- New Aston Martin Vantage GT3 chasing second win of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, in Bahrain
- New Vantage GT3 impresses on debut season in world championship
- D’station Racing looks to bookend WEC season with another podium
- The Heart of Racing chasing second in the LMGT3 class standings
29 October 2024, Sakhir, Bahrain: The new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 will conclude a highly successful debut season in the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC], as the series reaches its finale – the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain – on Saturday, 2 November, 2024.
Aston Martin’s new GT3-based challenger, which is closely derived from the new Vantage road car unveiled earlier this year at Silverstone, is built around a proven bonded aluminium chassis and powered by a fearsome twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine. The car has already earned its maiden victory in WEC this season, winning the Lone Star Le Mans round at the Circuit of the Americas [COTA] with The Heart of Racing team [THoR], in September. Driver crews from THoR and D’station Racing have stood on the podium steps on four other occasions throughout 2024.
Thanks to a spectacular home race at COTA, THoR led the way in Round 5 from pole, recording the fastest LMGT3 class lap on route to the team’s maiden WEC victory. Another points finish in the most recent round at Fuji in Japan last month means that team principal and driver Ian James (GBR), Alex Riberas (ESP) and Daniel Mancinelli (ITA) are right in the fight for second place in the LMGT3 Endurance Trophy for drivers’ and teams. Just seven points separate three GT crews contesting the runner-up place, with 39 points available in Bahrain.
Should THoR achieve its goal, it would wrap up a strong season with the new Vantage GT3 for the US-based outfit, having already secured runner-up in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro class drivers’ and teams’ championships at Road Atlanta earlier this month. Aston Martin works driver Ross Gunn (GBR) narrowly missed out on his first IMSA full series crown by just five points, having taken a win and four podiums – including third in the Petit Le Mans finale. New Vantage also took Aston Martin to second in the manufacturers’ championship in North America’s premier GT endurance series.
D’station Racing has also enjoyed great success with the Vantage GT3 domestically, where it remains in title contention for the GT300 class in the Japanese-based SUPER GT Series – having recorded Aston Martin’s maiden victory in the championship at Suzuka in June.
The team, owned by former WEC racer Satoshi Hoshino (JPN) and managed by SUPER GT Series class winner Tomonobu Fujii (JPN), comes to Bahrain hoping to improve on its best WEC finishes of second in class, recorded at the same race, in Bahrain, last year.
Among D’station Racing’s driving strength is Aston Martin’s most decorated active works driver, Marco Sørensen (DEN), a three-time FIA WEC champion in the GT classes and a Rolex 24 and 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner, and now the most recent Spa 24 Hours winner alongside fellow works drivers Nicki Thiim (DEN) and Mattia Drudi (ITA). Erwan Bastard (FRA), a French and European GT4 title-winner, join the Dane in the #777 Vantage.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, said: “No matter what is left to come from 2024, I believe we are safe to declare the season a successful start to the new Vantage GT3’s career. A resounding a victory in COTA for THoR along with podiums for both our US partners and D’station Racing prove what a raceable GT car the Aston Martin is for both professional and amateur drivers alike in WEC. In contention for championships around the world, Vantage is still fighting for titles in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe and the SUPER GT Series in Japan. To be competing for second on its debut in the world championship proves what an excellent option it will be for any existing or potential partner in year two.”
Aston Martin’s record at Bahrain in WEC is excellent. Vantage took pole for the inaugural race there in 2012 and went on to finish second with Darren Turner (GBR) and Stefan Mücke (DEU). Since then, it has won in each of its three previous configurations (Vantage V8, V8 Vantage GTE and Vantage GTE) in the GT class, and Aston Martin has recorded seven class victories all told. In total, Aston Martin crews have stood on the podium no less than 15 times. Last year’s event witnessed D’station Racing’s best WEC result (second in the LMGTE class), while THoR recorded its maiden WEC podium with third place.
Official practice for the 8 Hours of Bahrain begins on Thursday, 31 October at 1215 local time (0915 GMT) with the race beginning at 1400 (1100 GMT) on Saturday. Follow details of the event via the official series websites and Apps.
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