remains one of the best investments a buyer can make.
This car’s specification, mileage and manual gearbox make it an appealing example on paper. The Amethyst Red finish gives it individuality, while the restrained interior combination avoids turning that rarity into novelty. It feels like a car chosen by someone who wanted something different, but still unmistakably Aston Martin. That makes it a worthy FTP Car of the Week, not because it’s the fastest, rarest or most expensive Aston Martin currently for sale, but because it captures so much of what made this generation of Vantage special.
From a distinctive Aston Martin that could become somebody’s next great ownership chapter, we now move into the FTP Update, and a week shaped by long journeys, scorching temperatures, the RAC Concours and an unexpected invitation to Goodwood.
FTP Update - From the RAC to Goodwood with Blackthorn Racing
From a Vantage that might become somebody else’s next ownership chapter, we return to the FTP Vantage and a week that took Fuel the Passion away from the editing desk and back out among the cars.
Image © Fuel the Passion. RAC Concours, Epsom 2026
Early in the week, I headed south and took my Dad to the RAC Concours at the Royal Automobile Club’s beautiful clubhouse, grounds and golf course. This was the second running of the event and, although the overall character remained familiar, there were several noticeable changes. The parking arrangements had evolved, the event felt a little larger, and the auction display on the upper terrace had expanded, with a lovely collection of cars that included several Aston Martins.
The weather was extraordinary, with temperatures well into the mid-thirties. It was certainly a week when finding a little shade was every bit as important as finding the next car to admire.
Image © Fuel the Passion. 1955 Aston Martin DB3S. RAC Concours, Epsom 2026.
One of the two cars that stayed with me most from the RAC Concours was this 1955 Aston Martin DB3S. Low, purposeful and beautifully proportioned, it looked every inch the competition car, yet there was still an elegance to it that made people stop and take in the details.
Image © Fuel the Passion. 1955 Aston Martin DB3S. RAC Concours, Epsom 2026.
The DB3S played an important part in establishing Aston Martin as a serious force in international sports-car racing, with works successes including the 1953 Goodwood Nine Hours and the RAC Tourist Trophy. Only 20 customer examples were subsequently built to works specification for private owners and competitors, making any opportunity to see one at close quarters feel very special.
This particular car had an especially interesting history. According to the concours display, it was shown at the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show, later achieved competition success of its own, and was eventually returned to road-going specification. Against the green bodywork, white racing stripe and exposed cockpit, the shape still looked wonderfully dramatic, a reminder of an era when Aston Martin’s road and racing identities were never very far apart.
Image © Fuel the Passion. 2018 Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation. RAC Concours, Epsom 2026.
The other Aston Martin that really caught my eye was part of the RM Sotheby’s auction display: a 2018 Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation. It’s tempting to describe it simply as a recreation, but “Continuation” is the more accurate term. These cars were built by Aston Martin using period-informed methods, specifications and craftsmanship to continue the story of the original DB4 GT rather than imitate it from a distance.
Image © Fuel the Passion. 2018 Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation. RAC Concours, Epsom 2026.
Finished in green with contrasting red-and-white stripes, this example looked absolutely stunning. The bonnet scoop, wider stance and beautifully resolved proportions gave it a purposeful competition presence, yet it still retained the elegance that makes the DB4 shape so enduring.
The auction estimate was £650,000 to £850,000, placing it firmly in rarefied territory, but seeing it at close quarters helped explain why these cars attract such attention. Alongside the DB3S, it formed a memorable pairing: one an original link to Aston Martin’s 1950s racing heritage, the other a modern continuation of that same performance-led spirit.
Image © Fuel the Passion, Further Aston Martins up for auction at RAC Concours, Epsom, 2026
As you can see, I took a camera and filmed some of the Aston Martins around the event, but I’m not planning to produce a full RAC Concours film this time. The footage may instead appear as a small series of Shorts, offering a flavour of the cars and surroundings without adding another major production to an already busy editing schedule.
The following day brought a very different experience at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Goodwood FOS 2026.
As I explained in the introduction, I hadn’t originally planned to attend Goodwood this year. That changed late last week when Blackthorn Racing very kindly invited me to join them as their guest on Thursday. As I was already in the south for the RAC Concours, it was an opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down.
