0:00:06 > 0:00:08ENGINE REVS
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Every single time you hear that "waaah" is fantastic!
0:00:15 > 0:00:17I'm mainly known for my love of baking,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19but I have another big passion...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26..Aston Martins.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30ENGINE REVS
0:00:30 > 0:00:32PAUL LAUGHS
0:00:32 > 0:00:35For over 100 years, this most British of companies
0:00:35 > 0:00:39has been making bespoke motors for the rich and famous.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42The pinnacle of what you can achieve, if you have an Aston -
0:00:42 > 0:00:44it's the height of where you can be.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Aston Martin cars remind me of a time
0:00:48 > 0:00:52when British design and craftsmanship were the envy of the world.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59This is the prettiest thing I've seen in my life.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Aston Martin have always built
0:01:00 > 0:01:03amazingly beautiful and fast racing cars.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07So, to get to grips with them,
0:01:07 > 0:01:11I'm training up to see if I can make the grade in their race team.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15It was exhilarating, it was scary, it was unbelievable.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17It's something else.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19TYRES SCREECH
0:01:19 > 0:01:21These fine-looking and powerful sports cars
0:01:21 > 0:01:24haven't always made money.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26'The business model is broken.'
0:01:26 > 0:01:30To my knowledge, it's been bankrupt at least seven times.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33However, the company has a secret weapon up its sleeve
0:01:33 > 0:01:35they hope will get them back on track.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39This is going to be the iconic Bond car, that every kid will go,
0:01:39 > 0:01:40"I love that car."
0:01:40 > 0:01:42TYRES SCREECH
0:01:55 > 0:01:58As a working-class lad growing up on the Wirral, I always aspired
0:01:58 > 0:02:01to one day owning an Aston Martin.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09I still pinch myself that I now actually have
0:02:09 > 0:02:12a second-hand Aston Martin DBS Volante.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17It's the convertible model of James Bond's car
0:02:17 > 0:02:20from Quantum Of Solace and Casino Royale,
0:02:20 > 0:02:21with a six-litre engine
0:02:21 > 0:02:25and a maximum speed of 191mph.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30It is the huge sense of theatre that you get in these cars.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34And you do get it in other cars but, for me, it is...
0:02:34 > 0:02:37It has to be Aston Martin.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46MUSIC: Ride A White Swan by T.Rex
0:02:48 > 0:02:50# Ride it on out Like a bird in the sky ways
0:02:50 > 0:02:53# Ride it on out like you were a... #
0:02:53 > 0:02:57I first fell in love with Aston Martin when I was five.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01I was given a Corgi DB5 from the James Bond film Goldfinger,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04and pretty soon it became my favourite toy.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11I remember having this car, and I would sit back in my bed
0:03:11 > 0:03:14and, you know you make mountains with your knees, sitting in bed?
0:03:14 > 0:03:16And I was driving up and down the hill in this.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19And, actually, you could actually park this outside your house as well,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22because all you have to do is close one eye...
0:03:22 > 0:03:25and then do that and then sit it outside your house.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27And you have a DB5 sitting outside the house.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29That's how you do it!
0:03:30 > 0:03:34All I ever wanted was a real Aston Martin, just like 007.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40Now I've finally got one,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44I wonder if maybe I love it a little bit too much.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48When I got my first Aston, I used to clean it every couple of days.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50To be brutally honest, every couple of hours.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52I think you look for little nicks as well,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55and if I see one, my heart misses a beat.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57In fact, I've found one.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59There it is, there. See?
0:03:59 > 0:04:02It's just sitting there, you know, winding me up.
0:04:02 > 0:04:03I know it's there now when I'm driving.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Because I know it is there, it just ruins the car. That's bad, isn't it?
0:04:07 > 0:04:11- INTERVIEWER:- It is slightly OCD. - It IS OCD. I've definitely got OCD.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14I've got it in the bakery, and now I've got it with a car.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21I'm obsessed with my Aston, but I'm not the only one.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28'A 1962 DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible...'
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Every year, Aston Martin hold an auction,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34where fans spend millions on vintage classics.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38I'm already going to start the bidding at £700,000.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43It is a bit like a fine-cut suit from Savile Row,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47it's a bit like a very, very intricate and beautiful
0:04:47 > 0:04:49sort of designed Swiss watch.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Royalty has it as well, it's all part of our heritage.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I've never owned anything like it in my life,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57that has given me such pleasure.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Are we all done
0:04:59 > 0:05:04at £1,350,000 only?
0:05:06 > 0:05:09- Congratulations. 1,350,000... - APPLAUSE
0:05:17 > 0:05:21I want to understand why so many people, including me,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25are so in love with this most quintessentially British of cars.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30It's been around for 102 years,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32but the brand itself, what does it stand for?
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Is it a supercar, is it a race car, is it only for people...
0:05:36 > 0:05:40celebrities, aristocracy, that buy Aston Martins?
0:05:40 > 0:05:42I want to find out from people in the know
0:05:42 > 0:05:44what they think of Aston Martin,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47and where the future of Aston Martin lies.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55The ultramodern facility Gaydon, in Warwickshire,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58is the new flashy headquarters of Aston Martin.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01However, they do still use some old-fashioned techniques.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07A bog-standard Aston is around £90,000,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11while a top-of-the-range model will set you back a cool 250,000.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Really, what we do at Aston Martin is we make a hi-tech car
0:06:15 > 0:06:19but with hand-finished leather and paintwork.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Wow, I mean, this is futuristic, to say the least.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24This is where your car was born, in this area.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32Aston Martin are notorious for taking their time when building their cars.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35They only make around 4,000 cars here a year,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38a far cry from the Nissan factory in Sunderland
0:06:38 > 0:06:40that makes about 500,000 in the same time.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46How long does it normally take to finish one car?
0:06:46 > 0:06:48To build a whole car is over 200 man hours.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Normally it's about four months from the day of placing the order,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54before we start building the car.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56And then add on another month to build the car,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- and then the shipping time on top of that.- Five months.- Five months.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- Six months with travel. - Call it six months, yeah, exactly.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Nissan can produce a new car in around 14 hours.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Aston can spend 50 just painting theirs.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16And are even more OCD than me checking for nicks.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21They employee paint inspectors like Manjit.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26As you can see, in the paint, you've got a little defect there.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- Yeah.- Yeah, I can see it. - Above the tape.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- I've found another one round here that you've missed.- Did I?- Yes.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Oh, thanks for showing me that. I'll have a look.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- There.- That's the one.- Did I get one? Did you miss it?- I did.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42THEY LAUGH
0:07:42 > 0:07:43- Very good.- Cheers, buddy.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Honorary paint inspector.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Over a million stitches
0:07:48 > 0:07:52can go into making the leather seats for some Astons.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53HE INHALES
0:07:53 > 0:07:55SHE LAUGHS
0:07:55 > 0:07:59- Lots of lovely leather. - It's the smell of the leather - I love that smell in a car.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- How long have you actually been doing this?- Ten years.- Ten years.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05- But altogether, about 40 years. - 40 years.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Yes, since I was an apprentice.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- I've actually got a DBS Volante. - Oh, yeah, I would have done...
