As the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season kicks off at the world-renowned Daytona International Speedway, Aston Martin Motorsport embarks on a thrilling journey, with an all-new Vantage GT3 targeting victory at North America’s most iconic endurance race – the Rolex 24 at Daytona. This race, known for its high stakes and thrilling action, will set the tone for a landmark year in global endurance motorsport, as Aston Martin pursues success across multiple categories.
A Star-Studded Line-Up for The Heart of Racing
At the heart of Aston Martin’s ambitious campaign is The Heart of Racing (THOR) team, a Seattle-based outfit with a proven track record in IMSA racing. After clinching the IMSA GTD title in 2022, THOR returns with an impressive line-up to defend their success and challenge for victory in both the GTD Pro and GTD classes. Having triumphed in the 2023 Rolex 24, THOR aims to replicate that success with a stellar crew of drivers.
In the GTD Pro class, the #007 Vantage will be piloted by two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Marco Sørensen, alongside 2022 IMSA GTD Drivers’ Champion Roman De Angelis. The pair, who formed part of the victorious 2023 Daytona GTD-winning line-up, will be joined by IMSA race-winning regulars Ross Gunn and Alex Riberas, making for a formidable quartet in the race for supremacy.
In the GTD class, the #27 Vantage GT3 will be handled by an exciting team of new and experienced talents. The line-up includes reigning GT World Challenge Europe Sprint champion Mattia Drudi, who is making his IMSA debut, alongside Canadian ace Zacharie Robichon, British duo Tom Gamble and Casper Stevenson, and works driver Mattia Drudi.
Magnus Racing Joins the Fight for Daytona Glory
Magnus Racing, another key Aston Martin partner, will also be looking to make its mark at the Rolex 24 after a brilliant second-place finish in the 2023 GTD class. The team, a two-time class winner at Daytona, returns with their proven #44 Vantage, driven by a trio of established IMSA veterans: John Potter, Andy Lally, and Spencer Pumpelly, alongside AMR works driver Nicki Thiim, a double FIA World Endurance Champion. With such a seasoned team, Magnus Racing is well-placed to challenge for the podium once again in 2025.
A Debut for Van der Steur Racing
Making its IMSA GTD debut at the Rolex 24 will be Van der Steur Racing, a team that has seen success in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) in 2024. After finishing third in the IMPC Teams’ Championship, they now move up to the GTD class with their #19 Vantage GT3. Behind the wheel, Aston Martin works driver Valentin Hasse Clot – the 2024 Michelin Le Mans Cup GT3 champion – will be joined by an eclectic mix of drivers including Frenchman Maxime Robin, reigning Lamborghini Super Trofeo Pro-Am World Champion Andrew McIntosh, and team principal Rory van der Steur.
Title Defense in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
Alongside their GT3 efforts, Aston Martin also enters the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) race at Daytona, with four new Vantage GT4s taking to the track. Aston Martin’s Vantage GT4 has proven to be a competitive force, having secured Drivers’, Teams’, and Manufacturers’ titles in 2024. This year, Team TGM, the 2024 title-winning team, returns with an exceptional line-up, including Drivers’ Champion Matt Plumb and co-driver Paul Holton in the #46 Vantage. Ted Giovanis will pilot the #64 Vantage alongside Hugh Plumb and Kris Hilton. Van der Steur Racing will also field a pair of entries, while Rebel Rock Racing joins the fray with a formidable driver line-up, including Frank DePew and Robin Liddell, who secured the Vantage GT4’s first global victory at Sebring in 2024.
A Year of Ambition for Aston Martin
For Aston Martin, the Rolex 24 at Daytona marks the start of a pivotal year in its motorsport journey. The brand, which has already enjoyed success with the Vantage GT3, is preparing for an even more significant milestone: the debut of its Valkyrie hypercar in IMSA’s prestigious GTP class at the 12 Hours of Sebring on 15 March. Following its debut at the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Qatar 1812km opening round, the Valkyrie is expected to revolutionize Aston Martin’s motorsport program.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, expressed his excitement, saying, “The Rolex 24 at Daytona is the most famous endurance race in North America and one of the most prestigious in the world. Vantage, which has been a frontrunner in global endurance racing, is in fantastic shape to fight for victory across multiple categories. The strength of our line-ups, including many championship-winning AMR works drivers, is a testament to our commitment to securing more successes on this continent. We are ready to make this race one to remember as we set our sights on the Valkyrie’s IMSA debut in Sebring.”
The Rolex 24 at Daytona: A Thrilling Start to the Season
The 63rd edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona will take place on 25 January 2025, beginning at 13:40 ET (18:40 GMT). Aston Martin, with its diverse and highly skilled driver line-ups, is primed for a thrilling and competitive event, one that promises to add yet another chapter to the brand’s storied motorsport history. As the race unfolds at Daytona, all eyes will be on the Vantage GT3s as they battle for class supremacy, with the ultimate goal of securing Aston Martin’s place on the top step of the podium at one of the most prestigious endurance events in the world.