A heartfelt thank you must go to Blackthorn Racing, and especially to Claude Bovet and Julien Draper, for the invitation and the access they arranged. It was a privilege simply to attend as their guest, but the welcome they extended to Fuel the Passion gave me a view of Goodwood I’d never experienced before. Their generosity with their time, introductions and access made the day extremely special, and it’s something I greatly appreciate.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3, Goodwood FOS 2026.
Blackthorn had brought their Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3, the same car we followed during the 24 Hours of Spa and subsequently covered in the FTP Weekly Roundup and Motorsport Hub. It arrived at Goodwood still carrying the marks of that demanding race, rather than being polished back into showroom condition. Seeing it there with its battle scars intact gave the car an honesty and presence that a pristine display example simply couldn’t match.
The Spa car has also become known well beyond the usual GT racing audience. As we featured in last weeks roundup and in the Motorsport Hub, footage of it returning to the pits with substantial front-end damage, a missing wheel and a small fire around the front splitter has now been watched millions of times online. If you haven’t seen that short clip, for convenience I’ve included it again below;
At Goodwood, that same car was preparing for a very different challenge: the famous hillclimb.
I interviewed Claude about what it meant to bring one of his team’s cars to the Festival of Speed. For someone who owns the team and races himself, seeing a Blackthorn Aston Martin invited to such a prestigious event was clearly a proud and emotional moment, another ambition realised as the team’s programme continues to grow.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Three times BTCC Winner, Gordon Shedden, Goodwood FOS 2026.
I also spoke with the professional driver entrusted with taking the Vantage GT3 up the hill: Gordon Shedden. Gordon is one of the most accomplished names in British touring car racing, having won the British Touring Car Championship three times, in 2012, 2015 and 2016. Although he was familiar with Goodwood and had driven the hill on several previous occasions, this was his first time behind the wheel of the Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Racing Vantage GT3.
Claude had already described Gordon to me as an excellent professional driver, and speaking with him before the run offered a useful insight into how he feels about taking such a car up the Goodwood FOS hill.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Three times BTCC Winner, Gordon Shedden getting ready for his run up the Hill, Goodwood FOS 2026.
Goodwood’s own coverage captured the Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 making its run up the famous hill, with Gordon Shedden behind the wheel.
This was only the second time Gordon had driven the car, so the run was understandably measured rather than an all-out attack. He built speed steadily, learning the Vantage GT3 and the way it responded on Goodwood’s narrow, unforgiving course. Even without being pushed to its limit, I thought the car looked absolutely sublime, low, purposeful and carrying every bit of the presence it has when racing.
As the weekend continues and Gordon becomes more familiar with the car, I’m sure the pace will build. For now, this first proper look at the Blackthorn Vantage climbing one of motorsport’s most iconic stretches of tarmac is well worth watching.
Click the image below and you’ll be taken directly to the moment the Vantage is preparing to leave the start line.
Image © Fuel the Passion. As I’m about to enter the Drivers Lounge. Goodwood FOS 2026.
Blackthorn also gave me access to the drivers’ lounge, one of those areas I’d often seen from the outside, watching drivers and familiar motorsport figures pass through tightly controlled security. On Thursday, thanks to Blackthorn, I was fortunate enough to experience it from the other side of the barriers.
I didn’t manage to film the Aston Martins climbing the hill, including the AMR25 Formula One car. In the end, the day became less about trying to capture everything and more about spending valuable time with Blackthorn Racing, speaking with the team and exploring possible future filming opportunities. Those conversations may lead to some particularly interesting behind-the-scenes FTP content as Blackthorn’s ambitious racing plans continue through 2026 and beyond. There’s still work to do before everything is finalised, but the relationship is developing in a genuinely exciting direction.
In relation to the footage of the Aston Martins going up the hill, we know that Goodwood or Sky Sports do excellent coverage. So at the time of writing this roundup, I’ve done some of the finding for you from the full Goodwood coverage from the first couple of days. So take your pick from the selection below;
🎥 If you click HERE, it will take you straight to the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante and then the Valhalla hurtling up the hill, followed by the Vantage S.
🎥 If you click HERE, it will take you straight to the Vanquish Volante, Valkyrie, then DB12 S hurtling up the Goodwood hill. The sound of that Valkyrie!