0:08:10 > 0:08:15- You would have done that? - Oh, yes, definitely.- Do you know what, the stitching...is perfect.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- Oh, thank you very much. - There's not a mark on it.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- It's not ripped, it still looks good.- Oh, good.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- You certainly would have done it. - Oh, definitely.- Good job, thank you.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26- Thank you very much. - PAUL LAUGHS
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Sales of Aston Martins have gone down,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34from over 7,000 eight years ago
0:08:34 > 0:08:37to roughly 4,000 last year.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40They made a loss of around 25 million two years ago.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50In fact, over the course of their long history,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Aston Martin of are renowned for constantly being broke.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00The company first went bust in 1924.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07And later, in the '70s, the company was on the brink of total collapse.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09'All the firm's departmental managers
0:09:09 > 0:09:12'were called into the headquarters building late today
0:09:12 > 0:09:15'to be told that, despite yesterday's voluntary liquidation,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18'there's still a possibility of an 11th-hour rescue bid.'
0:09:18 > 0:09:22I mean, one little chap sent us his pocket money...to help.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Luckily, the company survived,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30and last year they hired a new CEO, Andy Palmer,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33poaching him from the mass car producer Nissan.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35I mean, it is a challenge,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38it's a big challenge for you to take this on board.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40How did that sit with you?
0:09:40 > 0:09:42In 102 years of the company history,
0:09:42 > 0:09:44I think there are probably two years
0:09:44 > 0:09:47in which the company has actually made any money.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50To my knowledge, it's been bankrupt at least seven times,
0:09:50 > 0:09:56and the model, the business model of the company, is challenging, broken.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58And we've got to change it.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02So my mandate is essentially to turn this into a proper business.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04A company that is sustainable, profitable
0:10:04 > 0:10:07and something that the Great British public
0:10:07 > 0:10:08can be really, really proud of.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Andy's plan to boost sales is to widen the customer base
0:10:14 > 0:10:18with new types of car, such as the first-ever crossover,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22called the DBX, aimed at the family market.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27This is the concept car, and it's expected to be on the road in 2020.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- It's a DB9, it's been raised two foot.- Yes, exactly. - That's what it looks like.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36In its final interpretation, it'll be a four-door, to make sure you've got space.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38People do need to put their family in the back,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41so there needs to be space in the rear, space in the trunk.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43But that's exactly what I'm trying to create.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47It's a raised-up sports car, four-by-four capability.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49- It is four-by-four?- Yes.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51In this interpretation, it's also electric,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53just to show that we can do that as well.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- So these wheels are massive, these are colossal.- They are, they are.
0:10:57 > 0:10:5922 inches.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02'The DBX has caused uproar amongst some fans and critics,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06"who say it's selling out Aston Martin's sports-car principles.'
0:11:07 > 0:11:11- Has this caused any backlash when this was released?- Yes, it has.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15But, you know, for those die-hard Aston fans - and I love them -
0:11:15 > 0:11:19this car, if you will, is basically funding the development
0:11:19 > 0:11:21of those beautiful sports cars.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26'Andy Palmer is the latest in a long line of Aston Martin bosses
0:11:26 > 0:11:29'who've struggled to square their passion for fast cars
0:11:29 > 0:11:30'with the need to balance the books.'
0:11:37 > 0:11:41The original founders of the company struggled in the same way.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Back in 1913, car fanatic Lionel Martin
0:11:46 > 0:11:49joined forces with engineer Robert Bamford.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54The company was named by putting Lionel's surname together
0:11:54 > 0:11:58with a famous racing site called Aston Hill.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02Here, wealthy young men would compete in hill-climb races,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04all the rage at the time.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09This happy-go-lucky age of the company's first owners
0:12:09 > 0:12:10has been documented
0:12:10 > 0:12:13at the Aston Martin Heritage Trust Museum in Oxfordshire.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17What have we got here, then?
0:12:17 > 0:12:23This is A3, this is the oldest existing Aston in the world.
0:12:23 > 0:12:24This is the third prototype
0:12:24 > 0:12:27that was built by Bamford and Martin.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29And the first two, Coal Scuttle and Bunny,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33we know have long been broken up and sold for scrap.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36I think one of them sold for £50 in scrap.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- You're kidding me! When was that? - In the '60s.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44'A trustee spotted the A3 in an auction ten years ago
0:12:44 > 0:12:46'and kindly donated it to the museum.'
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- How much did he pay for it in the end?- 15,000.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54PAUL LAUGHS
0:12:54 > 0:12:55What's that worth now?
0:12:55 > 0:12:58It was insured for 25 million.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00Uh!
0:13:00 > 0:13:0225 million quid.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10'Donna takes me upstairs to the archive library
0:13:10 > 0:13:13'to meet a serious Aston fan, Mark,
0:13:13 > 0:13:18'and show off another prize treasure, Lionel Martin's very own scrapbook.'
0:13:20 > 0:13:25'He met Robert Bamford in 1912 at their local cycle club in Bath,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29'where they decided to put engines on wheels and become gentlemen racers.'
0:13:30 > 0:13:34So to start this business, who had the money in these two?
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Lionel brought the money, Bamford brought the brains,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39he was very much the engineer of the business.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- So this was like a rich man's toy, really?- Yeah.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46These cars were maybe £8000 or £800 in the 1920s.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Today, equivalent - close to £1 million.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51The only people I could see buying them would have been...
0:13:51 > 0:13:53gentlemen, money...
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Extremely wealthy gentleman at the time.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59The cars were so expensive
0:13:59 > 0:14:02that Bamford and Martin only ever made 61 of them
0:14:02 > 0:14:04and, sliding into bankruptcy,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08they were forced to sell the company in 1924.
0:14:08 > 0:14:09And it wasn't about making money,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11it was about the passion for winning
0:14:11 > 0:14:13and the competitive nature of Lionel Martin.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14It really wasn't about making money.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18In fact, Aston Martin really hasn't been about making money for many years,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20because they haven't made any money.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24The first in a long line of bosses lasted a decade in charge
0:14:24 > 0:14:28and gave birth to a brand name that has stood the test of time.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33What has made Aston Martin last 102 years?
0:14:33 > 0:14:36I think it's because of the exclusivity of the brand.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39You very rarely see Aston Martins on the road,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42and when you do, everybody looks, and looks with respect.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46If you've got an Aston Martin, the chances are your house is going to be quite nice as well.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49You're going to have nice things, everything top of the line.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- Wouldn't you?- Do you think that makes us snobs?- It does.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- Yeah. I think, unfortunately, it does.- I don't think I can be.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- I don't think I can class myself as a snob.- No.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Because I'm so common.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03- Because you're from up north.- Yes!
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- THEY LAUGH - No offence.- None taken.- Sorry.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08THEY LAUGH
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Mark wants me to experience what being a gentleman racer
0:15:16 > 0:15:19from the first era of Aston Martin was all about,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22so he takes me to the place where it all began.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27This is Aston Hill, where it all started in 1914,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31where Lionel Martin raced a Singer car up here that he'd modified.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Thousands of people would line the side of this track
0:15:33 > 0:15:38and come from miles away to see this new event called motorsport.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40And these cars would scream up the hill
0:15:40 > 0:15:43and drift off the gravel track, killing many people sometimes.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47It was a very dangerous game. But it was the Formula 1 of the day.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Mark is the proud owner of an original Bamford and Martin car
0:15:55 > 0:15:59that actually raced up Aston Hill. It's called Cloverleaf.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05This little beauty was built in 1923...
