Heart of Racing Rolex 24Hr line up confirmed
Thursday, December 19, 2019
It was great to see North America's first Aston Martin Racing Partner team to run the new 2019 specification V8 Vantage GT3 in next seasons IMSA Championship confirm a four driver line up today ahead of next months Rolex 24hr from Daytona.
Featuring a duo of both Team Manager and experience endurance racer, Ian James as well as the return of former team driver Alex Riberas sees the team add two new names to the mix - one for just the 24hour opening round of the IMSA season and the other as the full season pairing alongside Riberas in the Weathertech Sportscar Championship in a car that shall compete in the GTD (GT3) class.
Aston Martin Racing factory driver Nicki Thiim needs no introduction - ambitious, highly determined, a race winner at the highest level - the Dane will be looking for nothing less than a fully committed effort from AMR's latest signatories as he and the team both return to this headline event.
The quartet is made up with the announcement that eighteen year old Canadian, Roman De Angelis will be joining the squad on a full time basis, sharing the car with Riberas as he steps up to GT racing having won the 2019 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama with an impressive record of 13 wins, 18 podiums and 12 pole positions as well as the 2019 Porsche GT3 Cup Canada series.
"Endurance racing has always been my dream. To be making my second start in the 24 Hours of Daytona at the age of 18, as a full-season driver in the IMSA GTD class, is something that I would never have dreamt of. In addition, to be partnered with a brand so rich in racing history like Aston Martin, is an absolute dream come true" said De Angelis.
"I cannot thank the Aston Martin Racing/The Heart of Racing team enough for putting faith in me, to not only be back in a race car, but to be put in such a high level of competition with a prestigious brand and well-prepared team is incredible. I am looking forward to working with the team for the first time at the ROAR, as well as working alongside new teammates, Nicki and Alex, and Ian James as well as getting started with the team on our 2020 campaign."
For Thiim, we know that he would have accepted this factory placement without a second thought having told us at the final round of the 2019 British GT Championship from Donington Park in September that he saw the American IMSA Championship as the place he most wanted to be racing in. He has now been given his chance to return to the USA to show just us what the new AMR Vantage GT3 was capable of.
First competitive track action for these guys is at the Roar before the 24 over the weekend of the 3rd -5th January before they return for the race week itself that starts on the January 22nd.
Then of course, the Heart of Racing AMR Vantage GT3 will now not be the only car of this type at the event after Paul Dalla Lana confirmed his return to the event earlier this month in a car that he will again share with Mathias Lauda, Pedro Lamy as well as a debuting Ross Gunn!
Game on!!
Photo credits - Heart of Racing / AMR
