<< Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >> The first DBR2 was ready in time for the 1957 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it was fielded by the works team, together with a pair of DBR1s, for brothers Peter and Graham Whitehead. They ran well early in the race before a blocked breather prompted the gearbox to loose all its oil. It was later found that the elaborate fuel system required for the six separate carburettors had caused the problem. At the next outing, the first DBR2 faired even worse as an accident in practice prevented it from starting at Spa.
For the subsequent Silverstone International, Aston Martin had a second DBR2 ready. It was the first successful outing for the big Aston Martin as Roy Salvadori won the race outright and Noel Cunningham-Reid finished third. The second DBR2 was then shipped to the Bahamas for the annual Nassau Speed Weeks. Stirling Moss finished fourth in the Governor's Trophy, while Ruth Levy impressed in the first of the two Ladies Races, where she placed second overall. An accident in the second Ladies Race prevented further outings for the car.
At the start of the 1958 season, a 3-litre displacement was introduced for the World Championship events, which forced Aston Martin to focus most attention on the DBR1. Its bigger brother was not forgotten and received a slightly enlarged, 3.9 engine for the new year. The DBR2 engines were further increased to 4,164 cc halfway through the year. The ultimate development of the sizeable straight six was a new twin-plug head developed during the 1959 season. In this guise, the DBR2 engine was good for 315 bhp. << Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >>
Ultimatecarpage.com
> Cars by brand
> Great Britain
> Aston Martin
Racing cars
> Other Sportscars
The first DBR2 was ready in time for the 1957 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it was fielded by the works team, together with a pair of DBR1s, for brothers Peter and Graham Whitehead. They ran well early in the race before a blocked breather prompted the gearbox to loose all its oil. It was later found that the elaborate fuel system required for the six separate carburettors had caused the problem. At the next outing, the first DBR2 faired even worse as an accident in practice prevented it from starting at Spa.