Aston Martin Charges into Spa with Record Vantage GT3 Lineup in Pursuit of Historic Victory
Aston Martin's new Vantage GT3 debuts this weekend at the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa, as the iconic British luxury sports car brand targets its first outright victory since the event adopted a GT3-only format in 2012.
This year sees a record-breaking entry of seven Vantages, the most substantial Aston Martin GT3 contingent ever, fielded by two of Aston Martin’s newest partner teams for 2024, ComToYou Racing and Walkenhorst Motorsport. Together, they represent over 10% of the massive 67-car lineup, featuring nine global manufacturers across five essential classes.
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the event—a race Aston Martin last clinched in 1948 under different regulations—both teams are fresh from securing the new Vantage GT3's first wins in North America, Asia, and Europe. The Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa offers the last chance in 2024 to add to their trophy collection in a premier endurance race, following standout performances at the Rolex 24 Hours, Nürburgring 24 Hours, and the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Fueling their ambitions, both teams boast an all-works driver lineup in their Pro class cars. ComToYou Racing’s #7 car will see the 'Dane Train' duo of Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen team up with Mattia Drudi (ITA), rekindling their celebrated partnership. Collectively, Thiim and Sørensen hold five FIA GT World Endurance Championship titles and two 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins, though a Spa victory has eluded them. Drudi, reigning Fanatec GT World Europe Sprint Cup champion, came close with a second-place finish in 2020.
Walkenhorst Motorsport’s #34 car also boasts a thrilling lineup with David Pittard (GBR), the 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours winner, joining forces with Henrique Chaves, the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner, and Ross Gunn (GBR), who recently celebrated the new Vantage GT3’s inaugural IMSA win.
Together, these six Aston Martin works drivers form the brand's strongest-ever challenge for the race’s Pro class. Their entry follows a triumphant string of victories in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the SUPER GT Series, the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, and the Road to Le Mans in just the last month.
ComToYou Racing also enters three additional Vantage GT3s, all built around Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminium chassis and powered by its robust twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, mirroring the new Vantage road car showcased earlier at Silverstone.
In addition to ComToYou's lineup, Walkenhorst Motorsport fields a competitive Silver Cup squad with their Vantage GT3s, highlighting drivers like Romain Leroux (FRA), Lorcan Hanafin (GBR), and Maxime Robin (FRA).
Supporting the main event, Aston Martin extends its influence into the GT4 European Series, entering nine Vantage GT4s across five partner teams, underscoring its commitment to dominating European motorsport.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, underscores the significance of the 24 Hours of Spa, highlighting its unique challenge as a GT3-exclusive event and a perfect proving ground for the formidable new Vantage GT3. After a season peppered with mishaps in major 24-hour races, Carter expresses optimism for a triumphant outcome at Spa, a race that resonates deeply within the motorsport community on its centennial anniversary.
Aston Martin aims to surpass its best GT3 era result—a third place in 2021—and recapture the glory of its last Spa victory in 1948, leveraging this year's strong lineup and recent success to make motorsport history.
