EMKA Aston Martin
Encyclopedia
The EMKA Aston Martin was a Group C
racing car built by Maurice Gomm & Protoco for EMKA Racing
with the aid of Michael Cane Racing and powered by an Aston Martin
engine. The first chassis, EMKA C83/1 was initially introduced in 1983 and competed in the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans
, finishing a respectable 17th overall. A revised C84/1 also raced at the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
and finished in 11th place after briefly leading the race in the opening hours.
The EMKA Aston Martin failed to finish any of the other races it appeared at in 1985, leading to the relationship between EMKA and Aston Martin being dissolved due to financial strain, while Steve O'Rourke
of EMKA Racing decided to take a break from international motorsport.
for the founder of EMKA Racing
and manager of the Pink Floyd, Steve O'Rourke
. The chassis was built by Maurice Gomm and the fibre glass
body constructed by Protoco, with overall assistance from Michael Cane Racing. The car was powered by an Aston Martin
Tickford
5,340 cc V8 engine, which was redesigned by Bailey. Featuring relocated alternator
, distributor
and water pumps to allow for large ground effect tunnels to be used.
, Jeff Allam and Steve O'Rourke. The car failed to finish the race, retiring on the last lap due to a failed rear wheel bearing. The car next appeared at 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans
with drivers of Needell, O'Rourke and Nick Faure. Despite losing 2 hours due to a suspension problem, the car finished 17th overall and received the 'Motor' Trophy for being the first British car home.
race with drivers of Tiff Needell, Steve O'Rourke and Bob Evans. The car qualified almost four seconds faster than the C83/1 had done in 1983, but the did not finish the race.
The EMKA's most successful appearance was at the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
. With drivers of Needell, Nick Faure and O'Rourke the car lead the race for nine minutes during on the opening hours and finished 11th overall. Again being the first British car across the line.
The EMKA Aston Martin failed to finish both the 1985 Spa and Brands Hatch 1000 km races, leading to the relationship between EMKA and Aston Martin being dissolved due to financial strain. While Steve O'Rourke decided to take a break from international motorsport, not returning until 1993 in the British GT Championship
.
Group C
Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs....
racing car built by Maurice Gomm & Protoco for EMKA Racing
EMKA Racing
EMKA Racing was a British racing team founded in 1980 by Steve O'Rourke, manager of the band Pink Floyd. The team occasionally ran under the name of EMKA Productions, the name of O'Rourke's management company. The team's name comes from O'Rourke's two daughters, Emma and Katheryne...
with the aid of Michael Cane Racing and powered by an Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
engine. The first chassis, EMKA C83/1 was initially introduced in 1983 and competed in the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans
1983 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 51st Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 18 and 19 1983. It was also the fourth round of both the World Endurance Championship and European Endurance Championship. The win was fought right down to the line between the Rothmans Porsche 956s of Al...
, finishing a respectable 17th overall. A revised C84/1 also raced at the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 53rd Grand Prix of Endurance as well as the fourth round of the 1985 World Endurance Championship. It took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, France, on June 15 and 16 1985....
and finished in 11th place after briefly leading the race in the opening hours.
The EMKA Aston Martin failed to finish any of the other races it appeared at in 1985, leading to the relationship between EMKA and Aston Martin being dissolved due to financial strain, while Steve O'Rourke
Steve O'Rourke
Steve O'Rourke was born in Willesden, London, England. He was well known for being manager of the highly influential rock band Pink Floyd after the departure of Syd Barrett in 1968 until his death. He also had to weather the band's falling-out with member Roger Waters.He first managed Pink Floyd...
of EMKA Racing decided to take a break from international motorsport.
