The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is set to return to the track for the 6 Hours of Fuji this weekend, a crucial race in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar. Less than two weeks after The Heart of Racing (THoR) secured Aston Martin’s first victory of the season at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the luxury British marque is now focused on extending its legacy at the legendary Fuji Motor Speedway.
Home Advantage for D’station Racing
D’station Racing, Aston Martin’s long-time WEC partner team, returns to its home circuit nestled in the foothills of Mount Fuji. The team, led by former WEC racer Satoshi Hoshino and managed by SUPER GT Series class winner Tomonobu Fujii, has a rich history at Fuji, including a third-place finish in 2022. They are hoping to improve on this result as they return to their roots just miles away from their headquarters. D’station Racing opened the 2024 season with another podium finish at the Qatar 1812 race, and now, buoyed by the support of local fans, the team is looking to go one step further.
At the helm of the #777 Vantage is Aston Martin’s most decorated works driver, Marco Sørensen, a three-time FIA WEC champion and Le Mans class winner. Sørensen will be joined by Erwan Bastard, a French and European GT4 titleholder, in a driver pairing that promises a strong challenge in the competitive LMGT3 class.
The Heart of Racing Eyes Another Milestone
Fresh from their maiden WEC win, THoR arrives in Fuji with momentum. The team’s victory at COTA saw them lead from pole position, setting the fastest LMGT3 lap, and claiming their first win of the season. As the battle for second place in the championship heats up, THoR’s trio of drivers, Ian James, Alex Riberas, and Daniel Mancinelli, are eager to close the gap. With only nine points separating them from second place in the LMGT3 standings, the race at Fuji could prove pivotal.
THoR’s performance has been outstanding in their debut season, with two second-place finishes and five points-scoring results from seven starts. With 26 points up for grabs at Fuji and a further 39 available at the season finale in Bahrain, the team is still in strong contention for a high overall finish.
Aston Martin’s Fuji Legacy
Fuji has been a venue of considerable success for Aston Martin over the years. The Vantage has won seven times in its various configurations—Vantage V8, V8 Vantage GTE, and Vantage GTE—since the WEC began visiting the circuit in 2012. Notably, Aston Martin secured two double-class victories in 2013 and 2019/20. The brand has also been a fixture on the podium, appearing 16 times over the years.
Aston Martin’s Endurance Motorsport head, Adam Carter, highlighted the new Vantage GT3’s potential: “The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is now a race winner in WEC, thanks to the outstanding performance of The Heart of Racing’s drivers and team at COTA. Both our partner teams competing in Fuji are capable of fighting for the podium again this weekend, and we are looking forward to seeing what they can achieve with a car that is now really delivering on its potential.”
The Vantage GT3, built on the same lightweight bonded aluminum chassis as Aston Martin’s road cars and powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine, is in its debut WEC season. Its COTA win marked the third different car to triumph in the new LMGT3 class, which features nine manufacturers.
The Road to Victory
With practice sessions beginning on Friday, 13 September, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in Aston Martin’s WEC campaign. As the 6 Hours of Fuji unfolds, both D’station Racing and The Heart of Racing will be pushing to add to Aston Martin’s illustrious history at this iconic Japanese track.
