Aston Martin Vantage Hunts Sixth Le Mans Class Triumph
Aston Martin’s Vantage, the marque’s most decorated racing car, heads back to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend with partner outfits The Heart of Racing and Racing Spirit of Léman, targeting a sixth class victory in the legendary endurance race. Two Vantage GT3s—built on the brand’s bonded aluminium chassis and propelled by a formidable twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8—will seek Aston Martin’s twentieth class triumph at La Sarthe.
Team principal Ian James leads regular frontrunners The Heart of Racing alongside Zach Robichon and works driver Mattia Drudi, determined to erase the pain of 2024 when the No. 27 Vantage GT3 crashed in treacherous Sunday-morning rain after contending for the win through a storm-soaked night. “We have a chance to fight for the win,” declared James. “The Aston Martin Vantage can compete at the front, and with double points on offer, we must seize a strong result.”
Drudi begins an endurance marathon with his Le Mans debut before jetting to the Nürburgring 24 Hours the following weekend and then defending his Spa 24 Hours crown. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Not many drivers tackle all three races; you can never do enough racing, so this is perfect for me.”
Racing Spirit of Léman fields Derek De Boer, Eduardo Barrichello and Aston Martin works racer Valentin Hasse Clot in the No. 10 Vantage GT3. Hasse Clot returns to his favourite event after debuting in a Vantage GTE last year. At the same time, De Boer and Barrichello make their first starts in the primary race, De Boer having previously contested the Road to Le Mans support.
Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, underscored Vantage’s pedigree: “Vantage has earned more than a quarter of Aston Martin’s Le Mans class victories. With two outstanding LMGT3 teams in THOR and RSL, we believe Vantage can add to its tally in 2025.”
