Aston Martin Nimrod

The 24 Hours of le Mans

 

Nimrod Racing Automobiles (sometimes referred to as Aston Martin Nimrod) was a partnership founded in 1981 between racing driver and car dealer Robin Hamilton and chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda, Victor Gauntlett. The project was intended to build sports prototypes for the World Endurance Championship and IMSA GT Championship using Aston Martin V8 engines. Although Aston Martin did not own the project, they offered their support for the chance to see success for their name in motorsports without the heavy cost of running their own team.

Nimrod built three NRA/C2s for competition in 1982, with two being run by the works team while the third was sold to Dawnay Racing, a team owned by the then AMOC president Viscount Downe. The cars were capable of running both in the World Endurance Championship's Group C specification and IMSA GT's GTP specification.

Combining a production-based V8 engine from the V8 and V8 Vantage models, the engine was refined by Aston Martin Tickford to handle the increased output. Eric Broadley designed the chassis while his employer Lola Cars International built the tubs. Ray Mallock would later evolve the NRA/C2's design into a B-spec model for the 1983 season.

 

1982        
Spark S0567; Nimrod Aston Martin; 1982 24h Le Mans 7th; Mallock, Phillips, Salmon; RN32 SMTS; Nimrod Aston Martin NRA/C2; 1982 24h Le Mans 7th; Mallock, Phillips, Salmon; RN32 Spark S0568; Nimrod Aston Martin; 1982 24h Le Mans; Evans, Needell, Lees; RN31    
Spark S0567; Nimrod Aston Martin; 1982 24h Le Mans 7th; Mallock, Phillips, Salmon; RN32 SMTS; Nimrod Aston Martin NRA/C2; 1982 24h Le Mans 7th; Mallock, Phillips, Salmon; RN32 Spark S0568; Nimrod Aston Martin; 1982 24h Le Mans; Evans, Needell, Lees; RN31    
1983     1984  
Spark S0566; Nimrod Aston Martin; 1983 24h Le Mans DNF; Mallock, Salmon, Earle; RN39 Mini Racing; Aston Martin EMKA; 1983 24h Le Mans 17th; Needell, O'Rourke, Faure; RN41   Spark S0564; Nimrod Aston Martin; 1984 24h Le Mans DNF; Mallock & Olsen; RN31  
Spark S0566; Nimrod Aston Martin; 1983 24h Le Mans DNF; Mallock, Salmon, Earle; RN39 Mini Racing; Aston Martin EMKA; 1983 24h Le Mans 17th; Needell, O'Rourke, Faure; RN41   Spark S0564; Nimrod Aston Martin; 1984 24h Le Mans DNF; Mallock & Olsen; RN31  
1985        
Alezan; Cheetah Aston Martin G604; 1985 24h Le Mans DNF; de Dryver, Bourgoignie, Cooper; RN24        
Alezan; Cheetah Aston Martin G604; 1985 24h Le Mans DNF; de Dryver, Bourgoignie, Cooper; RN24        

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Last Edit: 12/06/2024   Page Added 08/05/2022