Development
EMKA Aston Martin was designed by Len BaileyLen Bailey
Leonard Bailey was a British automobile designer.- Career :Leonard Bailey became an apprentice at Austin at Longbridge in 1942 which at that time were building Short Stirlings for the Royal Air Force of World War II....
for the founder of EMKA Racing
EMKA Racing
EMKA Racing was a British racing team founded in 1980 by Steve O'Rourke, manager of the band Pink Floyd. The team occasionally ran under the name of EMKA Productions, the name of O'Rourke's management company. The team's name comes from O'Rourke's two daughters, Emma and Katheryne...
and manager of the Pink Floyd, Steve O'Rourke
Steve O'Rourke
Steve O'Rourke was born in Willesden, London, England. He was well known for being manager of the highly influential rock band Pink Floyd after the departure of Syd Barrett in 1968 until his death. He also had to weather the band's falling-out with member Roger Waters.He first managed Pink Floyd...
. The chassis was built by Maurice Gomm and the fibre glass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
body constructed by Protoco, with overall assistance from Michael Cane Racing. The car was powered by an Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
Tickford
Tickford
Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:...
5,340 cc V8 engine, which was redesigned by Bailey. Featuring relocated alternator
Alternator
An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used...
, distributor
Distributor
A distributor is a device in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine that routes high voltage from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in the correct firing order. The first reliable battery operated ignition was developed by Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co. and introduced in the...
and water pumps to allow for large ground effect tunnels to be used.
1983
EMKA C83/1 debuted at the 1983 Silverstone 1000 km race, with drivers of Tiff NeedellTiff Needell
Timothy "Tiff" Needell isa British racing driver and television presenter. He is best known as a former co-presenter of Top Gear and current co-presenter of Fifth Gear.-Biography:...
, Jeff Allam and Steve O'Rourke. The car failed to finish the race, retiring on the last lap due to a failed rear wheel bearing. The car next appeared at 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans
1983 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 51st Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 18 and 19 1983. It was also the fourth round of both the World Endurance Championship and European Endurance Championship. The win was fought right down to the line between the Rothmans Porsche 956s of Al...
with drivers of Needell, O'Rourke and Nick Faure. Despite losing 2 hours due to a suspension problem, the car finished 17th overall and received the 'Motor' Trophy for being the first British car home.
1984
Largely due to the impending fuel regulation changes for the 1984 season, the EMKA Aston Martin did not compete that year. However the rule change was not introduced and the EMKA C84/1 was developed for the forthcoming 1985 season.1985
In 1985 EMKA along with Aston Martin introduced the new C84/1 car. The car now featured a revised rear suspension, a new bodywork and the removal of the ground effect. The C84/1 debuted at the 1985 1000 km of Silverstone1985 1000 km of Silverstone
The 1985 Silverstone 1000 km was the third round of the 1985 World Endurance Championship. It took place at the Silverstone Circuit, Great Britain on May 12, 1985.-Official results:Class winners in bold...
race with drivers of Tiff Needell, Steve O'Rourke and Bob Evans. The car qualified almost four seconds faster than the C83/1 had done in 1983, but the did not finish the race.
The EMKA's most successful appearance was at the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 53rd Grand Prix of Endurance as well as the fourth round of the 1985 World Endurance Championship. It took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, France, on June 15 and 16 1985....
. With drivers of Needell, Nick Faure and O'Rourke the car lead the race for nine minutes during on the opening hours and finished 11th overall. Again being the first British car across the line.
The EMKA Aston Martin failed to finish both the 1985 Spa and Brands Hatch 1000 km races, leading to the relationship between EMKA and Aston Martin being dissolved due to financial strain. While Steve O'Rourke decided to take a break from international motorsport, not returning until 1993 in the British GT Championship
British GT Championship
The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is a sports car racing series currently based in the United Kingdom, although they have had select races outside of Britain in the past few years. The series was created by the British Racing Drivers' Club in 1993 and for its first two seasons was called the...
.
Chassis
- EMKA C83/1 completed 1983
- 1983 Silverstone 1000km- ret
- 1983 Le Mans 24 Hour- 17th
- EMKA C84/1 completed 1985
- 1985 Silverstone 1000km- ret
- 1985 Le Mans 24 Hour- 11th
- 1985 Spa 1000km- ret
- 1985 Brands Hatch 1000km- ret
External links
- Aston Martin Picture Gallery - EMKA Aston Martin
- World Sports Racing Prototypes - Aston Martin chassis numbers
- RS Classic Racing - EMKA Aston Martin