Aston Martin has started setting up its new vehicle dynamics test facility at Silverstone before it fully opens in December. The marque’s new development base will be housed in a pit area on the circuit complex and will give Aston the exclusive use of the small, 0.8-mile Stowe Circuit located within Silverstone’s main track.
Much of Aston Martin’s ride and handling development will continue to take place on UK roads, but access to the Silverstone circuit will mean that Aston Martin will no longer need to travel to European test tracks to undertake any high-speed assessments.
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Matt Becker, Aston Martin’s chief engineer (vehicle engineering), explains: ‘Silverstone is a fantastic place for us to practice the dark art of vehicle dynamics, the fine-tuning that takes place to turn a good car into a great car. Our talented team of engineers and our high-performance test drivers now have a racing circuit right outside the door.’
The new test base is part of Aston Martin’s wider ‘Second Century’ business strategy, an announcement that also detailed a new London-based office and the plan for its second manufacturing facility to build the DBX (Aston Martin’s first SUV) from next year.
The new Silverstone facility will be where Aston Martin’s next wave of new cars will be finished and honed, including the DBX, as well as the Rapide E and any future mid-engined sports cars which will all be put through their paces before they go on sale.
