Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Teams Up With The Heart Of Racing For Historic WEC Win
Aston Martin's new Vantage GT3 secured its first victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the Lone Star Le Mans, held at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin. The Heart of Racing (THOR) team, comprising Ian James, Alex Riberas, and Daniel Mancinelli, dominated the race by leading 160 out of 164 laps.
James, who resides in North America and is familiar with COTA, started strong and maintained the lead during his double stint despite pressure from a rival Lamborghini. Mancinelli then extended their lead further before handing over to Riberas. Riberas completed the race with a flawless double stint, securing the win.
The Vantage GT3 also achieved notable success at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Walkenhorst Motorsport, another partner team, earned multiple podium finishes in the ADAC GT Masters series. Denis Bulatov and Mike David Ortmann finished third overall in Race 1, while Chandler Hull and Nico Hantke won the Pro-Am class.
This victory marks Aston Martin's tenth WEC win at COTA since 2012 and its 53rd class win overall. It also represents the first time a North American team has won at COTA in WEC history. THOR's recent successes include wins in IMSA’s GTD Pro and GTD classes and victories in SRO’s Pirelli GT4 America.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, praised the team's performance: "This is an exceptional victory for the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and The Heart of Racing team. Congratulations to Ian James, Alex Riberas, Daniel Mancinelli and the entire organisation." He highlighted their strong performances in other events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Spa 24 Hours.
THOR remains fourth in the LMGT3 standings with two races left this season. They have accumulated 81 points so far and are just nine points behind second place. With 65 points still available, they have a strong chance to improve their standing.
Driver Reactions
"This feels amazing," said James. "To do this in America, on the world stage and to get our first WEC win is just such a great achievement. Thanks to all the team, and everyone at Aston Martin Racing; what an effort they all put in." He expressed immense pride in their accomplishment.
The WEC now moves to Japan for the 6 Hours of Fuji from September 13-15. This will be followed by the penultimate round of the championship at Fuji Speedway.
Aston Martin Lagonda aims to be a leading ultra-luxury British brand known for style, luxury, performance, and exclusivity. Founded by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford in 1913, it combines advanced technology with traditional craftsmanship to produce acclaimed models like Vantage, DB11, DBS, DBX, and Valkyrie.
The company manufactures sports cars in Gaydon and luxury SUVs in St Athan, Wales. Lawrence Stroll became Executive Chairman in 2020, leading significant new investments that marked Aston Martin's return to top-tier motorsport with its Formula One team.
Continue with Google