0:16:05 > 0:16:08had a top speed of 77mph...
0:16:08 > 0:16:12and is the second-oldest production Aston in existence in the world.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17- Come on, then.- Right, how do you start this?- There's a foot pedal.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20ENGINE STARTS
0:16:20 > 0:16:24He's offered to let me drive it up the famous hill.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28- No indicators.- Of course not.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31No seat belts. No nothing.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43'I'm getting a real sense of why Lionel Martin fell in love
0:16:43 > 0:16:46'with hill-climb racing. I'm hooked.'
0:16:47 > 0:16:52- Oh, that's marvellous. - It's got a bit of character to it, hasn't it?- Hasn't it? Yeah.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- These aren't the best brakes in the world!- Yeah, they're useless.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- PAUL LAUGHS - What are you in?
0:16:59 > 0:17:02- You might want to go straight into first, if you want to.- I've got it.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06- Oh!- You've stalled it.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07Good luck. Start it.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09ENGINE STARTS
0:17:09 > 0:17:12- Come on, baby. - Oh, yeah, yeah.- Come on.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15- Nice one!- There's the fella. - Well done! That's brilliant!
0:17:26 > 0:17:28I now know what it feels like,
0:17:28 > 0:17:34how the gentleman racers actually drove this car up the hill. Loved it.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36- Thank you.- My pleasure.- Thank you.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Cloverleaf was a cracking racing car, but I tell you what,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43it wasn't designed as a comfortable road car.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49It wasn't until decades later that speed and luxury came together
0:17:49 > 0:17:52to make Aston Martin the brand we know today.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57'What makes a man part with £7,000,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00'the price of a small family house or a medium-sized yacht,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02'on a mere motorcar?
0:18:02 > 0:18:05'Mainly it's a question of luxury, of prestige, of comfort,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09'of owning one of the best cars in the world, regardless of price.'
0:18:09 > 0:18:14In 1947, David Brown, a wealthy engineer and entrepreneur,
0:18:14 > 0:18:16bought the company for £20,500,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19and soon started producing grand tourers,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22road cars that can travel long distances at high speed
0:18:22 > 0:18:24but in comfort and style.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29I am trying to produce the best and safest
0:18:29 > 0:18:33high-speed, luxury carriage in the world, I suppose.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Using his initials, DB, to name them,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39David Brown produced a string of iconic cars.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Aston Martin like to see what their road cars are capable of
0:18:49 > 0:18:54by entering them in a type of racing called grand tourer, or GT racing,
0:18:54 > 0:18:59where, unlike Formula 1, the cars competing are mostly road-legal.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03For a couple of months now, I've been driving simulators
0:19:03 > 0:19:07and getting taught how to race by the Beechdean Aston Martin race team.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14'I've really got a bug for it.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18'I love my motorbikes, I love going fast on bikes, cars.'
0:19:18 > 0:19:23And for me, I'm on the bottom rung of a massive ladder, but I love it.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27I want to understand just what these cars can do,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29by pushing them to the max.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32'It is scary, racing -
0:19:32 > 0:19:34'the speed you can go round some of these corners...'
0:19:34 > 0:19:37It's about pushing it and seeing how fast the car can do
0:19:37 > 0:19:40and how fast you're prepared to go.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46The aim for me is to get my National A competition licence
0:19:46 > 0:19:50by completing six GT races without a hitch.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53This would allow me to compete in the big competitions
0:19:53 > 0:19:56and head to the most famous race venue in the world,
0:19:56 > 0:19:57Le Mans in France.
0:19:59 > 0:20:00All right, Andrew?
0:20:00 > 0:20:01'I've been taken under the wing
0:20:01 > 0:20:05'of the team's owner, and racing driver, Andrew Howard.'
0:20:05 > 0:20:06It's a massive challenge,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09if anyone thinks they can just jump in a race car and do it.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10But it is massively physically hard.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13I mean, we're doing 1,000 calories an hour.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Average heartbeat 175 for an hour.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19You know, it's not something you can just turn up, have a go and go home,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21it's something that you have to train for
0:20:21 > 0:20:24and it's something that you have to practise for.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36'After months of practice, today is my first-ever race,
0:20:36 > 0:20:38'and it couldn't be harder.'
0:20:43 > 0:20:45'I'm at the famous Silverstone circuit,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47'and the conditions are atrocious.'
0:20:51 > 0:20:54'Before the main race, all drivers do a qualifying race,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56'but disaster strikes.'
0:20:56 > 0:21:00'There's an horrific crash and the driver is airlifted to hospital.'
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Yeah, that's quite worrying, there. I hope he's all right.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11I mean, racing is dangerous, you know.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14When you see that, it does make you gulp.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23'The boys from my team prepare me for my first-ever race.'
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Nervous.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30And excited.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36I just want to get in the car now and...crack on with it.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Wish me luck.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45'I'm sharing the race with Andrew,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48'who pulls in halfway through and lets me take over.'
0:21:50 > 0:21:52'My car is a V8 Vantage.'
0:21:54 > 0:21:57'It can go nought to 60 in just over four seconds.'
0:22:03 > 0:22:07'The aim of the race is to complete the most laps in 45 minutes.'
0:22:13 > 0:22:15'I'm going over 160mph.'
0:22:16 > 0:22:18'I start overtaking other cars.'
0:22:22 > 0:22:26To get points towards my licence, I just need to finish,
0:22:26 > 0:22:28'but my aim is to be in the top ten.'
0:22:28 > 0:22:30How's he doing, guys?
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- Yeah, it's looking good. - Good lap.- Yep, last lap.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41'This is our chequered flag.'
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- That's a brilliant class.- Yeah. Brilliant. Absolutely excellent.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57That was really tricky.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00The conditions were greasy, then wet,
0:23:00 > 0:23:01then greasy, then wet.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05It was really tricky, but I did enjoy it. I did enjoy it.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09Having a bit of a battle with a couple of cars, but it's great fun.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10Cup of tea, I think.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Good effort. That is bloody brilliant! That is bloody brilliant.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16'One race down, five to go.'
0:23:24 > 0:23:28'GT Racing is helping me understand what a grand tourer really is -
0:23:28 > 0:23:30'power and beauty combined.'
0:23:31 > 0:23:36'This idea is encapsulated in one car more than any other.'
0:23:36 > 0:23:39'A James Bond Aston Martin DB5.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42'Equipped for the amazing exploits of Secret Service agent 007,
0:23:42 > 0:23:44'the car features the radiotelephone,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46'an electrically operated radar scanner,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48'here on the rear-vision mirror. Safety devices include
0:23:48 > 0:23:51'extendable overriders, for ramming purposes,
0:23:51 > 0:23:53'and an ejector seat for unwanted passengers.'
0:23:55 > 0:24:00'As a child, I was swept up by the Goldfinger Aston Martin phenomenon.'
0:24:01 > 0:24:05'I never imagined a car could do such amazing tricks as this one.'
0:24:07 > 0:24:08VILLAIN YELLS
0:24:09 > 0:24:12'For me, like millions of other kids,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16'Goldfinger was all about Sean Connery - and his DB5.'
