Aston Martin Racing finishes fourth on V12 Vantage GT3 works swansong

The result marked the best finish by a British manufacturer in the event's 48-year history, and was also the highest place that a V12 normally aspirated engine has achieved in the race. Yet amid the celebrations, there was heartbreak for the British manufacturer after misfortune and extreme weather denied the team a podium finish on the 25.7km Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit with the seven-year old V12 Vantage GT3.

Maxime Martin, who shared #007 with former N24 class-winner Nicki Thiim, Marco Sorensen and three-time Le Mans winner Darren Turner, was running third when the race was stopped because of poor visibility and heavy rain with three and a half hours to go. After being put back a place for the restart, Max fought his way back into third but just couldn't hold on as heavy rain returned in the final laps.

"Coming in to the race I would have taken fourth position happily and to be fighting for the podium with a seven-year old car here against all the other manufacturers is an incredible achievement. It's a little frustrating, because I have finished second here twice and I've also finished fourth in the N24 so a third would have been nice," said Martin.