Aston Martin wants hypercar to lap faster than F1 cars

Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer says it wants the future Adrian Newey-designed hypercar to lap faster than a Formula One car at any grand prix venue.

The iconic brand revealed on Thursday that it was joining forces with Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Advanced Technologies in order to produce a ground-breaking road car with design genius Newey given carte blanche at the helm.

Codenamed Project ‘AM-RB 001’, the new machine will also benefit from the input of Aston Martin chief creative officer Marek Reichman.

“As we sit here today, the raison d'être that we've given the team is to be faster than an F1 car around Silverstone – or indeed any other F1 track,” Palmer is quoted as saying by ESPN F1.

“I am sure there are other cars that can go in straight lines quicker than this, but we don't make drag cars, we make cars you can use. That is the raison d'être we use.”

The report adds that less than 100 models of the hypercar are expected to be produced by late 2018, with the AM-RB 001 featuring a mid-engined installation though details are scarce at the moment.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is bullish about the project, as he believes it will serve as a showcase of what can be achieved when technical regulations allow for greater freedom.

“I think it showed with unrestricted aerodynamics what is possible,” he said. "I think that F1 has got scope to move the lap times considerably quicker. There is a step coming for 2017, we personally would like it to go further but we seem to be a lone voice in that. But F1 should be the ultimate.

“Taking unrestricted aerodynamics, this car will be seriously, seriously quick. And the initial indications we have had from it have generated more downforce than any car that we have ever produced.”

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