0:24:25 > 0:24:27'The Corgi model of the Goldfinger DB5
0:24:27 > 0:24:31'went on to become one of the bestselling toy cars of all time,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34'selling an estimated 4 million models.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40'This incredible connection between Aston Martin and James Bond
0:24:40 > 0:24:43'carried on after Goldfinger, with different models of Aston
0:24:43 > 0:24:45'appearing in 11 Bond films.'
0:24:47 > 0:24:48'I want to find out more
0:24:48 > 0:24:52'about this relationship between Aston Martin and Bond,
0:24:52 > 0:24:54'so I'm off to see a 007 car exhibition.'
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- Michael.- Paul. - Absolute pleasure to meet you.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09'I'm meeting a real movie legend -
0:25:09 > 0:25:13'the producer and screenwriter of many James Bond films.'
0:25:15 > 0:25:18So, this is the Aston Martin DBS,
0:25:18 > 0:25:22which we used in the Quantum Of Solace, in the opening sequence.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27'An unprecedented five Astons were destroyed
0:25:27 > 0:25:32'in this incredible high-speed car chase around Lake Garda in Italy.'
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- So, Paul, you have one of these, is that right?- I do have one of these.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- I have a DBS soft top. I have the convertible version.- Yeah.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43- Same colour.- And is it a little better-looking than this?
0:25:43 > 0:25:46To be honest, it is a little bit better-looking than this!
0:25:46 > 0:25:48But you've been driving in London traffic.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50I imagine you'll have a few bangs.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52It feels like that, the way I was driving here today.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54The traffic was a nightmare.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58Now, this, obviously, is such a fantastic car.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02This is iconic. Die Another Day, the Vanquish on the ice.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03But those missiles - oh, come on!
0:26:03 > 0:26:06This was the most exotic car we ever had.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11'Bond's Aston was converted to a four-wheel drive
0:26:11 > 0:26:15'for this thrilling car chase against the fully tooled-up Jaguar XKR
0:26:15 > 0:26:17'across a frozen lake in Iceland.'
0:26:23 > 0:26:26So, this is the Casino Royale DBS.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29- It is.- This is the famous crash.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36'Many consider this the greatest Aston Martin stunt of all.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38'The car turned over seven times,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40'creating a new world record for flips.'
0:26:46 > 0:26:49There's been so many different cars
0:26:49 > 0:26:51throughout the whole of the Bond series.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55This inextricable link between...
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Bond and Aston Martin, where did that come about?
0:26:58 > 0:27:02It was a Fleming...car.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06In the Fleming books, Fleming always wanted, you know, British things
0:27:06 > 0:27:08that were handmade, that were reliable,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11that Bond would bet his life on.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17'I love all these Astons,
0:27:17 > 0:27:21'but there's one car here that holds a special place in my heart.'
0:27:24 > 0:27:27So, this is the DB5.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30This is the classic one.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Do you think this car has become almost as famous as Bond himself?
0:27:33 > 0:27:37I think so. People say it's the most famous car in the world.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Is this the original one from Goldfinger, then?
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- This is original from GoldenEye. - GoldenEye. Oh, right.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Which is...a few years later!
0:27:44 > 0:27:46So, the car that I have, with all the gadgets,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49with the bulletproof at the back, the ejector seat - this is not the car.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51What happened to that car?
0:27:51 > 0:27:53The car that was used in Goldfinger has disappeared.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57- The one with all the gadgets was stolen.- Is gone?- Gone.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59- It's disappeared. We don't know where it is.- That's so sad.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02It must be somewhere. Someone must know where this car is.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Well, I hope so. Hopefully find it one day.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08'It's such a shame that the most famous car in the world
0:28:08 > 0:28:10'may never be seen again.'
0:28:19 > 0:28:23'The Goldfinger DB5 was made at the old Aston Martin factory
0:28:23 > 0:28:25'based in Newport Pagnell.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28'All the cars here were handmade.'
0:28:29 > 0:28:31'Aston Martins have an enormous labour force
0:28:31 > 0:28:34'compared with the number of cars they produce.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39'Since they're nearly all skilled craftsmen, the wages bill is high.'
0:28:39 > 0:28:40'I'm heading there to see
0:28:40 > 0:28:43'if some of these traditional skills are still there.'
0:28:44 > 0:28:48It's where, basically, the heart of Aston lies.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51This is the place where, really, it all started for Aston.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Ah-ha. Aston Martin.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00Ooh, look at those toys! Beautiful.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11'In 2007, the Newport Pagnell factory stopped making cars.'
0:29:13 > 0:29:16'And now they just service them and restore vintage ones.'
0:29:18 > 0:29:21And this just looks like something out of the '50s and '60s.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23Absolutely right. I mean, this is very much
0:29:23 > 0:29:26what Aston Martin would have looked like in 1964.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29'The aluminium panels are carefully shaped
0:29:29 > 0:29:31'by methods which put cost and speed
0:29:31 > 0:29:33'a long way down the list of priorities.'
0:29:35 > 0:29:37'They don't make DB5s here any more,
0:29:37 > 0:29:41'but they still use the old-fashioned tools to restore vintage ones.'
0:29:44 > 0:29:47- So, the technique hasn't changed. - No, the exact same techniques.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49In fact, yeah, most of the equipment in here is as it would have been
0:29:49 > 0:29:53- 50, 60 years ago. - So what would that be used for?
0:29:53 > 0:29:56This is going to be the front section of a DB5.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59This is why they cost what they do, because they're handmade cars.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02And there's a bit of someone's character in every panel.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04So, if you have two guys working on each side of the car,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07each side will be always slightly different.
0:30:07 > 0:30:08How long would you take doing this?
0:30:08 > 0:30:12A complete front end for a DB5 is around 150 hours.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15- And the whole process is...? - 18 months to two years.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18I couldn't be without the car for that long.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20I'd have to be in here every day.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22'In its entire 52-year history,
0:30:22 > 0:30:27'Newport Pagnell made only 13,300 cars.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29'A modern assembly line like Ford's
0:30:29 > 0:30:31'can make that number in a single week.'
0:30:39 > 0:30:43'To finish my tour, Paul takes me to the heritage centre.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46'This is where the finest selection of vintage Astons from each decade
0:30:46 > 0:30:48'are kept on display.'
0:30:48 > 0:30:51It's strange seeing them away from mechanics' side of things.
0:30:51 > 0:30:52Now it's in a proper show room
0:30:52 > 0:30:55- and you start to get a feel for what the car is, you know?- Yup.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Now, that is just...
0:30:57 > 0:31:01DBC, it's a DB6 Mark II, Vantage.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Only 425 were made.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05So, how much is this?
0:31:05 > 0:31:08- This one is £750,000.- 750?
0:31:08 > 0:31:12- Why have you got this one covered up? - Let me reveal this to you.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20HE CHUCKLES
0:31:20 > 0:31:22My mouth's gone dry.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27That's just the prettiest thing I've seen in my whole life.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32'As there were only 1,023 DB5s ever made,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36'each one now commands a hefty price tag.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39'This restored model has now been updated
0:31:39 > 0:31:41'with air conditioning, and even has a SatNav.'
0:31:41 > 0:31:46So, this is a fully restored Aston Martin DB5 in silver birch.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- This is the same as my model. - This is the same as your model.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Oh, my word.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58It's quite an emotional moment...for me!