🎥 If you click HERE, although I didn’t see it whilst looking around Goodwood, a DBX S was there and it thrashed up the hill.
From an FTP perspective, my full story of the day, including the interviews, the Spa Écurie Écosse Blackthorn Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and some of that special access, will appear in a forthcoming Fuel the Passion video.
Goodwood Crosses the Atlantic
Goodwood also used this year’s Festival of Speed to announce an ambitious move across the Atlantic. The Goodwood Road Racing Club of America will launch in summer 2027, initially concentrating its activities in California and Nevada, with a programme of drives, tours, social gatherings and motorsport experiences planned for members.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Who says you can’t have fireworks during the day? Daytime firework display at Goodwood FOS 2026.
Goodwood’s first headline event outside the UK is then scheduled to take place at Willow Springs Raceway in 2028, followed by an annual Goodwood-style celebration of motorsport and car culture in America.
It’s important to be precise: Goodwood hasn’t announced an American edition of the Festival of Speed by name. Instead, it intends to carry the same blend of cars, people, spectacle, access and storytelling into a new US event. With Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and Richard Petty named as founding patrons, it’s certainly a significant undertaking, and one that American enthusiasts will be watching with considerable interest.
While Goodwood begins planning its journey across the Atlantic, mine was rather more immediate, a couple of hundred miles north, home in the FTP Vantage.
Image © Fuel the Passion. The FTP Vantage covered in a thin layer of Goodwood ‘dust’, baked in for around 8 hours at around 35 degrees!
So travelling up and down the UK this week, the FTP Vantage covered plenty of miles and made the long journeys something to enjoy rather than endure. In the intense heat, the air conditioning and ventilated seats proved invaluable, while the car drove beautifully throughout.
The sound of that twin-turbocharged V8, accompanied by the occasional pop and crackle during a gear change, was a welcome reminder that sometimes the journey really can be as memorable as the destination.
So, the editing schedule took another small knock, but it was difficult to begrudge it. The week brought time with my Dad, two very different motoring events, some generous new opportunities and another memorable chapter for Fuel the Passion.
Please do consider subscribing to the FTP YouTube channel to make sure you don’t miss the Goodwood film when it arrives. You can also subscribe to the Fuel the Passion website for advance email updates about forthcoming articles, films and releases.
After a week spent travelling, filming and meeting people who care deeply about Aston Martin, it feels right to pause for a moment and reflect on what tied all of it together.
Closing Reflection - When the Story Steps Off the Page
After a week spent moving between the RAC Concours, Goodwood Festival of Speed and several hundred miles behind the wheel of the FTP Vantage, the strongest impression is just how many different forms the Aston Martin story can take.
At the RAC, the DB3S and DB4 GT Continuation connected two generations of competition-led craftsmanship. One carried genuine history from the 1950s; the other showed how Aston Martin can revisit that spirit with extraordinary care and precision. Both were reminders that the marque’s appeal has never rested solely on speed or rarity, but on the way engineering, proportion and purpose come together.
Image © Fuel the Passion. Aston Martin Aramco F1 at Goodwood FOS 2026.
Goodwood then brought that story firmly into the present. Aston Martin’s display may have been modest beside some of the much larger manufacturer installations, but the cars still drew an unmistakably warm response.
From the latest S models and Vanquish to Valhalla, Valkyrie and the AMR25, people stopped, looked closely and spoke about the cars with real affection.
The most memorable part of the day, however, came through Blackthorn Racing.
To stand beside the Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Racing Vantage GT3, still carrying the scars of its 24 Hours of Spa campaign, and then speak with Claude Bovet and Gordon Shedden about taking it up the Goodwood hill gave FTP an unusually close view of a racing story we’ve followed throughout the season. Goodwood’s own footage of the Vantage GT3 and AMR25 runs means readers can still enjoy the action I wasn’t able to capture myself, while the forthcoming FTP film will focus more closely on the people, access and atmosphere surrounding the day.
Image © Fuel the Passion, Claude Bovet, Blackthorn Racing, Goodwood FOS 2026.
My sincere thanks again go to Blackthorn Racing, Claude Bovet and Julien Draper for the invitation and for making Fuel the Passion feel so welcome. Their generosity created an experience I wouldn’t normally have had, and I hope the resulting film reflects both the occasion and the ambition behind the team.
