On the eve of the V12 Vantage GT3 and V8 Vantage GT4’s final event as Aston Martin’s flagship customer GT products at Donington Park, the first sales of both models’ successors have been announced.

With customer interest in Aston Martin’s new Vantage GT3 and GT4s ahead of their debut in customer hands next year reportedly high, customer teams TF Sport and Optimum Motorsport have been confirmed as early customers, with both purchasing GT3 and GT4 cars to compaign next year, while current GT4 teams Academy Motorsport and Street Art will race two new GT4s apiece next year too.

Many orders, according to Aston Martin, have also been secured for the new Vantage GT3 by additional teams to compete in the British GT Championship and elsewhere across the globe in 2019.

Aston Martin states that the new GT3 model car is expected to race in the 2019 Blancpain GT Series, while discussions are ongoing with partners in the European, American and Asian markets. Further sales announcements are expected soon.

Aston Martin Racing president David King said: “The high level of interest we have received for the new generation of Aston Martin GT3 and GT4 cars is both encouraging and a testament to the legacy of the cars competing in this weekend’s British GT finale at Donington Park.

“Aston Martin strives to build race-winning cars that are easy to drive, robust, reliable, long-lasting and beautiful; as proven by the fact that the outgoing GT3 and GT4 cars are in contention for championship titles so many years after the Vantage’s introduction. The new car is already a marked step forward and it’s a tantalising prospect to imagine how it might perform next season.”

This news comes in the midst of the test programme for Aston Martin’s new cars. The GT3 testing programme in particular is a notable one, as according to factory driver Darren Turner, it’s set to be as extensive as the Vantage AMR GTE’s development programme prior to the start of the 2018/19 FIA WEC ‘Super Season’.

Customers have already been out testing the new GT3, with early reports of the feedback very positive.

The outgoing GT4 car meanwhile, is locked in the British GT title battle heading into the finale, Optimum Motorsport pairing of factory driver Jonny Adam and Flick Haigh holding a 27.5-point lead in the standings.

“My journey with Aston Martin really began with the V12 Vantage GT3,” Adam said. “In fact I was the first driver to shakedown the car back in 2011, and all of the success I have had in the British GT Championship has been with a car that has proved itself to be the gold standard among GT racing machinery.

“In all its derivatives the current Vantage has excelled and it took me to the greatest height of all at Le Mans in 2017. There’s a long way to go before the flag falls at Donington on Sunday, and a lot can happen, but myself and Flick would love to give the ‘old lady’ a send-off to be proud of.”