Aston Martin's Vantage GT3 Triumphs at Lone Star Le Mans with THOR's Dominant Win
The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 clinched its maiden victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] when The Heart of Racing team triumphed impressively at the Lone Star Le Mans, hosted at the Circuit of the Americas [COTA] on Sunday.
The Heart of Racing team's victory was emphatic. Drivers Ian James from Britain, Alex Riberas of Spain, and Italy's Daniel Mancinelli led for 160 of the 164 laps during the six-hour race, starting from the class pole position. Riberas also clocked the fastest LMGT3 lap of the race.
Team principal James, a resident of North America well-acquainted with the COTA circuit, took the lead with a flawless double stint, staving off a challenging Lamborghini. Mancinelli, the first Italian to win a WEC race in an Aston Martin, extended their lead as their rivals faltered. Upon handing over to Riberas, their lead ballooned to over 20 seconds. Riberas, fresh from a podium finish with the new Vantage GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at VIR, clinched the win with an impeccable double stint of his own.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, commented, “This is a remarkable victory for the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and The Heart of Racing team. Congratulations to Ian James, Alex Riberas, Daniel Mancinelli, and the team. The Vantage GT3 and the team have consistently demonstrated their winning potential in WEC, especially with their robust performance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and hard-earned second place at the 6 Hours of Sao Paolo. This resounding win, coupled with victories at the Spa 24 Hours and class wins in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the SUPER GT Series in Japan, further underscores the Vantage’s tremendous potential in its debut year of top-tier competition.”
This win marks Aston Martin's tenth triumph in all classes at COTA since the WEC started visiting the circuit in 2012. It is also the 53rd victory the British luxury sports car brand recorded in the series, placing it third on the all-time list of manufacturer wins. It was the 123rd time an Aston Martin crew had stood on the podium and the first time a North American team had won its class at COTA.
This victory is the latest triumph for The Heart of Racing. Competing in IMSA’s GTD Pro and GTD classes, the team is currently second in the GTD Pro category with a victory at Watkins Glen and three additional podiums. In GTD, the team has also claimed a win at Mosport and a second-place finish at VIR last weekend. With victories also in SRO’s Pirelli GT4 America, the team has triumphed in every competition it has entered with Aston Martins this year.
The Heart of Racing remains fourth in the LMGT3 standings with two races left in Japan and Bahrain, having amassed 81 points this season. They are just nine points behind second place, with 65 points still available.
James shared his joy, “This is phenomenal. To accomplish this on the global stage in America and securing our first WEC win is a tremendous achievement. Thanks to the entire team and everyone at Aston Martin Racing. Everyone performed to their utmost today, and it shows in the results. Competing in a WEC race is a dream, but to win one is truly next-level. This victory will stay in the memory bank for a long time.”
At Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Aston Martin's new Vantage GT3 also enjoyed success on the other side of the Atlantic. Partner team Walkenhorst Motorsport secured multiple podium finishes in the prestigious ADAC GT Masters series. Denis Bulatov and Mike David Ortmann of Germany secured third overall in Race 1, while their teammates, Chandler Hull of the USA and Nico Hantke of Germany, topped the Pro-Am class. Bulatov and Ortmann then went on to take another silver class in third place in Sunday’s second race.
The WEC now moves to Japan for the 6 Hours of Fuji and the penultimate round of the championship at Fuji Speedway on 13-15 September.
