RACING COLOURS

Although you might assume that the decision to appoint the Aston Martin DBX to the position of Official Formula One Medical Car was a purely commercial one, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. As with everything in Formula One, there was, of course, a deal to be done, but it would be wrong to fail to acknowledge the characteristics that make the DBX a fantastic medical car in its own right.

It has, essentially, the ideal combination of speed and space, allowing the DBX to carry out its duties reliably and swiftly. Blessed with a powerful 4.0 litre Bi-Turbo V8 developing 542bhp and 700Nm torque alongside a 9-speed Mercedes-derived auto box, the DBX has the necessary performance to ferry its vital personnel to where they’re needed quickly and efficiently.

Moreover, 632 litres of boot space allow it to carry around all the paraphernalia needed for a Grand Prix Sunday: fire extinguishers, medical kits and a life-saving defibrillator fill the boot so that they are easily accessible if needed.

And don’t by any means think that driver Alan van der Merwe has it easy in the medical car – sure, he doesn’t have to lead a pack of frustrated F1 drivers like Bernd Maylander in the Aston Martin Vantage Safety Car, but keeping up with a gaggle of F1 cars, even at their slowest, is no mean feat.

The medical car is arguably the most important support vehicle at a Grand Prix. Often being the first to attend an accident, the role it performs is critical to the health and safety of the drivers, and, in the longer run, the continuity of the sport as a whole. When, for instance, Romain Grosjean had has fiery-epic in Bahrain in November 2020, it was the medical car that arrived at the scene within seconds to treat the injured driver. It does an admirable job.

Equipped with FIA approved racing bucket seats, six point harnesses, a complex marshalling system, and a smattering a TV-screens to facilitate the real-time monitoring of track conditions and sudden changes, the DBX medical car is the real deal.

It won’t shock you that our ‘Aston Martin Racing Green’ DBX forgoes this track-ready setup, exchanging its stripped-out cockpit for a leather-and-metal clad interior environment. That’s right – our gorgeous DBX is finished in the same luscious green as the famous medical car, utilising the same impressive engine and chassis setup but without the track preparation.

Open the door and you’re hit by that distinctive leathery scent that only Astons give off. Onyx black leather with subtle brogue detailing and gloss twill carbon fibre trim inlays ensure a sporty, luxurious, distinctive ambience. It feels expensive.

And the exterior is something else – a black exterior pack gives it an even meaner presence, with 22-inch gloss graphite alloy wheels painted in black completing the look, contrasting with the metallic green in such a way as to make the DBX look fast even when it’s standing still.

To traditional Aston fans, it might surprise you to hear that the DBX now accounts for over fifty-percent of Aston Martin’s global sales. They love it in Asia; it’s unsurprisingly popular in the States – they adore their SUV’s, and back home it’s starting to get noticed as well. We all know that Aston has struggled with their finances in the past, but let’s hope they continue to grow and develop – for the sake of Formula One if nothing else!

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