In addition to the reveal today that Aston Martin is set to compete in the top class of the FIA WEC and IMSA with an LMH Valkyrie from 2025, the British sportscar brand has shed light on its future GT racing plans.
In 2024 Aston Martin will debut a brand new GT3 and GT4 Vantage, which is already out testing and is expected to compete in global GT competition, to help ensure Aston Martin has a customer GT presence in the FIA WEC, IMSA and in SRO’s World Challenge series going forward.
There is no imagery available of the new Vantage GT3 or GT4 as of yet, though DSC has been told by observers that rather than being a mild-refresh, both look substantially different to the current race cars.
The new cars will bring the curtain down on the current Vantage platform in GTE, GT3 and GT4 competition, which has amassed significant races wins and titles around the world.
Since making its debut in 2018, the Vantage GTE has recorded four world championship titles, including two drivers’, one manufacturers’ and one teams’ crown, as well as three 24 Hours of Le Mans class victories.
The GT3 variant is also steeped in glory, having won IMSA’s GTD crown last year and its class at this year’s Rolex 24 with Valkyrie racing partner Heart of Racing.
The new car will fall within the ‘Evo’ style of re-homologation with the existing powertrain built into a restyled car.
Also a class winner in the Spa 24 Hours, the Vantage AMR GT3 was GTWC class champion and the first Aston Martin to win a sportscar championship in Japan, with D’station Racing taking the 2021 Super Taikyu title. Domestically, the GT3 Vantage AMR was successful in British GT too, claiming a title in 2020 with TF Sport.
The Vantage AMR GT4 too is a multiple championship-winning entry level GT that has two British GT GT4 titles in 2019 and 2020. It also has success stateside on its CV, with Michelin Pilot Challenge title wins in 2020 and 2022.
The GT4 will utilise the powertrain from the forthcoming 2024 version of the Vantage road car.
Aston Martin Racing (Prodrive) will continue to be the constructor, and customer support operator for both new GTs.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Aston Martin in endurance racing,” said Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s head of endurance motorsport.
“By also confirming Aston Martin’s commitment to a new GT3 and GT4 challenger, we signal our intent to compete for victory at all levels of sportscar racing now and well into the future.”
So far Aston Martin has a new customer team for 2024 already confirmed, as Comtoyou Racing has formally announced that it will switch brands from Audi to Aston Martin at the end of this season. Elsewhere DSC expects Aston Martin to have a presence in the LMGT3 category of the FIA WEC, with Prodrive believed to be the leading candidate to operate the cars.
