Aston Martin Seeks Sebring Triumph: Valkyrie Takes on GTP as Vantage GT3 Targets GTD Glory
Aston Martin will contest the GTP division with its Valkyrie and target victory in the GTD category. Former series champions The Heart of Racing (THOR) and Van der Steur Racing will field the latest version of the Vantage GT3 in this prestigious event.
The Vantage GT3 shares the mechanical architecture of Aston Martin’s most focused sports car. Built around the brand’s trusted bonded aluminium chassis and powered by a fearsome twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, the Vantage GT3 secured a noteworthy triumph at last year’s 24 Hours of Spa.
Sebring has delivered some of Aston Martin’s greatest GT racing moments in North America. In 2005, the DBR9 model scored a sensational GT1 victory on its race debut, driven by Darren Turner (GBR), David Brabham (AUS) and Stephane Ortelli (MCO). Since then, Aston Martin has amassed eight more podium finishes at Sebring across various GT classes, including four achieved by Vantage since 2015.
Fresh from a GTD-class podium at January’s Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, The Heart of Racing is pursuing GTD success with its #27 Vantage. The 2021 IMSA GTD title winner and 2023 European Le Mans Series GTE champion Zacharie Robichon (CDN) joins Aston Martin THOR team WEC Valkyrie driver Tom Gamble (GBR), who returns after contesting the event with THOR in 2022. FIA WEC LMGT3 podium finisher Casper Stevenson (GBR) completes this formidable trio, sharing Daytona podium honours with Robichon and Gamble in January.
Van der Steur Racing, meanwhile, continues its inaugural season with the Vantage GT3 after finishing a strong sixth in GTD at Daytona. Aston Martin works driver Valentin Hasse Clot (FRA), the third winner of the Aston Martin Racing Academy to compete at Sebring, joins Anthony McIntosh (USA) and Rory van der Steur (USA) in the #19 entry.
Sebring also marked the first global victory (on only its fourth start) for the latest Vantage GT4 last year. The victorious Rebel Rock Racing team returns with the same 2024 winning line-up of Frank DePew (USA) and Robin Liddell (GBR), aiming for more success in Friday’s Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 – the second round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
The Vantage GT4 claimed last season’s GS class Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles, and Matt Plumb (USA) and Team TGM are back to defend their crowns. Plumb partners Paul Holton (USA), while Hugh Plumb (USA) and team owner Ted Giovanis (USA) share the sister car. Van der Steur Racing’s Christine and Ben Sloss (both USA) will also look to build on their podium finish in the bronze class at Daytona, as they continue Aston Martin’s pursuit of GT racing glory at Sebring.
