Aston Martin V12 Vantage to appear at Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage race car which swept to a stunning debut class victory in the 37th Nurburgring 24 hour race in May will compete in the Shelsley Walsh National Hill Climb Festival on 15/16 August 2009.

The near production standard V12 Vantage will make its UK competition debut at the historic hill climb course in Worcestershire, UK. In continuous use since 1905, Shelsley Walsh was the first purpose built motor sport venue in history and has continued to be at the heart of British motor sport ever since. Shelsley was founded and is still run today by The Midland Automobile Club and the annual hill climb attracts in excess of 200 competitors and some 30,000 spectators.

The hill climb course is 1,000 yards (914m) in length and no more than 12 feet (3.66m) wide at its narrowest points. It is notably steep, rising 328 feet (100m) over the length of the course making Shelsley a hill on which power is especially important.

The V12 Vantage will be driven by UK motoring journalists Richard Meaden – who formed part of the driver team that piloted the car to victory at the Nurburgring in May – and Matt Prior from Autocar magazine.

Aston Martin’s Head of Motorsport, David King said: “The brief but daunting challenge of the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb is a complete contrast to the Nurburgring 24 hour race where the V12 Vantage recently took class victory and as such we are not expecting to beat the hill climb specialists. However, it will be a privilege to give the car its UK competition debut at such a special and historic venue which is on the doorstep of our global headquarters.”

Practice day for the Shelsley Walsh National Hill Climb is on Saturday 15 August with the first runs of the competition taking place on Sunday 16 August from 9.30am.