Tuesday, 27 August 2024, Austin, USA – Aston Martin is gearing up for a highly anticipated return to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) as the Lone Star Le Mans 6 Hours race makes its comeback to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar for the first time since 2020. This weekend, the spotlight will be on the latest Vantage GT3, making its Texas debut in the capable hands of The Heart of Racing (THoR) and D’station Racing.
Aston Martin boasts an impressive record at COTA, the scene of extraordinary success for the Vantage in the WEC. The British luxury marque has secured nine GT class victories in the six events held at this venue since the series’ inception in 2012, reflecting a remarkable 75% win ratio. This tally includes four double-class victories, underscoring Aston Martin’s dominance in the Austin circuit’s storied history.
The new Vantage GT3, closely derived from the latest Vantage road car unveiled earlier this year at Silverstone, showcases Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminum chassis and a formidable twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine. While the car is still seeking its first victory at the world championship level, it has already demonstrated its prowess in other categories, becoming increasingly competitive in the LMGT3 class, which features a diverse field of nine manufacturers.
THoR, racing on home turf for the first time since joining the WEC at Spa in 2023, is poised to make a significant impact. The team recently secured a second-place finish in the 6 Hours of Sao Paolo, Brazil, closing the gap in the fight for second place in the LMGT3 standings. With a maximum of 91 points available from the last three races, THoR is positioned fourth in the standings, just 20 points from second place and 45 from the lead.
D’station Racing has also made its mark this season, with a podium finish in Qatar and consistent performances throughout the rounds, including a notable top ten finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team’s driver lineup, featuring Clément Mateu, Marco Sørensen, and Erwan Bastard, remains competitive, sitting seventh in the championship standings, only 11 points behind THoR.
In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, THoR’s Vantage GT3 has been on a hot streak, with five consecutive podium finishes. Works driver Ross Gunn is closing in on the GTD Pro points lead, currently sitting just 17 points behind the leader with two races left. Meanwhile, Roman De Angelis and Zacharie Robichon have secured a second-place finish in the GTD class, continuing their strong performances this season.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, commented, “The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has quickly established itself as a formidable competitor on the global GT stage. Despite some setbacks, it could have already secured an FIA WEC class victory alongside its Spa 24 Hours win and THoR’s IMSA success. With our proven track record at COTA, we’re optimistic that both THoR and D’station Racing will help the new Vantage GT3 continue this successful trend.”
Official practice for the Lone Star Le Mans begins on Friday, 30 August, with the race set to start at 1300 local time on Sunday. For the latest updates, follow the event via the official series websites and apps.
