Third Garage 59 AMR GT3 for full Pro assault at the Total 24 Hours of Spa

The ‘Dane Train’ will share a brand-new 4-litre V8 turbo-charged Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with AMR works driver Ross Gunn (GB) in a one-off assault on the Pro class of the prestigious Belgian event, which starts on 31 July. The Spa 24 Hours is considered the blue riband race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe and Intercontinental GT Challenge and, open to homologated GT3-specification race cars only, is a true measure of endurance for both driver and machine.

The additional entry means that Garage 59 will run three Vantage GT3s with the team’s full season Silver and Pro-Am GTWC entries featuring their regular line-ups complementing the Pro entry. The reigning Pro-Am champions in the #188 Vantage, Alexander West (CH), Chris Goodwin (GB) and two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Jonny Adam (GB) will be joined by a fourth driver yet to be confirmed. The Silver class entry will also feature a fourth driver alongside AMR Academy graduate Valentin Hasse-Clot (FR), Alex MacDowall (GB) and Nicolai Kjærgaard (DK).

“After an amazing season in 2020, winning both FIA World Endurance Championship titles with the team, and the Vantage GTE winning Le Mans, I am really happy to be returning to contest one of the biggest GT3 races on the planet,” said Thiim. “As always it’s an honour to represent the Aston Martin brand and to be able to show what this car is capable of. There are new goals within the Aston Martin family, but the target remains the same – to win. Spa represents the perfect scenario for this, to race against the best of the best. It’s great to keep the ‘Dane Train’ alive and to be able to drive alongside the ‘Gunn’ is great too, and Garage 59 is a very impressive team. I can’t wait to get started.”

Sørensen added: “I am really looking forward to going racing again at Spa. To have the shot at an overall win in one of the great GT endurance races is a great opportunity, so I have to say thanks to Garage 59 and Aston Martin. I think with Ross joining the ‘Dane Train’ we make a pretty strong line-up and the Vantage definitely has the potential to fight at the front. The team has won championships at this level and always produces a competitive car so I am looking forward to learning more about them.”

“It’s great to be going back to the Spa 24 Hours in a ‘Pro’ set-up with Garage 59 alongside Marco and Nicki,” said Gunn, who also races a Vantage GT3 for The Heart of Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in the United States. “Competition in GT3 racing is at an all-time high and we have lots of work to do at the test to get ready. But we have a great team behind us and a fantastic car to work with so I am confident that we can have a strong event.”

Source material - AMR

Photo credits - AMR / GTWCE / Garage 59