<< Prev Page 2 of 2 The two Nimrods debuted at the Silverstone 6 Hours, where they proved considerably overweight. A sixth place finish for the Downe car disguised the inherent issues with the car. Both cars then lined up for Le Mans, where Ray Mallock, Mike Salmon and Simon Phillips placed seventh after starting 23rd. The Nimrods made further appearances during the 1982 season at Spa Francorchamps and Silverstone where the Downe car finished eleventh and ninth respectively. In three outings, the 'works' car never reached the finish.
For the 1983 season, the two Nimrod Racing cars were shipped to North America in search of dollars in the lucrative IMSA championship. A fifth place finish in the Sebring 12 Hours was the best result of the two-car effort. Hamilton eventually ran out of money and both cars were sold to privateers and remained in North America. Nimrod's honours were defended in Europe by the Viscount Downe car, which had been developed considerably over the winter by Mallock. The best World Championship result was a seventh at Silverstone, while an engine issue ended the charge early at Le Mans.
A fifth car appeared in 1984, and this was shortly thereafter added to the Viscount Downe stable for a two-car effort. This had a disastrous end at Le Mans where one car crashed heavily, and the second could not avoid the debris and also crashed. In the massive crash driver John Sheldon was injured while one marshal was killed and a second seriously injured. In private hands, one of the two two ex-Nimrod Racing cars continued to be campaigned in North America.
Before the Nimrod operation folded, five complete cars had been built; the prototype and the four cars that were actually raced. One of the Viscount Downe cars was completely destroyed at Le Mans in 1984 but was rebuilt with a spare chassis and now resides in the Aston Martin Heritage museum. A sixth, all carbon-fibre chassis was also built but this was never turned into a complete car. << Prev Page 2 of 2
Ultimatecarpage.com
> Cars by brand
> Great Britain
> Aston Martin
Racing cars
> Group C / IMSA GTP
The two Nimrods debuted at the Silverstone 6 Hours, where they proved considerably overweight. A sixth place finish for the Downe car disguised the inherent issues with the car. Both cars then lined up for Le Mans, where Ray Mallock, Mike Salmon and Simon Phillips placed seventh after starting 23rd. The Nimrods made further appearances during the 1982 season at Spa Francorchamps and Silverstone where the Downe car finished eleventh and ninth respectively. In three outings, the 'works' car never reached the finish.