Force of nature: Test driving the Aston Martin V12 Speedster

Whether motorsports icons Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori worried about the weather conditions when driving an Aston Martin to glory at Le Mans in 1959 is unclear. The pair claimed the famous victory — the first and only outright win for the marque in the history of the 24-hour race — in the open-roof DBR1.

At least the victorious DBR1 had a windscreen of sorts — unlike the stunning new V12 Speedster, which takes inspiration from the historic car. The breathtaking two-seater is, to date, the most radical design created by bespoke customisation service Q by Aston Martin at the company’s Gaydon Headquarters.

While 2021 has been a particularly wet year in the United Kingdom, I imagine any red-blooded driving enthusiast would be prepared to endure a downpour of biblical proportions to sit behind the wheel of the V12 Speedster, as I am at Silverstone today.

As I barrel across the Northamptonshire countryside, it’s lashing with rain and a flash of lightning only adds to the drama. The last thing on my mind, however, is the water dripping from my helmet on to the seats, as the roar from a scintillating 5.2-litre, twin-turbo engine is left in the wash behind me. Looking resplendent in optional DBR1 specification, the model I’m driving is decked out in Aston Martin’s trademark Racing Green livery, with white roundels on the bonnet and doors.

A limited-edition model of just 88 examples, the V12 Speedster references the aeronautical design of an F/A-18 fighter jet and Aston Martin’s rich racing history. This is perhaps the ultimate driver’s car, created for purists who aren’t bothered about having to don a helmet or destroy their well-coiffed hair at speeds of up to 186mph.

An engineering tour de force, the V12 Speedster has been crafted from carbon fibre and advanced materials to create a design masterpiece. It has what can only be described as the ‘wow’ factor. Whichever way you look at it — in profile, head on, from the rear or above — any onlooker would know this is a truly special car.

As Head of Engineering Drummond Jacoy explains: “For raw driving thrills the Speedster is unparalleled. The open element of the car adds a new dimension to the experience. It engages on every level, delivering a precise, involving driving experience, with agility and poise.”

Hand-built almost entirely of carbon fibre on a bespoke aluminium architecture, the lightest of lightweight Aston Martins feels incredibly nimble and responsive. The 0 to 62mph dash is dispatched in just 3.5 seconds, made all the more thrilling by an explosive rush of wind against my helmet. I’d recommend wearing the optional, full-face version that Aston Martin offers because a bee in the face at 70mph-plus really is a stinger. That said, I’m seated low in the cockpit, as in a Formula 1™ car, and most of the wind is channelled across the bonnet and over my head. I’m thankful for the powerful heater blasting warmth into the cabin, and a heated steering wheel and additional heaters are must-have options for less temperate climates.

The leather and carbon cabin is supplemented by 3D-printed rubber inserts, while the passenger glovebox is replaced with a removable, handmade leather bag. There’s also a decent boot in the rear for weekends away. There are no windscreen wipers, of course, while all-round visibility is exceptional with no pillars to disrupt the view. Driving the V12 Speedster is similar to riding a motorbike in that respect, although much more comfortable and practical.

Back at Silverstone, as I reluctantly step from the V12 Speedster, I’m surprised to find my clothing isn’t as soaked as I imagined. The streamlined design has done a fine job at speed. The V12 Speedster will always be the centre of attention. A showstopper in every sense, motoring really doesn’t get much purer than this.

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