To secure its first overall victory in the GT3 era of the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa, Aston Martin is fielding an unprecedented seven Vantage GT3s for the race’s centennial edition. This massive entry, representing more than 10% of the 67-car field, marks the British luxury sportscar manufacturer’s strongest-ever assault on the Belgian endurance classic.
The 2024 edition of the race will see Aston Martin’s new Vantage GT3 make its Spa debut, following a string of impressive performances in other major endurance events this year. Two of Aston Martin’s new partner teams for 2024, ComToYou Racing and Walkenhorst Motorsport, will field the cars across various classes, showcasing the versatility and competitiveness of the new Vantage GT3.
Both teams enter the race with momentum, as the new Vantage GT3 has recently claimed maiden victories in North America, Asia, and Europe. This surge in performance has elevated expectations for Aston Martin’s chances in the last major 24-hour race of the 2024 season.
The Pro class entries from both teams feature all-works driver lineups, underlining Aston Martin’s commitment to overall victory. ComToYou Racing’s #7 car reunites the formidable ‘Dane Train’ duo of Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen, joined by Mattia Drudi. Thiim and Sørensen bring a wealth of experience, including five FIA GT World Endurance Championship titles and two Le Mans class wins between them.
Walkenhorst Motorsport’s #34 entry boasts an equally impressive roster with David Pittard, Henrique Chaves, and Ross Gunn. Pittard comes fresh from a Nürburgring 24 Hours win in 2023, while Chaves is a Le Mans class winner, and Gunn recently secured the new Vantage GT3’s first IMSA victory.
Beyond the Pro class, both teams have entries in the Silver and Bronze Cup categories, further demonstrating the new Vantage GT3’s adaptability to different driver skill levels. ComToYou Racing fields three additional cars, while Walkenhorst Motorsport adds two more to their fleet.
The new Vantage GT3 shares its core architecture with the recently unveiled Vantage road car, featuring Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminium chassis and powered by a formidable twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine. This close relationship between road and race car underscores Aston Martin’s commitment to performance across its entire range.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, emphasised the significance of the Spa 24 Hours in the context of GT racing. “The Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa represents perhaps the purest form of GT endurance racing, given that it is open only to GT3 cars,” Carter stated. He also highlighted the new Vantage GT3’s strong performances throughout June, winning on three continents and showing promise at Le Mans.
Aston Martin’s history at Spa includes a victory in 1948, though under different regulations. In the GT3 era, the marque’s best finish came in 2021 with a third-place overall. As the race celebrates its centenary, Aston Martin aims to write a new chapter in its Spa history with its strongest-ever entry.
The event kicks off on Thursday, June 27, with free practice, followed by qualifying later that day. A special Superpole session will take place on Friday, with the main race starting at 16:30 CET on Saturday, June 29.