Le Mans Yesterday and Today: Aston Martin

Aston Martin, despite having only achieved one overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, holds an important place in the event's chronicles for its fierce battles with rivals like Ferrari, Jaguar, and Mercedes. Its debut at the Circuit de la Sarthe dates back to 1928, when the withdrawal of its two cars proved to be a valuable lesson. By 1931, Aston Martin claimed its first class win in the under-1500cc category. In 1935, the British manufacturer secured its first podium with the Ulster driven by Charles EC Martin and Charles Brackenbury.

The interruption of World War II brought Aston Martin back to racing only in 1948, following its acquisition by David Brown. Le Mans became a primary objective, as victory was essential to establish the brand. The DB2, personally named by the new owner, performed well in the GT category, winning its class in 1950 and securing third place overall in 1951. However, for Brown, only an outright victory would suffice.