Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Scores Podium Finish at Daytona 24 Hours
At the iconic Daytona 24 Hours, Aston Martin's new race-winning Vantage GT3 clinched a podium finish as the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship kicked off at the famous Florida venue last weekend.
The Heart of Racing (THOR) team secured third place in the GTD class with its #27 Vantage GT3, following a spirited comeback in the final hours. Meanwhile, newcomer Van der Steur Racing also excelled, placing two Aston Martins in the top six of the category. This performance came just before the much-anticipated debut of the Aston Martin THOR Team Valkyrie in the top GTP category at the upcoming 12 Hours of Sebring in March.
Based in Phoenix, the Aston Martin Racing partner team is poised to lead the Valkyrie programme, which will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] and the IMSA series in 2025. Throughout the 24 hours, the team consistently set the pace in the GTD class. Starting from seventh, drivers Zacharie Robichon, Tom Gamble, Mattia Drudi, and Casper Stevenson pushed into the lead by the fourth hour with a unique pit strategy that set them apart from their rivals.
Despite being knocked off the track by a competitor with three hours remaining, the #27 Vantage, driven by Aston Martin works driver Drudi, made a formidable final push. Drudi's masterful driving in the last hours saw the team rejoin the fray for the win, culminating in a thrilling three-way battle.
In the dramatic last 20 minutes, Drudi exchanged the lead multiple times before securing a third-place finish on his IMSA debut. This marked the first podium for the latest iteration of Aston Martin's most successful race car, the Vantage GT3, at Daytona.
The Vantage GT3, sharing its mechanical foundations with the luxurious Vantage road car, features Aston Martin's robust bonded aluminium chassis and a powerful twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, demonstrating its world-class capabilities.
Also shining at Daytona was Van der Steur Racing, making its GTD debut after two successful seasons with the Vantage GT4 in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. The team, which included Aston Martin works driver Valentin Hasse Clot, Maxime Robin, Anthony McIntosh, and Rory van der Steur, remained competitive throughout the race. Hasse Clot finished just eight seconds behind the leaders.
Ian James, Principal of The Heart of Racing team, expressed his satisfaction, “It's a special place for the team, and achieving a podium is a fantastic way to start our IMSA season. The team performed exceptionally well, and leading with just 15 minutes left was a highlight of the race.”
Adam Carter, Head of Aston Martin Endurance Motorsport, added, “We are thrilled to see the Vantage on the podium again, especially with the new model at the Daytona 24 Hours. The Heart of Racing demonstrated outstanding speed and preparation, adapting brilliantly to race dynamics despite challenges. Van der Steur Racing’s debut in the GTD class was equally impressive, underscoring the strength of our engineering support and the Vantage platform’s reliability.”
The excitement continues as the IMSA season advances to the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, where Aston Martin Valkyrie will make its series debut on Saturday, 15 March 2025.
