- Aston Martin Vantage returns to scene of some its greatest triumphs
- The Heart of Racing seeking glory and redemption after 2024 heartbreak
- Racing Spirit of Léman to make 24 Hours of Le Mans Aston Martin debut
- Mattia Drudi embarks on endurance marathon contesting the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburging 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours back-to-back
- Vantage drivers Drudi, Derek De Boer and Eduardo Barrichello taking their bow in the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans
Vantage, the most successful racing car in the history of Aston Martin, returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans chasing its sixth class victory in the world’s most famous endurance motor race with partner teams The Heart of Racing (THOR) and Racing Spirit of Léman (RSL) this weekend.
Two examples of the Vantage GT3, which shares its mechanical architecture with the ultra-luxury performance brand’s most focused sportscar, and is built around Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminium chassis and powered by its fearsome twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, will go hunting for the manufacturer’s 20th class victory in the event.
Regular class frontrunners, THOR team principal Ian James (GBR), Zach Robichon (CDN) and Mattia Drudi (ITA) are looking to bounce back from the heartbreak of 2024’s edition, where the #27 Vantage GT3 crashed out mid-Sunday morning in slippery conditions, having put in an extraordinary performance to be in the fight for victory through the rain-affected night.
“We have chance to fight for the win,” said team prinicipal and driver Ian James. “With this team we always have a chance to win. We know the Aston Martin Vantage is capable of competing and we have shown strong performances through the season so far. With Le Mans counting for double points, it’s important to get a good result. We are focussed on going back and giving it our best efforts.”
For works driver Drudi, the 24 Hours of Le Mans marks the start of an endurance racing marathon, as well as his debut in the French event. The Italian will contest the la Sarthe classic for the Heart of Racing before flying straight on to the Nürburgring 24 Hours the following weekend with Walkenhorst Motorsport. The weekend after that he will return to Belgium to defend his 2024 Spa 24 Hours win alongside Marco Sørensen (DEN) and Nicki Thiim (DEN) in the Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
“I’m really looking forward to doing it,” said Drudi. “I don’t know that many drivers that are doing all three. It is a bit extreme this season, but you can never do enough racing so for me this is a perfect situation!”
THOR will be joined by Racing Spirit of Léman (RSL) trio Derek De Boer (USA), Eduardo Barrichello (BRA) and Aston Martin works driver Valentin Hasse Clot (FRA) in the #10 Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
For works driver Hasse Clot, this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans marks a return to his favourite race, having made his debut in the Vantage GTE in 2023. For his team-mates de Boer and Barrichello, this weekend’s race represents their Le Mans debut, although the former has raced at the Circuit de la Sarthe in the Road to Le Mans support race.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, said: “Vantage has a proud history at Le Mans. It is responsible for more than a quarter of all of Aston Martin’s class victories in this great event. Part of the reason for that is the quality of the partner teams that we align with to compete in the WEC. This year is no different, in THOR and RSL, we have two outstanding teams in LMGT3 who are more than capable of delivering results worthy of Aston Martin’s heritage. We wish them well and look forward to seeing if Vantage can add to its Le Mans victory tally in 2025.”
