Aston Martin Triumphs at Spa: Celebrating a Historic Victory with the New Vantage GT3
Aston Martin achieved a magnificent overall victory at the prestigious Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa, the world's premier all-GT3, 24-hour race, held at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, over the weekend of 29-30 June.
The triumphant team, Aston Martin partner Comtoyou Racing, along with works drivers Mattia Drudi (ITA), Marco Sørensen (DEN), and Nicki Thiim (DEN), secured Aston Martin’s first victory in this event since 1948. This win also marked the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3's inaugural 24-hour race victory and its first triumph over major competitors in this Belgian endurance classic since it transitioned to an all-GT event in 2001.
For double FIA GT World Endurance champion Thiim and triple world champion Sørensen, affectionately known as the ‘Dane Train’, this victory was their first as teammates in the same car at a 24-hour race, despite having three 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins to their names.
Sørensen expressed his elation, “Securing a win in the first year with the new Vantage GT3 represents an amazing accomplishment. It’s not just about excellent driving or luck; the entire team, everyone at Aston Martin Racing, and my teammates all deserve credit for this memorable victory.”
Thiim added to the sentiment, “It’s hard to express what this win means to me and to Aston Martin. We've aimed for this victory for a long time, and achieving it feels incredible. Aston Martin and I share many special memories, and this win ranks among the best.”
For Drudi, the Fanatec GT World Europe champion, the race provided a platform to showcase his skills on one of endurance racing’s grandest stages. He consistently put the #007 car in a competitive position, including during the early hours of the race, which saw him lead before the first of multiple Safety Car periods.
Despite a challenging night marked by torrential rain and numerous incidents, Comtoyou Racing maintained composure and kept the car competitive, navigating through significant shifts in race positions during Safety Car periods.
As the track dried up by morning, the #007 car found itself in a direct battle for victory against a rival Ferrari, two BMWs, and the other Pro class #34 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of partner team Walkenhorst Motorsport, piloted by Henrique Chaves (POR), Ross Gunn (GBR), and David Pittard (GBR).
In the race's final hour, just as the #7 Aston Martin trailed the Ferrari by 10 seconds, the Ferrari faced delays at the pitlane, allowing Drudi to take an unopposed lead to the finish.
“To win with Nicki and Marco has been an incredible experience,” Drudi remarked. “This challenging race demanded perfect execution, and I am immensely proud of our entire team’s performance.”
Gunn finished fourth with the #34 Walkenhorst Vantage GT3 after leading several times. Walkenhorst Motorsport narrowly missed clinching the Silver Cup class victory with the #35 Vantage GT3, driven by Romain Leroux (FRA), Lorcan Hanafin (GBR), and Maxime Robin (FRA), which became involved in an accident following a Safety Car period on Sunday morning.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, congratulated Comtoyou Racing, “This fantastic victory for the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 at Spa reflects our technical excellence, endurance, and strategic execution. Congratulations also to Walkenhorst Motorsport for their formidable performance, which nearly secured a podium finish. The hard work by everyone at Aston Martin Racing is clearly paying dividends with this young car.”