0:31:58 > 0:32:00How much is this one?
0:32:00 > 0:32:05You'd have to spend just a shade over £1 million to own this car.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I would sell... How many kidneys have I got?
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Would you like to take the car for a spin?
0:32:16 > 0:32:17Uh...
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Uh, yes. I would love that.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23The keys, sir.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25PAUL CHUCKLES
0:32:25 > 0:32:26Thank you!
0:32:37 > 0:32:39'I can't quite believe
0:32:39 > 0:32:41'I'm actually driving my childhood hero.'
0:32:45 > 0:32:48This is incredible.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50I feel like a king.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52I feel like a little boy, to be honest.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57You can feel the car through the steering wheel.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59The seats are really comfortable.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01You can feel the gearbox,
0:33:01 > 0:33:03and that little vibration that comes through
0:33:03 > 0:33:05to tell you that the engine's running.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08And it drives beautifully.
0:33:08 > 0:33:09And it hasn't let me down.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12You're always worried about meeting your heroes, you know?
0:33:12 > 0:33:13It just doesn't let you down.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16I feel a little bit like Bond now, in the DB5.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19Sean Connery - eat your heart out.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24'I find it hard to believe the DB5
0:33:24 > 0:33:27'will ever be usurped as the ultimate Bond car.'
0:33:34 > 0:33:36'But back at Aston Martin headquarters,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38'there's a man who's going to try.'
0:33:39 > 0:33:41'Design director Marek Reichman
0:33:41 > 0:33:45'is designing the new car for the latest Bond film, Spectre.'
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Nice to meet you. Wow. This is your home.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51Looking round here, for me, is like a toy shop.
0:33:51 > 0:33:52'And I've been invited in
0:33:52 > 0:33:56'to have a look at the designs of the new DB10.'
0:33:56 > 0:33:59That there, now that looks like a Bond car.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02You can almost see Daniel's face sitting in there.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04That is a beautiful car.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Is this the future of Aston? Is this the way you're thinking now?
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Because these aren't going to be sold on the road, are they?
0:34:10 > 0:34:11Only ten cars, purely for Bond.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13And it is... Yeah, it's an indication
0:34:13 > 0:34:15of where we're going to start to push things
0:34:15 > 0:34:18in terms of the feel of a hunter, a predator.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20Something which is prowling, is powerful.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23And you start to see the predatory nature of the car through here,
0:34:23 > 0:34:25it's a proper shark.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28And you want this car to take over
0:34:28 > 0:34:29from the Goldfinger DB5?
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Absolutely. So...
0:34:32 > 0:34:35the last century, you know, that was all about DB5.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37As we move forward, the next century -
0:34:37 > 0:34:40so our second-century plan, this is the icon.
0:34:40 > 0:34:41- The DB10.- DB10.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Well, if you're going up in fives,
0:34:43 > 0:34:46I'm really looking forward to the DB15.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52'All of the DB10S are currently being used
0:34:52 > 0:34:55'by a certain James Bond on the set of the new film.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58'But Marek's promised me I can have a go when filming ends.
0:34:58 > 0:34:59'I can't wait!'
0:35:13 > 0:35:15'Two months on, and I've now successfully completed
0:35:15 > 0:35:18'five races for the GT4 race team.'
0:35:19 > 0:35:22'Today, I'm hoping to get my upgraded racecar licence
0:35:22 > 0:35:24'by completing the sixth.'
0:35:34 > 0:35:37'My last race is at Brands Hatch.'
0:35:38 > 0:35:42'And halfway round, I get sideswiped - at around 100mph.'
0:35:48 > 0:35:51'I carry on to the end, though, and end up sixth in class.'
0:35:53 > 0:35:55Whoops!
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Yeah, I think we can polish that out.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02That'll pop right out! Bang it out...
0:36:02 > 0:36:05This is Aston Martin, mate. We don't do "pop right out."
0:36:05 > 0:36:06'Despite the collision,
0:36:06 > 0:36:10'I finally get my Race National A competition licence.'
0:36:10 > 0:36:14From the race organisers, your fully completed signature card.
0:36:14 > 0:36:19- Fantastic.- So, race upgrade - sorted. - Fantastic. Excellent.
0:36:20 > 0:36:25'I even get a cup for coming first in the Pro-Am race the day before.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28'And now I'm a real bona fide racing driver
0:36:28 > 0:36:30'I can fulfil a lifetime's ambition
0:36:30 > 0:36:34'and compete at the most famous race of all, Le Mans.'
0:36:42 > 0:36:45'For 92 years, the world's best drivers
0:36:45 > 0:36:47'have converged on this French city
0:36:47 > 0:36:49'to compete in what is acknowledged to be
0:36:49 > 0:36:52'the ultimate endurance test of all -
0:36:52 > 0:36:54'Le Mans 24 Hours.'
0:36:57 > 0:37:00Le Mans is one of those races which, historically,
0:37:00 > 0:37:03it's probably one of the biggest races in the world.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06The people that have won it, the cars that have been there,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09the history behind it. I've been to lots of Formula 1 races -
0:37:09 > 0:37:11never been to Le Mans.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Aston Martin have a rich and glorious racing history,
0:37:14 > 0:37:17winning competitions around the world for over 100 years.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22'300,000 people and more than 100 of Europe's best drivers
0:37:22 > 0:37:23'were at Le Mans.'
0:37:23 > 0:37:26'However, they've only once won the biggest competition of all,
0:37:26 > 0:37:28'at Le Mans in 1959.'
0:37:28 > 0:37:31'..Aston Martins and Ferraris were strongly represented.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33'length of the course - about 8.5 miles.'
0:37:33 > 0:37:37'The most significant moment in their long racing history.'
0:37:37 > 0:37:40'At Le Mans, the French crowds watch the British cars
0:37:40 > 0:37:43'match the might of Porsche and Ferrari,
0:37:43 > 0:37:45'and chalk up another decisive victory
0:37:45 > 0:37:49'in a year that looked like becoming an Aston Martin benefit.'
0:37:49 > 0:37:51'For the Aston Martin owner David Brown,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54'it was a lifetime's ambition to win this race.'
0:37:56 > 0:38:00'He had designed a race car specifically for this purpose.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02'It was called the DBR1,
0:38:02 > 0:38:05'and is the most famous and valuable race car
0:38:05 > 0:38:07'Aston Martin has ever made.'
0:38:09 > 0:38:12'Only five DBR1s were ever produced.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15'Despite a relatively small three-litre engine,
0:38:15 > 0:38:18'it has a top speed of around 180mph.'
0:38:19 > 0:38:22- That looks amazing.- I'm Gillian. - Hello, Gillian. Nice to meet you.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26- Hello.- And you.- This is just one of my favourite cars. It's just amazing.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29So, so pretty.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32There is something about it. I mean, when it's parked like that,
0:38:32 > 0:38:34it has a sort of beauty and serenity
0:38:34 > 0:38:36- that wouldn't look out of place in an art gallery.- No.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38But once you fire it up,
0:38:38 > 0:38:40it's transformed into a raucous, willing
0:38:40 > 0:38:43and really, really capable racing car of the '50s,
0:38:43 > 0:38:45and it's fantastic.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47The drivers loved it - it was a favourite.
