AMR Vantage GT3 new and old on track in top flight series around the world
Wednesday, December 06, 2023
Last weekend saw the first double header leg of a five round Asian Le Mans Series that saw both the #77 D’Station Racing and #95 TF Sport Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT3’s take to the Sepang International Circuit for the first time.
Running with their own crew this time around saw the Japanese D’Station racing team return to the series with their 2023 World Endurance Championship driver line up of Satoshi Hoshino, Tomonobu Fujii and Casper Stevenson whilst it was also a familiar ELMS driver line up within the TF Sport prepared entry for drivers John Hartshorne, Ben Tuck and Jonny Adam.
Competing within a very strong GT3 field of twenty-three cars amongst a capacity thirty-nine car entry, saw the #77 D’Station Racing crew claim the inter AMR powered crew upper hand during testing, Free Practice and Qualifying although it was role reversal in both the four-hour races themselves as the #97 improved from P15 in the rain affected opener before going on to secure a top 10 finish in Sundays finale with a P9 finish.
The #77 car was certainly consistent but not consistent enough at the sharper end of the class as they came home to record a P16 and P17 finish for their weekends work.
The series now moves on to Dubai and the only solo four-hour race there on the 4th February 2024.
Whilst they have been in Asia competing with the ‘present’ iteration of the Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT3, over at Daytona today the Heart of Racing wheeled out their new 2024 versions of the Vantage GT3 ready for some IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship testing at the home of the seasons opening Rolex 24 early next year.
Having only seen the new ‘Evo’ version with its green camouflage livery, these early shots show the car in beautiful bare carbon which gives us our first chance to appreciate the new lines over the 95% rebuilt car. We have heard about how all bar the roof and the doors have effectively been remodelled for the new platform with even the engine and gearbox getting a new year software upgrade as well.
This week’s test will be the first public wheel to wheel comparison of the new car outside of the test, development and customer sale/interest arena.
Photo credits – A Lofthouse / D’Station Racing / social media
