Aston Martin Vantage GT12 Goodwood Festival of Speed debut

The Aston Martin Vantage GT12 – which was the Vantage GT3 until Porsche got upset – will make its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this month.

In February, Aston Martin revealed a new V12 Vantage to slot between its road cars and track cars and proudly proclaimed it to be the Vantage GT3. But that was until Porsche complained.

Porsche maintained the GT3 moniker was theirs, but rather than challenge the notion that a badge that denotes a race series – and was used by Lotus before Porsche ever did – could be owned by Porsche, Aston Martin decided pragmatism was best and changed the name. So the car briefly know as the Vantage GT3 became the Vantage GT12.

Now, the Vantage GT12 is to make its UK public debut with an outing at the most appropriate show there is to showcase a car that’s fit for the road but swimming in track DNA – the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Just 100 of the GT12s are being built, and as all are already sold the Goodwood outing isn’t a sales pitch but an opportunity for car lovers to see an Aston Martin they’re highly unlikely to see on the road in the flesh, and in action.

The lightweight, aerodynamic 595bhp GT12 will be on display at the Moving Motor Show at Goodwood on Thursday 25 June, and will also be tackling Goodwood’s infamous 1.6 mile hillclimb, piloted by Aston’s boss – Andy Palmer.

Yet another reason – if you needed one – to get to Goodwood.