0:38:47 > 0:38:48And, of course, it came second -
0:38:48 > 0:38:51this particular car came second at Le Mans
0:38:51 > 0:38:53behind Salvadori and Shelby when they won it.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55So, it's a huge piece of motoring history.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57This is probably one of the most,
0:38:57 > 0:39:00if not THE, most iconic car that was ever made.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Don't treat it like a show pony - it's a racehorse.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06- OK?- Right, OK.- Don't be in awe of its value, it's a car.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14'Just in case you were wondering, this car is valued at 20 million,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17'and I'm actually being allowed to drive it.'
0:39:19 > 0:39:23'A car that took part in the greatest race in Aston Martin's history.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25'No pressure, then.'
0:39:25 > 0:39:28'Number five, Aston Martin driven by Roy Salvadori.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30'All set a cracking pace right from the start.'
0:39:33 > 0:39:34'Hey! A lucky escape.'
0:39:36 > 0:39:39'They had to drive all through the night. No slackening of speed.'
0:39:42 > 0:39:44'12 Ferraris are racing but, of the four Aston Martins,
0:39:44 > 0:39:48'Salvadori, number five, is driving a perfect race.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51'By afternoon, a long lead was established by two Aston Martins -
0:39:51 > 0:39:54'Salvadori's number five and Trintignant's number six.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56'Sure enough, that was the order after 24 hours.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00'Salvadori's co-driver, Shelby, was flagged home the winner.'
0:40:00 > 0:40:02They'd driven 2,700 miles.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06With them on the lap of honour rode Stirling Moss and David Brown.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Good for Aston Martins.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10- Well? - PAUL EXHALES
0:40:10 > 0:40:13- How was that?- That was amazing. That was just...
0:40:13 > 0:40:15You can fall in love with it so easily.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Already you're in love with it?
0:40:17 > 0:40:19And you're getting better, every gear change is getting better.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Can I just do one more lap before I go?
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Or ten, or 20, or...?
0:40:23 > 0:40:26- I think driving into the distance... - There is an exit gate over there?
0:40:26 > 0:40:29- Is there?- We could just slip away and go. We'd probably get away with it.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31ENGINE STARTS UP
0:40:31 > 0:40:33LOUD REVVING
0:40:37 > 0:40:39There's only one person still alive
0:40:39 > 0:40:42from the Aston Martin team that drove to victory that day,
0:40:42 > 0:40:46and that's the greatest Aston Martin driver of them all,
0:40:46 > 0:40:47Sir Stirling Moss.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51- Hello! Sir Stirling. - Nice to meet you. Come in.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55Wow, you can tell you're in the home of a racing driver straightaway -
0:40:55 > 0:40:56cars, racing cars.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58Of course, the Aston Martin DBR1,
0:40:58 > 0:41:01which is what I'd like to talk to you about.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Four DBR1s competed at Le Mans that day,
0:41:04 > 0:41:07but Sir Stirling's car didn't finish the race...
0:41:08 > 0:41:10..because he was told to be the pacesetter
0:41:10 > 0:41:12to exhaust the competition.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16Your job was to tire out the Ferraris,
0:41:16 > 0:41:17am I correct in saying that?
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Well, that's what they always say, it sounds good.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24I was the hare, so that gave me the opportunity to drive harder,
0:41:24 > 0:41:25because the Astons, really,
0:41:25 > 0:41:30are not nearly as reliable as a Ferrari, really, as a vehicle,
0:41:30 > 0:41:33but they did the job and won, you know?
0:41:33 > 0:41:36- NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER: - '44 laps of corner after corner.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38'Steady, not too wide...he's over!'
0:41:38 > 0:41:39SCREAMING
0:41:39 > 0:41:43- It was obviously a dangerous time for racing.- Yes, it was.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45Every week, someone was injured or killed
0:41:45 > 0:41:49and I think when you look at the racing that I watched you do,
0:41:49 > 0:41:53going round a corner, sideways sliding, drifting -
0:41:53 > 0:41:55I mean, the handling was...
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Your handling in a car was incredible.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00You see, the DBR1, particularly,
0:42:00 > 0:42:03was a beautiful handling car, it really was.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05The balance of this machine was really very, very good.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09- Very good.- I've been asked to race an Aston Martin GT4
0:42:09 > 0:42:12at the Aston Martin Festival at Les Mans.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Do you have any tips for me, taking an Aston Martin round Le Mans?
0:42:15 > 0:42:18I would suggest, the same as I would with any other car,
0:42:18 > 0:42:22if you drive a little bit slower than you think you could do,
0:42:22 > 0:42:24you're going to be a lot better.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26That's interesting. So overdriving it,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28and I have been guilty of that before...
0:42:28 > 0:42:30Egg on your face is difficult to get off,
0:42:30 > 0:42:32if you make a mistake - that's the point.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34There's nowhere to hide with all those people watching!
0:42:34 > 0:42:36THEY CHUCKLE
0:42:43 > 0:42:45Le Mans Festival is under way.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48Over a quarter of a million people flock here every year
0:42:48 > 0:42:50to watch some of the world's fastest cars
0:42:50 > 0:42:54and greatest drivers compete in an orgy of speed.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57MUSIC: Commando Spatial by Virginie Rodin
0:43:02 > 0:43:05This is Aston Martin's spiritual homeland.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09I've been waiting my whole life to come to this racetrack.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12It's a big place.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14The circuit's eight and half miles long,
0:43:14 > 0:43:17so outside of that, the circumference is rather large.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20- It's like Glastonbury. - It is like Glastonbury.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23Now we've got the weather, it's certainly like Glastonbury.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25It's like a mud bath.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29Thank goodness we're not driving today, but tomorrow should be drier.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33MUSIC: Pourquoi Pas Moi by Stella
0:43:36 > 0:43:40It seems like most of the UK have actually already turned up.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42HE REVS ENGINE
0:43:42 > 0:43:45Many of them are Aston Martin fanatics.
0:43:45 > 0:43:46Listen to that.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48It's terrific, isn't it?
0:43:48 > 0:43:51There's not another race, I don't think, in the world,
0:43:51 > 0:43:53that can replicate what you get at Le Mans.
0:43:53 > 0:43:55It has the atmosphere, it has the excitement,
0:43:55 > 0:43:57it has the different categories,
0:43:57 > 0:44:00and always something happening throughout the 24 hours.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02It's great fun, lots of beer,
0:44:02 > 0:44:06lots of cars, lots of like-minded people. It's really good fun.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17I'm not experienced enough yet to compete in the main 24-hour race,
0:44:17 > 0:44:20so I'm racing in the Aston Martin Festival Race.
0:44:24 > 0:44:28Gentleman and gentlelady drivers come from all around the world
0:44:28 > 0:44:31to see who's the fastest Aston Martin driver of them all.
0:44:37 > 0:44:39Before the Festival Race begins,
0:44:39 > 0:44:43all the drivers have to compete in an hour-long qualifying race.
0:44:46 > 0:44:50The track is so fast cars are reaching speeds of over 180mph.
0:45:00 > 0:45:01And some are spinning off...
