The Vantage GT3 delivers a breakthrough result at the Lone Star Le Mans, while Grange Racing by FSR secures the British GT4 Pro-Am title with the Vantage GT4.

Aston Martin’s Vantage has claimed its first victory of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), with the Heart of Racing Team taking the top step at the Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

Ian James, Mattia Drudi and Zach Robichon guided the #27 Vantage GT3 to victory, marking the team’s second win at COTA in three years. The result also delivered a first WEC victory for both Robichon and Drudi, alongside team principal James.

The weekend produced an even stronger result for Heart of Racing, with the team’s second Vantage GT3 finishing third. The #23 car, driven by Gray Newell, Dudu Barrichello and Jonny Adam, secured the team’s first double podium in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The result followed a strong qualifying performance, with the two THOR-run Vantage GT3s locking out the front row for the US round of the WEC.

Starting second, James kept the #27 Vantage firmly in contention through the opening hour before handing the car to Robichon. The Canadian moved into the class lead during the second hour after passing the front-running Porsche.

Drudi took over for the final stint and faced renewed pressure following a late-race Safety Car. With 45 minutes remaining, the Italian pulled clear of the Porsche to secure the victory.

“This was an exemplary performance from Vantage, and a fantastic result for our partner team, the Heart of Racing Team,” said Aston Martin Head of Endurance Adam Carter. “Vantage has been a competitive force in WEC throughout 2026, and this victory feels long overdue.”

The #23 Vantage delivered another strong performance, running consistently inside the top six before a late battle for third. Barrichello ultimately secured his second podium in three races, following his third-place finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

For Drudi, the victory represented the culmination of a long pursuit.

“After one and a half seasons trying to get this win, we’ve always been tripped up by something that stopped us from achieving our goal,” he said. “Now, finally, it feels good to get our first win, and to have the #23 in third position.”

Robichon echoed that sense of relief after the finish, describing the result as the payoff for two seasons of near misses.

“We’ve been so close so many times,” he said. “It just goes to show what we can do when we have a clean race.”

James, who also serves as THOR team principal, added: “We’ve been so close over the last two seasons, and to come here, have such an impressive weekend all around and finish first and third speaks volumes about this team and what we can do.”

The Austin result moves the #23 Heart of Racing entry to fourth in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGT3 Teams on 49 points, level with the third-placed #92 Porsche. The victorious #27 Vantage moves to sixth with 44 points.

With 78 points still available across the final three WEC rounds, both crews remain in title contention. In the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGT3 Drivers, Newell and Adam sit sixth with 49 points, while James, Drudi and Robichon have moved to ninth, five points behind their teammates.

Vantage Adds British GT4 Title

The Vantage’s successful weekend extended beyond the WEC.

At Donington Park, Aston Martin partner team Grange Racing by FSR secured the British GT GT4 Pro-Am Class title with a race still remaining.

Daniel Lavery and Aston Martin works driver Darren Turner sealed the championship after the newly formed team recorded its fifth consecutive class victory in a rain-affected two-hour race.

For Lavery, the title marks an impressive debut British GT season. For Turner, it represents his third GT4 Pro-Am championship, following his previous class victories in 2021 and 2022 with the earlier generation of Vantage.

The achievement also marks the third British GT title for the current Vantage GT4, following Forsetti Motorsport’s GT4 Silver Class and Teams’ championships in 2024.

Lavery and Turner, alongside MK Racing’s Will Orton and Jessica Hawkins, will continue to challenge for the overall GT4 title when the championship reaches its season finale at Brands Hatch on 26–27 September.

For Aston Martin, a WEC victory in Austin and a British GT4 championship at Donington made for a weekend that showcased the breadth of the Vantage racing programme—from endurance competition on the international stage to championship success in the UK.

About Aston Martin Lagonda

Aston Martin’s vision is to be the world’s most desirable, ultra-luxury British brand, creating exquisitely crafted performance cars.

Founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, Aston Martin is an iconic global brand synonymous with style, luxury, performance and exclusivity. The company combines advanced technology, traditional craftsmanship and distinctive design across its range, including the Vantage, DB12, Vanquish, DBX707 and Valkyrie.

Aston Martin is headquartered in Gaydon, England, and its vehicles are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. Its sports cars are manufactured in Gaydon, while the DBX SUV range is produced at St Athan, Wales.

The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc.

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