New Aston Martin Vantage GT3 achieves first international victory at Super GT in Japan

MANILA: Aston Martin’s Vantage GT3 race car has made history with its first-ever win at an international race, a significant milestone since its debut. 

Specifically, the new race car from the British marque won the GT300 class at the Autobacs Super Grand Touring (GT) Series held at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. The win likewise marks the carmaker’s maiden victory in the said series. 

Tomonobu Fujii and Charlie Fagg, driving the number 777 Aston Martin Vantage GT3, competed at the aforementioned race under D’Station Racing. The latter is an Aston Martin partner team currently competing in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). 

Per the automotive manufacturer,  the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 car demonstrated an exceptional performance, sweeping the three-hour race in Suzuki. Fujii, also the managing director of D'Station Racing, set the fastest race lap time, further highlighting the car's prowess. Notably, the Aston Martin race car finished the competition 38 seconds ahead of its closest competitor. 

In another part of the world, the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 under the Heart of Racing Aston  Martin partner WEC team likewise won third place in the GTD Pro Class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship held in Detroit, Michigan. 

Aston Martin works driver Ross Gunn and GTD Pro Class race-winner Alex Riberas piloted the GT3-spec car for Heart of Racing for the British brand’s first-ever podium finish at what is considered America’s premier endurance racing series. 

According to Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport Adam Carter, the Gaydon-based company always knew the Vantage GT3’s potency for GT-based endurance racing. Nevertheless, the company is proud of its achievements in the Japanese Super GT and the American endurance race. 

“We’ve known from the outset that the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 can deliver success at any level of GT-based endurance racing,” Carter said. 

“That its first victory came in Japan is particularly satisfying, given the prestige of Super GT, the fact that we have never won in that series before, and perhaps most importantly because of the excellent work D’station Racing has put in to achieve this success since forming our partnership in 2019. I’m also delighted to note Heart of Racing’s podium finish in Detroit, delivered with the team’s usual blend of race savvy and tenacity,” Carter added. 

At the moment, the company says 25 units of the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 are competing in more than 10 GT series. The said figure is expected to grow to at least 35 by the end of the current race season. 

Photos from Aston Martin

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