0:45:04 > 0:45:08..including team-owner Andrew's new Aston Martin GTE.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10TYRES SCREECH
0:45:15 > 0:45:17The heat in the car is around 40 degrees.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19It's like being in an oven.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27- Stuey!- I've finished sixth in class and qualified for the main race,
0:45:27 > 0:45:29but the heat takes it out of me.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34I feel sick.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36I feel drained.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38I just feel drained and sick.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00In the evening, the whole town of Le Mans comes out to celebrate
0:46:00 > 0:46:03at the fantastic Drivers' Parade.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06- THEY SING:- # Aston Martin train
0:46:06 > 0:46:08# Aston Martin train
0:46:08 > 0:46:11# Aston Martin, Aston Martin Aston Martin train! #
0:46:11 > 0:46:12Wahay!
0:46:12 > 0:46:15ENGINE REVS
0:46:15 > 0:46:17'Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer
0:46:17 > 0:46:20'asks if I want to drive through the parade with him.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25ENGINE REVS
0:46:28 > 0:46:31It's going well - we're making a lot of noise, which is the main thing.
0:46:31 > 0:46:33The crowd seem to be happy with it.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35Here we go.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38ENGINE REVS LOUDLY
0:46:38 > 0:46:41CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:47:00 > 0:47:03It's the morning of the Aston Martin Festival Race.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10- 54 seconds.- Yeah.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12The lads are up early, tuning the cars.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17ENGINE REVS REPEATEDLY
0:47:17 > 0:47:20I'm excited about the biggest race of my life.
0:47:21 > 0:47:25How many people can say they've raced round Le Mans?
0:47:25 > 0:47:28All my wing mirrors will be full of Aston Martins.
0:47:28 > 0:47:32It's going to be... It's going to be a special day.
0:47:32 > 0:47:36I'm lining up next to two gentleman racers that I know well -
0:47:36 > 0:47:40Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer and design director Marek Reichman.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45A little bit nervous, but there you go.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47There's about 200,000 people watching
0:47:47 > 0:47:52and I'm an amateur racing driver, so it's a little bit nerve-racking.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54Do you think you can beat Paul?
0:47:54 > 0:47:56HE CHUCKLES
0:47:56 > 0:47:58Let's see, shall we?
0:48:00 > 0:48:02I'd like to think so.
0:48:02 > 0:48:04It's good to have rivalry on the track
0:48:04 > 0:48:06and it's great to be friends off the track
0:48:06 > 0:48:10and that's the way that, frankly, gentleman racing should be.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13It may be called gentleman racing,
0:48:13 > 0:48:16but I'm determined those two won't get past me!
0:48:17 > 0:48:20TENSE MUSIC
0:48:27 > 0:48:30- They've changed the starting procedure.- Oh, no.
0:48:30 > 0:48:31No-one is to drive around...
0:48:31 > 0:48:33'I'm trying hard to control my nerves.'
0:48:37 > 0:48:39- COMMENTATOR: - We see car number one there
0:48:39 > 0:48:41with the Union Flag on its roof,
0:48:41 > 0:48:44shared by a P Hollywood and a D Richards.
0:48:44 > 0:48:47Paul has spent this season getting his licences,
0:48:47 > 0:48:52and he's done a fantastic job of getting himself up to speed.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55I think Paul will be starting that number one car
0:48:55 > 0:48:57that we just saw on screen there.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59The race is 45 minutes long
0:48:59 > 0:49:01and I'm about to compete on the same track
0:49:01 > 0:49:06as some of the most famous racing drivers that have ever lived.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16- COMMENTATOR:- The green flag drops. Jon is away, leading the pack away.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18Good start there from Andrew Howard,
0:49:18 > 0:49:22pulling over to the inside to go around that DBRS9.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35I'm doing well and I'm ahead of Marek,
0:49:35 > 0:49:39but then, a third of the way through the race, disaster.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43Oh, we've got two wheels over.
0:49:43 > 0:49:44Four wheels over in the end.
0:49:44 > 0:49:48- The number 12.- That's a big crash.
0:49:48 > 0:49:52That's actually done some barrier damage. We may see a stoppage.
0:49:52 > 0:49:53Red flag, yes.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56They may just have deemed the barrier damage too great
0:49:56 > 0:49:59to fix in this session, which would be a real shame.
0:50:01 > 0:50:03- What's going on? - Nobody really knows.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05It's a red flag cos of the damage.
0:50:05 > 0:50:08- Red flag?- Red flag, so the race is finished.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10Nobody... Race is finished, yeah.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13So I think we are just going to see this being the end of the race
0:50:13 > 0:50:15and these cars heading up to parc ferme.
0:50:15 > 0:50:17That is unfortunately all we're going to see
0:50:17 > 0:50:20of these beautiful Aston Martins here today.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22'I'm totally gutted.
0:50:22 > 0:50:25'This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is cut short
0:50:25 > 0:50:27'and that's the end of the race.'
0:50:27 > 0:50:29There's been a big crash down the road,
0:50:29 > 0:50:30which is quite a sobering thought.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32There was bits of Aston everywhere.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35- Was it a big one? - Yeah, he spun it and hit the wall
0:50:35 > 0:50:37and there's just bits of car.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39I managed to tiptoe my way through it.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43'Back at the hospitality tent,
0:50:43 > 0:50:46'I go through the results of the race with my two rivals.'
0:50:48 > 0:50:50Let's have a look at it here.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52You got eighth.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54- I got eighth?- I got 11th.
0:50:54 > 0:50:56Although...
0:50:57 > 0:50:59..how the hell that happened...
0:50:59 > 0:51:02If you were following me, you must have just overtaken in the pits.
0:51:02 > 0:51:04- Yeah.- That's... You can't do that!
0:51:04 > 0:51:05That is a joke!
0:51:05 > 0:51:09'Hmm, that doesn't sound like a very gentlemanly tactic to me.'
0:51:11 > 0:51:13I think it was quite...
0:51:13 > 0:51:16It was quite an inauspicious sort of ending,
0:51:16 > 0:51:19so I think what we have to do is put this down as a practice...
0:51:19 > 0:51:22- We'll do it all again. - We'll do it all again.
0:51:22 > 0:51:23THEY LAUGH
0:51:28 > 0:51:29'Aside from being a gentleman driver,
0:51:29 > 0:51:32'designer Marek's been busy at work.'
0:51:32 > 0:51:33That's interesting.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35JAMES BOND THEME PLAYS
0:51:35 > 0:51:39A while ago, I saw his sketches for the new James Bond car,
0:51:39 > 0:51:42the DB10, at the Aston Martin headquarters in Gaydon.
0:51:46 > 0:51:50Now I've been told I can have a go in the real thing.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54It's just finished filming for the new Bond film Spectre.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57I've seen all the pictures, I've seen all the 3-D models,
0:51:57 > 0:51:59I've seen how it's roughly going to look,
0:51:59 > 0:52:01but I've never actually seen the real thing.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04This is the first time I'm going to see a DB10.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Is this going to be the new iconic Bond car?
0:52:07 > 0:52:11Is this going to replace Goldfinger's DB5?
0:52:20 > 0:52:25There's only ten DB10s in the world and none of them are for sale.
0:52:25 > 0:52:29This is in the middle of nowhere! This is bizarre.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35Marek arranges to meet me in a secret location
0:52:35 > 0:52:39with the stunt driver Mark Higgins, who's been working on the new movie.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47- Hi, Paul, you all right? - Hello, Mark.
