Vantage GT3 Hunts Wins at Spa, Laguna Seca & Nürburgring
Aston Martin’s Vantage GT3 storms three legendary endurance circuits this weekend, chasing victory at Spa‑Francorchamps, Laguna Seca and the daunting Nürburgring Nordschleife. The FIA World Endurance Championship revisits Spa for its fourteenth appearance, and Heart of Racing and Spirit of Léman plan to extend Vantage’s six class wins and fourteen further podiums in the LMGT3 class of Friday’s 6 Hours of Spa.
Team principal Ian James joins Zach Robichon and Mattia Drudi, determined to rebound after Imola, where a rival forced James into the barriers and ended their race. The car shielded its driver, and the trio returned fit to fight for another Belgian podium. Racing Spirit of Léman fields Derek De Boer, Eduardo Barrichello, and works ace Valentin Hasse‑Clot in the #10 Vantage GT3, aiming to improve on ninth place from the Lusail opener.
Across the Atlantic, Heart of Racing campaigns the new Vantage GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Laguna Seca. British regulars Tom Gamble and Casper Stevenson sit third overall after podiums at Daytona and Sebring, plus ninth at Long Beach. With Gamble on Valkyrie duty at Spa, triple Le Mans winner Darren Turner partners Stevenson. Turner, a staple of Aston Martin’s works roster and GT World Challenge America racer, last tasted IMSA success with the triumphant 2023 Daytona GTD crew.
Meanwhile, Walkenhorst Motorsport seeks the Vantage’s first overall triumph on the Nordschleife when Nicki Thiim and 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours winner David Pittard tackle NLS3. The #34 car secured second place in the previous Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie round and now targets the top step.
“Vantage GT3 has made a strong start to the season with podiums in IMSA, the Nürbrurging Langstrecken Serie and national series around the world,” said Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport Adam Carter. “It feels as though it’s only a matter of time before it adds a similar result in WEC, and Spa has been kind to Vantage over the years. The car recently performed very well at the Nürburgring in NLS2 and is a contender. I’d also like to extend our best wishes to Darren Turner in his cameo turn on board the THOR Vantage in the IMSA round at Laguna Seca. We have an exciting weekend coming up for Aston Martin.”
Sharing architecture with the marque’s most focused sports car, the Vantage GT3—last year’s Spa 24 Hours winner—relies on a proven bonded aluminium chassis and a ferocious twin‑turbo four‑litre V8. This formidable package aims to convert its early‑season promise into multiple trophies on endurance racing’s greatest stages.
