The idea of modelling the Aston Martin DBR9 FIA GT1 car was originally a project for my own entertainment, not long after seeing the racecar on display in 2005. I'd never seen such a beautiful, yet unremittingly brutal machine as the DBR9 - it's sole purpose was to be driven at speed.

However, this particular model was produced as a formal folio piece later, based on requirements from 10tacle/SimBin for samples for the "GTR" series of games. Technical limitations were for a sub-10,000 polygon model, consisting of hard limits of 2.8K polygons for the wheel limit, and 7000 polygons for the vehicle, including underside, detachable panels, interior modelling and modelled engine bay. Although not specified in their brief, I included the driver model as within this polygon budget as well.

Texturing was restricted to a single 2048x1024 image with a complimentary environment map, and a single 1024x512 map with alpha channel for transparencies. While not specified in the Simbin brief, my familiarity with their texture format allowed me to take the liberty of including separate mapping for the driver's helmet and overalls, and for the tyres, as these textured elements are separately assigned.

Considerable photographic reference was used throughout the modelling process, from technical specifications and studio photographs to action shots on the track. To produce this model, the #58 DBR9 driven at the Le Mans circuit in 2005 was chosen for both the livery and the model, resulting in distinctive aerodynamic and livery features used only at that specific race (The nose dive planes, and the complex brake cooling aerodynamics on the forward wings.).

The model is complete at 2,796 triangles for wheels, and 6,994 triangles for the entire vehicle. The engine bay is fully modelled with the chassis rails, engine, radiators and peripheral components physically modelled in such a manner that full 3d detail is visible at all angles. The front and rear bumpers, engine bay cover, front splitter, rear diffuser and rear wing are separate model sections that can be detached. The doors had no need to be hinged in this model, and therefore, are not separate.