As with many established race series, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) has experienced periodic fluctuations in its popularity and commercial success, not to mention occasional technical and regulatory upheaval. Initially run to Group A regulations, the series enjoyed huge growth throughout the late-1980s and early 1990s, substantially as a result of significant manufacturer involvement.

Adoption of the more technically liberal Class 1 ruleset in 1993 prompted the development of spectacular, driver aid-focussed cars from Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo, and Opel, although the formula was not commercially sustainable, and the series imploded in 1996. However, it was revived under the DTM banner in 2000, with Mercedes-Benz, Audi and, Opel renewing hostilities in similarly specified, normally aspirated 4-litre V-8-powered behemoths.

The 2019 season marked a technical watershed for the DTM, as new regulations stipulated the use of 2-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engines. Crucially, these offered improved fuel efficiency and lower costs, and incorporated “push to pass” technology; drivers being able to deploy an additional 30 to 50 horsepower at the touch of a button.

The withdrawal of Mercedes-Benz at the end of 2018 momentarily left a manufacturer vacuum, which was promptly filled for 2019 by Aston Martin. Remarkably, in less than 100 days, an intense design and build programme masterminded by the legendary Mercedes-Benz-affiliated HWA Team yielded the Aston Martin Vantage DTM. Constructed around a carbon fibre monocoque chassis, and boasting some 650 horsepower from its newly compliant HWA/Aston Martin power unit, the car featured a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox, pushrod-operated suspension and carbon-fibre disc brakes.

In recruiting former HWA drivers Paul di Resta and Daniel Juncadella, the programme gained invaluable prior DTM experience; the Scot having won the title in 2010. Briton Jake Dennis and Austrian Ferdinand von Habsburg added further speed and youth to the squad, which remarkably completed all four cars in time for the first round of the Championship at Hockenheim in early May.

Chassis V38-063, the car offered here, was allocated to Juncadella for the entire season; the Spaniard finishing an encouraging 9th in the first race at Hockenheim. Norisring provided the season’s high point with a 6th-placed finish, while Assen and Brands Hatch yielded finishes of 7th and 8th respectively. In all, Juncadella would record seven top-10 results that season; his 14th place in the Championship representing the best finish by an Aston Martin.

Offered for sale directly from the former official Mercedes-Benz racing team, chassis V38-063 is accompanied by an extensive spares package and a complimentary two-day track familiarisation session with the team and its engineers, rendering this an unrepeatable opportunity to access such spectacular performance and technology for a mere fraction of the car’s original development cost. The winning bidder of this lot will not only buy a sensational race car, but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain an introduction to the machine that would be worthy of a professional racing driver.