0:52:47 > 0:52:48So you know this car intimately, then?
0:52:48 > 0:52:51This one was part of me for quite a while, to be honest, yeah.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53We had it for three weeks in Rome,
0:52:53 > 0:52:55did the car chase there, which was pretty awesome.
0:52:55 > 0:52:59I mean, seeing the pictures
0:52:59 > 0:53:02and then the 3-D model, and then seeing this...
0:53:03 > 0:53:05..I think it's beautiful.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07It looks like that shark.
0:53:07 > 0:53:11You mentioned the shark, cos when you look at the lines here...
0:53:11 > 0:53:14We wanted to get as close to the sketch as possible,
0:53:14 > 0:53:17and those shark features - the undercuts,
0:53:17 > 0:53:19the menacing nose, the predatory feel -
0:53:19 > 0:53:21it's all there in the car.
0:53:21 > 0:53:22You said you took this car to Rome -
0:53:22 > 0:53:24what sort of things did it get into?
0:53:24 > 0:53:27A lot of drifting. We had the Vatican closed off,
0:53:27 > 0:53:30probably did 100mph sideways past that, on cobbles,
0:53:30 > 0:53:33- which was pretty amazing.- Wow.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36The Pope was in there at the time, apparently, but he didn't wake up.
0:53:36 > 0:53:40- Everything was done through the night.- Now...
0:53:40 > 0:53:42I've seen the car. Would you mind taking me for a spin in this?
0:53:42 > 0:53:45- I don't need much encouragement - of course, I can.- Right, OK.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47- Don't break it.- OK. - THEY CHUCKLE
0:53:47 > 0:53:50ENGINE ROARS
0:53:50 > 0:53:52TYRES SCREECH
0:53:57 > 0:54:00Mark is a three-times British Rally champion
0:54:00 > 0:54:02and, boy, does he know how to drift a car.
0:54:04 > 0:54:06TYRES SCREECH
0:54:08 > 0:54:10PAUL CHUCKLES
0:54:14 > 0:54:16- BLEEP- hell!
0:54:22 > 0:54:24TYRES SCREECH
0:54:26 > 0:54:28Look at the smoke!
0:54:28 > 0:54:31'This is like the best fairground ride in the world.'
0:54:34 > 0:54:38- It's a horrible job, isn't it, but someone's got to do it!- Isn't it?
0:54:38 > 0:54:40PAUL CHUCKLES
0:54:40 > 0:54:43'Marek is waiting for me to give my verdict
0:54:43 > 0:54:47'on whether the DB10 can rival the DB5
0:54:47 > 0:54:49'as the iconic Bond car.'
0:54:49 > 0:54:50So what do you think?
0:54:50 > 0:54:52PAUL SIGHS
0:54:52 > 0:54:53I love it, I really do.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56It feels like you're in something really powerful.
0:54:56 > 0:54:58Is that a Bond car? Is it an iconic...?
0:55:00 > 0:55:03Do you know what? I think it is, I think it will be, for sure.
0:55:03 > 0:55:05- That's a very special thing. - Yeah, it is.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08It's a special moment, to see it moving.
0:55:08 > 0:55:13'However, usurping the DB5 as THE Aston Martin is a big ask.'
0:55:14 > 0:55:17I think to rival the DB5, I don't think you can do that.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19I think the DB5 at its time was an icon,
0:55:19 > 0:55:22- I think as much as this will be an icon of its time.- In its time.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25I think it's going to take a while
0:55:25 > 0:55:29for people to get around the fact that Aston have moved so much.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32It's great for me to see and hear your reaction.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34Q, I think you've done it again.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much indeed!
0:55:41 > 0:55:43Even though the DB10 is not for sale,
0:55:43 > 0:55:46it's likely to be the blueprint for the next generation of Astons
0:55:46 > 0:55:48that are being released next year.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55I head back to the Aston Martin headquarters in Gaydon
0:55:55 > 0:55:56to meet the CEO Andy Palmer...
0:55:58 > 0:56:00..to find out how important these new cars are
0:56:00 > 0:56:02to the future of the company.
0:56:03 > 0:56:07I've had a fascinating journey and, actually,
0:56:07 > 0:56:10I've driven iconic cars from Aston Martin.
0:56:10 > 0:56:13I've driven the DB5, I've driven the DBR1,
0:56:13 > 0:56:16I've driven the Cloverleaf, the first production car,
0:56:16 > 0:56:18and went up Aston Hill in it.
0:56:18 > 0:56:21When I was with Marek, we were looking at the DB10
0:56:21 > 0:56:25and I got a glimpse of the future as well.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28You're confident, and this pretty much starts next year,
0:56:28 > 0:56:32- that all these new models coming out will do well?- Yes.
0:56:32 > 0:56:34This...
0:56:34 > 0:56:35new generation of car,
0:56:35 > 0:56:39one every year for basically the next six years...
0:56:40 > 0:56:44..we don't have room for a miss-step
0:56:44 > 0:56:45in the launch of those cars,
0:56:45 > 0:56:47because each one is funding the next.
0:56:47 > 0:56:52We can no longer be in business and for it to be a plaything.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55If we stay in the plaything area,
0:56:55 > 0:56:58there won't be an Aston Martin in the future.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01'I wonder if Aston Martin have always struggled to make much money
0:57:01 > 0:57:05'because, in the past, they've only sold to the British aristocracy.'
0:57:05 > 0:57:09Because the older people - Robert Bamford, Lionel Martin,
0:57:09 > 0:57:11straight from the oldest part of Aston Martin -
0:57:11 > 0:57:13- they were gentry...- Mm-hm.
0:57:13 > 0:57:17..I think that stigma has always been attached, then, to Aston Martin.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19Do you think that's still around today,
0:57:19 > 0:57:22or is that beginning to break down now, the class system with Aston?
0:57:22 > 0:57:25Well, I do think in general it's breaking down,
0:57:25 > 0:57:30so I think that the people purchasing these kind of luxury cars
0:57:30 > 0:57:33- are different from the ones in the past.- Including myself!
0:57:33 > 0:57:35Including you and me.
0:57:35 > 0:57:39I don't think either of us can claim to come from landed gentry.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41It's a different kind of a customer.
0:57:41 > 0:57:43They can be landed gentry that have done very well
0:57:43 > 0:57:46but, likewise, they can be a baker or an apprentice
0:57:46 > 0:57:50that started their jobs when they were 16 years old, right?
0:57:50 > 0:57:52Your shareholders, if they make a pound,
0:57:52 > 0:57:55I'm sure they'll be happy. As long as they're not losing anything.
0:57:55 > 0:57:58I'm sure they'd be... Well, if they don't lose anything,
0:57:58 > 0:58:02they'll be the first shareholders of the company not to lose anything,
0:58:02 > 0:58:04so this'll already be a success.
0:58:07 > 0:58:10I wish Andy luck trying to turn the company around,
0:58:10 > 0:58:15but for me, Aston Martin has never really been about business.
0:58:15 > 0:58:18From a little kid who played with a toy car
0:58:18 > 0:58:20to now owning one,
0:58:20 > 0:58:24it's all about passion, beauty and speed.
0:58:24 > 0:58:27MUSIC: Commando Spatial by Virginie Rodin