The debut of the New Vantage GT3, a bid for podium glory in its premiere at Sebring.

The Heart of Racing set on amplifying the triumph of its impressive IMSA introduction at Daytona with the Vantage.

Magnus Racing, victors of the Sebring 12 Hours class, resurfaces with the novel Vantage GT3.

Rebel Rock Racing will unleash the new Vantage GT4 as seven Aston Martins partake in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Wednesday, 13th March 2024, Sebring: The pristine Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and GT4 make a resurgence into competitive action this forthcoming weekend, congregating at the Sebring International Raceway for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, a pinnacle of endurance contests in North America, staged in Florida.

Three exemplars of the novel Vantage GT3, showcasing its global prowess at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January before its formal revelation in February, will contend at Sebring. Collaborative outfits with Aston Martin Racing, namely the Heart of Racing (HoR) and Magnus Racing based in the United States, aspire to capitalize on the car’s commendable fourth-place finish in the season opener, along with the remarkable double podium clinched by HoR and D’station Racing in the LMGT3 class during the FIA World Endurance Championship curtain-raiser in Qatar earlier this month.

Ross Gunn, a distinguished Works AMR driver, embarks on his fourth Sebring 12 Hours campaign, joining forces with GTD Pro victor Alex Riberas (ESP) and HoR’s recent recruit Mario Farnbacher (DEU) in the #23 GTD Pro entry, the sole representative of Aston Martin in the class, which led the charge at Daytona and secured a commendable fourth position on its debut.

The sibling #27 GTD class HoR Vantage GT3 also spearheaded its category at Daytona, with several crew members eyeing Sebring to augment their illustrious roster of Aston Martin accolades. Roman De Angelis, the 2022 IMSA GTD champion from Canada, in tandem with team principal Ian James from Great Britain, emerges as a formidable duo, having previously triumphed in the 2021 IMSA Sprint Cup and secured victory in the 2023 Rolex 24. The pair has graced the GTD podium twice at the undulating former airfield venue, securing second place in 2019 and third place in 2020. Joining them is Zacharie Robichon, the 2021 GTD class champion from Canada.

Magnus Racing boasts a rich history of triumph at Sebring, clinching victory in the GTD class on its inaugural outing in 2014. A decade later, the outfit, specializing in IMSA’s endurance spectacles such as Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, fervently pursues triumph once more with team owner John Potter and his American compatriots Andy Lally and Spencer Pumpelly.

The novel Vantage GT3 stems from a lineage of multiple world championship-winning predecessors and shares the mechanical blueprint of the new ultra-luxurious Vantage road car. Crafted around Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminum chassis and propelled by its formidable twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, the Vantage GT3 features a comprehensive overhaul in aerodynamic configuration, suspension refinement, and cutting-edge electronics, bestowing upon this latest iteration of the Aston Martin GT a pedigree synonymous with global dominance.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, remarked, “The nascent stages of the international endurance racing calendar have showcased promising signs for the new Vantage GT3. The enhancements incorporated into the latest rendition of our GT racing stalwart appear to be yielding dividends across a diverse spectrum of drivers who have piloted it thus far. It has demonstrated equilibrium across an array of tyres and circuits and has asserted its competitiveness in two prominent endurance championships. Now, it faces one of motorsport’s most formidable challenges: the distinctive rigors of Sebring! While this car is still in its embryonic phase, and there is much yet to glean from it, I am confident that with our esteemed cadre of partners fielding Aston Martin entries in both GT3 and GT4, we will acquire invaluable insights following the culmination of this particular weekend!”

The new Vantage GT4 also made its competitive debut at Daytona, inaugurating the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) season with the newly minted AMR partner team, Rebel Rock Racing. However, this weekend, the car will cast off its camouflage livery, resplendent in striking green hues, with Frank DePew (USA) and Robin Liddell (GBR) at the helm.

The erstwhile generation Vantage GT4, an IMPC laureate, is well-represented in the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 race at Sebring. Six entries are fielded by AMR affiliates Archangel Motorsports, Automatic Racing, Skip Barber Racing, Team TGM, and van der Steur Racing.

The Alan Jay Automotive 120 commences at 1515 EDT local time (+4 GMT) on Friday, 15th March. Official practice for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring commences on Thursday, 14th March at 1005 EDT, with the race set to begin at 0940 EDT on Saturday. Stay abreast of the event particulars via the official IMSA website and App.