Aston Martin Vantage GT3 quest for victory in two endurance racing series, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA)
Aston Martin’s latest Vantage GT3 continues its quest for victory in two of the world’s most prestigious endurance racing series, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA), as action resumes this weekend.
The WEC kicks off its European stint with the 6 Hours of Imola in Italy, followed by a debut at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on May 11th, and then the pinnacle event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15th-16th. Meanwhile, IMSA heads to the iconic Long Beach street track for its first sprint race of the season.
At the season opener, the 1812km of Qatar, Aston Martin secured an impressive double podium finish in the brand-new LMGT3 class, with Heart of Racing (HoR) claiming second place and D’station Racing securing third. Aston Martin stood alone among the nine GT manufacturers present in achieving this feat, signaling a strong start to the season for both teams.
The new Vantage GT3 marks a promising debut in the WEC, inheriting a legacy of championship-winning predecessors and sharing its mechanical framework with the ultra-luxurious Vantage road car. Built on Aston Martin’s renowned bonded aluminum chassis and powered by a formidable twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine, the Vantage GT3 boasts cutting-edge aerodynamics, revised suspension, and state-of-the-art electronics, cementing its status as a formidable contender in the GT racing arena.
Aston Martin’s WEC partner teams, HoR and D’station Racing, enter the European leg in top form following successful outings in the Middle East. HoR, led by team principal and driver Ian James, partners with Daniel Mancinelli and Alex Riberas in their pursuit of victory at WEC level and the maiden win for the new Vantage GT3.
Destination Racing, led by Aston Martin works driver Marco Sorensen, aims to build on its podium finish in Qatar with drivers Erwan Bastard and Clément Mateu. The team seeks to capitalize on its strong start to the season and challenge for victory in Imola.
The IMSA race at Long Beach sees a reshuffle in HoR’s driver lineup, with Spencer Pumpelly joining Roman De Angelis for the GTD class sprint race. Meanwhile, Flying Lizard Motorsports makes a one-off return to IMSA with their new Aston Martin Vantage GT3, piloted by Elias Sabo and Andy Lee.
In addition to their IMSA commitments, D’station Racing embarks on the opening round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia at Sepang, Malaysia, showcasing the team’s versatility and dedication to global motorsport.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, expresses confidence in the Vantage GT3’s performance on both sides of the Atlantic and extends best wishes to all Aston Martin partner teams for a successful weekend of racing.