Aston Martin V8 Vantage Cup one-make race series launched

Aston Martin has launched a Vantage Cup race car that will do battle in a new one-make race series.

The Aston Martin Vantage Cup race cars were unveiled by established DTM race team, R-Motorsport, for a race series that will commence in Europe in 2020 before being expanded to Asia in 2021.

Limited to a grid size of 25 cars, the Vantage Cup cars will each cost €250,000 ($A400,000) before tax and were developed and produced by R-Motorsport's parent company, Team AF Racing, which has been involved in the development of the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar.

R-Motorsport says it will also provide logistical and technical support for the competitors.

Despite no official involvement from Aston Martin, the one-maker Vantage race series has already received a public blessing from the British brand's CEO, Andy Palmer.

"We are delighted that our brand will continue to be so well represented in international racing by R-Motorsport.

"The Aston Martin Vantage Cup by R-Motorsport offers interested customers the ideal opportunity with which to further their motor racing ambitions."

R-Motorsport hopes the one-make Vantage Cup series will in the future become a support series for the DTM championship.

AF Racing, meanwhile, is rumoured to be plotting to campaign Aston Martin's new Valkyrie in the World Endurance Championship hypercar class next year alongside the official Aston Martin works team.