Aston Martin’s new Vantage GT3 celebrated its inaugural victory in the United States at the Watkins Glen round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, showcasing exceptional performance despite challenging weather conditions. Partner team The Heart of Racing (THoR) orchestrated a remarkable comeback in the Six Hours of the Glen endurance race, marked by rainstorms and a mid-race red flag due to track conditions.
British driver Ross Gunn and Alex Riberas of the FIA World Endurance Championship staged a gripping recovery after losing a lap earlier due to tire strategy in changing weather. THoR’s strategic acumen and Riberas’s courageous driving pushed the Aston Martin into contention. When racing resumed, Gunn pressured the leading Corvette into a fuel stop on the final lap, securing THoR’s class lead and ultimately, the victory.
Team principal Ian James praised the team’s perseverance, noting, “This was a fantastic day for The Heart of Racing team and a great day for Vantage. We’ve been striving for this result all season, and following our podium in Detroit, this win builds momentum. After a setback at Le Mans, bouncing back with a victory is immensely satisfying.”
Gunn, celebrating his eighth class victory in America’s premier endurance championship, lauded the Vantage GT3’s adaptability: “The new Vantage GT3 performed exceptionally well at Watkins Glen. This result feels like the culmination of our efforts, and I believe there’s more to come from this car.”
This victory marked Gunn and Riberas’s second win at Watkins Glen, following their 2022 triumph with THoR’s previous Vantage. Gunn currently sits third in the standings, 60 points behind the GTD Pro class leaders, while Riberas, who missed a round due to WEC commitments, ranks eighth.
Highlighting the Vantage GT3’s versatility, partner team Magnus Racing secured a podium finish in the GTD class, emphasizing the car’s competitive edge in its early races.
Built on Aston Martin’s bonded aluminium chassis and powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine similar to the road-going Vantage, the new GT3 variant has made a global impact. In June alone, it clinched victories in Japan’s SUPER GT GT300 with D’station Racing, in Europe’s Road to Le Mans with Blackthorn Racing, and in the British GT Championship at Spa with Forsetti Motorsport.
In the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, Walkenhorst Motorsport secured its first class win with the Vantage GT3, highlighting its dominance on the challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, reflected on the Vantage GT3’s successful month: “June has been a standout month for the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3, with wins across Japan, Europe, and now the USA. The Heart of Racing’s victory in America is a testament to their legacy with Aston Martin in IMSA.”
The next challenge for Aston Martin and the Vantage GT3 unfolds at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) in Canada, promising another thrilling chapter in the 2024 IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship season.
