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Aston Martin names new CFO

Aston Martin is on the verge of a resurgence, instituting (among a great many other things) new top leadership, and that includes a new chief financial officer. Mark Wilson comes to Gaydon with a wealth of experience at British sports car manufacturers, having previously worked for Lotus and McLaren. His most recent posting, however, was as CFO and COO at renewable energy insurer G-Cube Underwriting. He'll take up his new job as Chief Financial Officer (and his place on the executive board) at Aston Martin on June 8, reporting directly to Andy Palmer, who in turn took up his job as CEO just this past September. Considering Aston was recently injected with an influx of cash, hiring a new money man was probably prudent. But hiring new top personnel, of course, isn't the only change Aston is making. It's got a new platform in the works, a new engine under development with Mercedes-AMG and a raft of new projects in the pipeline. That includes the replacement of every one of its models by the end of the decade and the addition of as many as three new model lines – particularly the DBX crossover that could be the first new Aston built in America. ASTON MARTIN NAMES MARK WILSON AS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 14 May 2015, Gaydon: Aston Martin today announces the appointment of Mark Wilson as Chief Financial Officer. Joining the business on Monday 8 June, Wilson, will report directly to Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer and take a place on the Executive Board at the company's global HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire. With a strong track record of senior automotive experience already accrued with McLaren Automotive and Lotus Cars Ltd, Wilson joins the luxury British sports car maker from renewable energy insurer G-Cube Underwriting where he held the post of Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Welcoming Wilson to the team, Dr Palmer said: "Mark joins us at what is, undeniably, an extremely exciting time for Aston Martin. We are currently implementing the largest investment plan in our history which will see a total remake of our product portfolio. By the end of the decade, not only will our current line-up have been replaced entirely, we will have added up to three extra model lines and entered new market segments.

Are supercars becoming less special?

There's little doubt that we are currently enjoying the golden age of automotive performance. Dozens of different models on sale today make over 500 horsepower, and seven boast output in excess of 700 hp. Not long ago, that kind of capability was exclusive to supercars – vehicles whose rarity, performance focus, and requisite expense made them aspirational objects of desire to us mortals. But more than that, supercars have historically offered a unique driving experience, one which was bespoke to a particular model and could not be replicated elsewhere. But in recent years, even the low-volume players have been forced to find the efficiencies and economies of scale that formerly hadn't been a concern for them, and in turn the concept of the supercar as a unique entity unto itself is fading fast. The blame doesn't fall on one particular manufacturer nor a specific production technique. Instead, it's a confluence of different factors that are chipping away at the distinction of these vehicles. It's not all bad news – Lamborghini's platform sharing with Audi for the Gallardo and the R8 yielded a raging bull that was more reliable and easier to live with on a day-to-day basis, and as a result it went on to become the best-selling Lambo in the company's history. But it also came at the cost of some of the Italian's exclusivity when eerily familiar sights and sounds suddenly became available wearing an Audi badge. Even low-volume players have been forced to find economies of scale. Much of this comes out of necessity, of course. Aston Martin's recent deal with Mercedes-AMG points toward German hardware going under the hood and into the cabin of the upcoming DB11, and it's safe to assume that this was not a decision made lightly by the Brits, as the brand has built a reputation for the bespoke craftsmanship of its vehicles. There's little doubt that the DB11 will be a fine automobile, but the move does jeopardize some of the characteristic "specialness" that Astons are known for. Yet the world is certainly better off with new Aston Martins spliced with DNA from Mercedes-AMG rather than no new Astons at all, and the costs of developing cutting-edge drivetrains and user interfaces is a burden that's becoming increasingly difficult for smaller manufacturers to bear. Even Ferrari is poised to make some dramatic changes in the way it designs cars.

Check out Christina Nielsen, the 23-year-old Dane leading the IMSA GTD series

Thanks to hard driving, a good car, consistency, and four podiums this season, 23-year-old Christina Nielsen from Horsholm, Denmark owns the lead of the GT Daytona class in the IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship. It's a slim lead at 199 points, just two points over Christopher Haase and Dion von Moltke, co-drivers of the #48 Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 LMS who are second and third and both on 197 points. Nielsen drives the Aston Martin Racing #007 TRG-AMR V12 Vantage GT3 in both USCC and the GTA class of the Pirelli World Challenge. Kuno Wittmer is her co-driver in the USCC, you might remember him as the winner of the driver's championship with the short-lived Chrysler factory team. TRG-AMR recently inducted the Canadian and 17-year-racing veteran to the be the team's number one development driver and be a mentor to Nielsen. Nielsen is the daughter of a Danish sports car racer but she only started racing in 2007 when a friend took her to a kart track. She said she got hooked on that first visit, and in 2011 she finished third in the Karting World Championships. Two years later she won the B Championship at the German ADAC GT Masters with 14 podiums in 16 races, including two victories. Last year she drove in the Patron Endurance Cup and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, this year she graduated to TRG-AMR. There are three races left in the USCC season, and Nielsen said she likes the upcoming tracks and the team's chances. You can check out her race-craft in the two videos below. News Source: IMSAImage Credit: Brian Cleary/Getty Images Motorsports Aston Martin Coupe Racing Vehicles Videos uscc