Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Aims for Victory in IMSA 2024 Finale at Road Atlanta
This weekend, the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 enters the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship finale at Road Atlanta, hoping to secure its first major championship title. Competing in the demanding 10-hour Petit Le Mans race, the car is a strong contender in its debut season.
The Vantage GT3 has had an outstanding first season in international competitions, marking a historic win at the June Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa's centenary edition. This victory marked a first in the modern GT era for the British ultra-luxury sports car brand. It also clinched Aston Martin’s first-ever Autobacs Super GT class victory in Japan the same month. Throughout the summer, the Vantage has secured class wins in the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA, the Nürburgring Langstrecken Series, and ADAC GT Masters.
Partnering with The Heart of Racing team and British works driver Ross Gunn, Aston Martin is set to contend for the GTD Pro class manufacturers', teams', and drivers' championship crowns this Saturday. The Heart of Racing team will also field two new Vantage GT3s, aiming to add another IMSA GT class title to their achievements.
For Gunn and The Heart of Racing, the goal this weekend is clear—they need to outscore their closest rivals by 100 points, with 350 points available to the race winner and an additional 35 for pole position. Aston Martin needs to surpass the series leader by 123 points, based on the highest-finishing GTD Pro Vantage.
Gunn will be joined in the GTD Pro #23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 by Alex Riberas of Spain and Canadian 2022 IMSA GTD class champion Roman De Angelis. The sister #27 Vantage, typically racing in the GTD class, will compete in the GTD Pro class to earn crucial manufacturer points. German two-time Petit Le Mans class winner Mario Farnbacher, Canadian Zach Robichon, and Danish triple FIA GT World champion Marco Sørensen will drive this car.
Magnus Racing's new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 will be the sole Vantage running in the GTD class following its successful international debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Utah-based team, participating in only the 'Endurance' rounds of IMSA, aims for its first-class victory with Vantage.
The Vantage GT4 also debuts at Road Atlanta this weekend, following a victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Fox Factory 120 race. Team TGM, led by American driver Matt Plumb, leads the GS class teams’ and drivers’ championships by 110 points, with Aston Martin also leading the manufacturers' standings.
As the North American endurance season concludes, the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is set to make a significant impact, potentially clinching one of the most prestigious titles in global sports car racing—the IMSA GTD Pro class championship.