Elsewhere, Aston Martin’s week contained the familiar contrast between challenge and promise. Formula One remains difficult, with Hungary’s AMR26 upgrade now carrying considerable expectation. By comparison, Nicki Thiim’s historic DTM double, Valkyrie’s continuing development and the wider Vantage racing programme demonstrate that Aston Martin’s motorsport picture is considerably broader than one championship.
The newly released Road to Race film from Le Mans and the AMR Technology Campus video also reinforce a point that can easily be missed when attention settles only on results: racing is built by people. The drivers may be the most visible, but every finish, qualifying lap and development step relies on engineers, mechanics, technicians and support staff working together under immense pressure.
Image © Fuel the Passion, Blackthorn Racing, Goodwood FOS 2026.
At Goodwood, I had the chance to speak with two members of the Blackthorn Racing team who work as mechanics, part of the wider group responsible for preparing, maintaining and keeping the Vantage GT3 on the road. It was a small but valuable reminder that the people behind the car are every bit as important to the story as those driving it.
On the road-car side, Adrian Hallmark’s emerging plan feels pragmatic rather than dramatic. A new modular platform, measured electrification, greater efficiency and a carefully protected future for the V12 suggest that Aston Martin is trying to modernise without discarding the qualities that made people care about the marque in the first place. The forthcoming H1 financial results will provide another important indication of whether the business can support those ambitions, and we’ll return to them in detail when they’re published.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes. Thiim doughnut Celebrations, DTM 2026.
By the time the next Roundup arrives, we should know how Valkyrie and Vantage performed in São Paulo and Canada. The DTM is now firmly on the FTP Motorsport Hub radar, the AMR26’s Hungarian upgrade draws closer, and the Goodwood film joins an already full editing schedule.
For now, though, Issue 32 closes with gratitude: for time with my parents, for two very different motoring events, for the kindness shown by Blackthorn Racing, and for the chance to experience another week where Aston Martin’s past, present and future were all visible at once.
Thank you for reading, watching and continuing to support Fuel the Passion. 👍
Have a great week. See you on the next one! 👆
Kind regards,
Dan
Fuel the Passion
Where Every Drive Tells a Story
We’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts
One of the most enjoyable parts of producing the FTP Weekly Roundup is hearing what readers make of the stories we’ve covered. Fuel the Passion is built around a shared enthusiasm for Aston Martin, and your views, experiences and opinions are an important part of that.
We read every comment and always do our best to respond, so please let us know what stood out to you this week:
Of everything Aston Martin showed or achieved this week, from the S models at Goodwood to Nicki Thiim’s DTM victories and Valkyrie’s continued progress, which story stood out most to you, and why?
Do you think Aston Martin is right to delay full electrification, protect the V12 and use mild-hybrid technology as a bridge, or should it move more quickly towards electric cars?
Having seen how much racing depends on the mechanics, engineers and support teams behind the drivers, would you like FTP to feature more of the people working behind the scenes at teams such as Blackthorn Racing?
We’d genuinely love to hear what you think. Please write your comments in the box below 👇 ;
Still fancy a little more Aston Martin reading?
If you’ve reached the end of this week’s Roundup and still fancy exploring a little further, there’s plenty more to enjoy across the Fuel the Passion website.
You can head over to the FTP Motorsport Hub, where we’re continuing to build detailed race reports, result tables, classification updates and championship standings for Aston Martin’s racing programmes across the season.
There’s also the new FTP Aston Martin Buyers Guide section, which has now gone live with the first three guides: DB9, VH-generation V8 Vantage and DB11. More models will be added over time, with each guide designed to offer honest, enthusiast-focused guidance for anyone researching or dreaming about their next Aston Martin.
If you missed it earlier, our latest FTP Featured Article is now live too: Aston Martin and Le Mans: The Long Road Back to Victory. It looks at why Le Mans still means so much to Aston Martin, why the 1959 DBR1 victory remains the emotional benchmark, and why the modern Valkyrie Hypercar programme is such an important chapter in the story.
I’ll include the links below, so feel free to make yourself a coffee, settle in, and keep exploring.
