See how Pursuit Racing restored the Aston Martin DBR9/001 — GT1 class-winning Le Mans race car — to museum-spec, period-correct condition.
July 21, 2026
Pursuit Racing has completed a full nut-and-bolt restoration of the Aston Martin DBR9/001 — one of the most successful GT1 race cars of the 2000s. Having run the car on behalf of a client across two seasons at prestigious events like Goodwood Members' Meeting, our workshop carried out a complete strip-down and recommission following a change of ownership, returning the car to its original period livery and factory specification.
In its maiden race, chassis 001 shocked the motorsport world by winning the GT1 class and finishing 4th overall, besting the heavily favoured Corvette C6.R team. The car continued its winning streak in May of that same year, taking first in class at the RAC Tourist Trophy with drivers Peter Kox and Pedro Lamy. It then took on Le Mans 24 Hours, debuting at the famous La Sarthe circuit, qualifying on pole and ultimately finishing in a highly respectable 3rd in class (9th overall) after late-race mechanical issues. An incredible opening season for an unproven car.
Given this car’s prominent history, our client took the decision to honour the car by undertaking a “museum-spec” recommission to bring the car back to its original period livery and specifications, with the goal of having every component, nut, and bolt sparkling clean and brand new.
What we did:
1. Complete strip-down to the bare chassis
2. Careful removal, dismantling and inspection of every component
3. Preparation of component parts for servicing and restoration
4. Chassis sent for paintwork and the roof and roll cage were refinished
5. Chassis repairs to preserve and maintain the original anodised finish
6. New heat shielding installed to provide better heat-management in the notoriously hot cockpit
7. Suspension stripped, crack-tested and refinished using Cerakote
8. Originally part numbers were also laser-etched back on to preserve the history
9. Wiring loom reinstalled
10. V12 engine sent to Prodrive for a complete rebuild
11. Gearbox restored and rebuilt
12. Brake calipers and master cylinders rebuilt and refitted
13. New disc bells and bobbins created and installed
14. Installed completely new oil, water, fuel and brake lines
15. Radiators and oil coolers ultrasonically cleaned and pressure tested before reinstalling, as well as the fuel cooler being remade from scratch
16. Cockpit was completely restored including; recommissioned pedal box, renewed seals, re-anodised components, steering column and gear-linkage crack-tested and refinished, new steering wheel, restored switch panel and dash – taking care to preserve the signature on the dash from David Brabham
17. Bulkhead and tunnel heat shielding were replaced
18. All under-bonnet pipework and fluid reservoirs were renewed and remarked with original part numbers
19. Front suspension reassembled and newly rebuilt engine was reinstalled
20. Bodywork, having been remade to match the exact period specifications and shape, had been painted and were then rehung on the car
21. Originally livery was then meticulously recreated and installed on the car
Preserving the history of one of the most decorated original GT1 cars from the 2000s – even down to all the original scrutineering stickers on the rear bulkhead - was a great honour and with this project now wrapped up, we’re excited to explore the next exciting challenge waiting for us in the workshop.
Other recent news:
