On Wednesday 16 July, we took a group of customers on an exciting trip to the legendary Silverstone circuit, where we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, located next to the famous track. The hotel overlooked the main straight of the track, which added to our excitement from the outset, as we were even able to see various Aston Martin sports cars racing around it.
After checking in, some customers, accompanied by our Sales Manager Jordi Graells, took a tour to discover the picturesque villages in the area, enjoying the rural English atmosphere. Meanwhile, the rest of the group rested at the hotel, exploring the facilities and walking around the circuit while discussing the excitement of being close to such an iconic place for motor racing enthusiasts.
In the evening, we all had dinner together at the hotel restaurant. Amid laughter and conversation, we discussed our first impressions of the trip, toasted the adventure that awaited us and enjoyed a delicious dinner.
The next day, we visited the Aston Martin Formula 1 team’s facilities at Silverstone. There, a team of engineers guided us through the factory and explained how they design and manufacture racing cars, from aerodynamic development to the construction of high-precision components.
We visited the different production areas, seeing the speed and precision with which they work to get everything ready before each Grand Prix. We even got to admire an almost finished single-seater, sporting Aston Martin’s signature spectacular lime green design. We were impressed by the frenetic pace of operations, and the guides shared interesting facts about F1, such as stories about the Aston Martin Aramco team and anecdotes about their drivers.
In the afternoon, we headed to Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, where most of the brand’s road cars are manufactured, with the exception of the DBX, which is manufactured at another of the brand’s factories in St. Athan, Wales. There, we were taken through the huge production halls and shown each stage of the assembly process. We had the opportunity to see the section where the seats are assembled, the upholstery areas and the final area where the vehicles receive their finishing touches. At each station, workers combine advanced technology with traditional craftsmanship to create luxury sports cars of the highest standard. We even saw the bodies of the new DB11 and the Vantage sports car on one of the lines, which highlighted the exclusivity of this plant.
In addition, the guides shared some interesting details with us: they told us about iconic models such as the DB11 and the Vantage, inspired by the brand’s tradition, and explained why the DBX is manufactured at the other plant in Wales. They told us that the initials ‘DB’ pay tribute to Sir David Brown, the historic founder of Aston Martin, a fact that fascinated the whole group. We also learned about the modern materials used in production, such as carbon fibre and light alloys, which make each vehicle lighter and more powerful.
To round off the visit, we enjoyed a light lunch at the Gaydon facility, courtesy of the Aston Martin team. During the meal, we chatted with some of the engineers and employees who accompanied us, exchanging questions and answers about their roles and experiences. With renewed energy, we returned to the hotel to check out and begin the journey that would take us home, filling our suitcases with unforgettable memories and unique insights into the heart of Aston Martin.
