* The Heart of Racing Team set to make Monza debut for FIA WEC finale
* Vantage has strong momentum in the FIA World Endurance Championship after a win and three podiums from Le Mans onwards
* Vantage aiming for fourth LMGT3 class pole position of the season
* COTA race winners Ian James, Zach Robichon and Mattia Drudi chasing second win of LMGT3 season
* Double-pole winner Gray Newell makes Monza debut, alongside teammates Jonny Adam and Dudu Barrichello
* Four Aston Martin Racing partner teams to race for glory in opening Asian Le Mans Series race at Paul Ricard from 13-15 November
* Vantage returns to world-famous Macau street circuit for FIA GT World Cup with Comtoyou Racing, Marco Sørensen and Jamie Day
Aston Martin’s most successful racing car, Vantage, aims to end the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] with a victory as the series concludes with the 6 Hours of Monza (Italy), on Sunday (8 November).
Vantage has proved to be a standout performer in this year’s LMGT3 class, claiming more pole positions than any other manufacturer this season, with three consecutive poles at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 6 Hours of São Paulo (Brazil) and the Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas [COTA] in Austin (USA).
Aston Martin Racing [AMR] partner the Heart of Racing Team [THOR], which also claimed victory at COTA with the #27 THOR Vantage GT3 driven by team principal Ian James (GBR), Mattia Drudi (ITA) and Zach Robichon (CAN), now heads to the ‘Temple of Speed’ for the first time, seeking its second win of the season.
The #27 entry and its drivers, who also finished second in Round 6, the 6 Hours of Fuji, after a magnificent final-hour fightback, are eighth in the FIA Endurance Trophies for LMGT3 Drivers and Teams, with 62 points. But they go into Monza only 12 points behind third place with 26 points still available (including one for pole position).
Their teammates, Gray Newell (USA), Jonny Adam (GBR) and Dudu Barrichello (BRA), who race the sister #23 THOR Vantage, can also mathematically reach third place, being 23 points behind. But having finished twice on the podium already this season, their main target is to claim a maiden WEC victory for Newell and Barrichello.
VANTAGE SET FOR A WINTER OF TOP-CLASS RACING AROUND THE GLOBE
The end of the WEC season does not mark the end of Vantage’s racing year however, as THOR is joined by three more AMR partner teams for the opening round of the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series [ALMS], which takes place at Paul Ricard (FRA) because of the current conflict in the Middle East.
THOR takes five of its regular WEC drivers, with James, Drudi and Robichon occupying their #27 Vantage GT3, while Newell and Barrichello will be joined in a #26 Vantage GT3 by THOR’s 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTD class champion and Valkyrie racer Roman De Angelis (CAN).
Another AMR IMSA partner YRB Racing, which recorded an extraordinary victory in the GTD Pro class at Petit Le Mans and has already claimed two further podium appearances from six IMSA starts, will venture outside of the USA for the first time to compete in the ALMS. Its Car Blanche by RSL entry will be formed through a technical partnership with Michelin Le Mans Cup champions and AMR partner team Racing Spirit of Léman [RSL]. Works driver Valentin Hasse Clot (FRA) will be joined by Arnold Robin (FRA) and WEC LMGT3 class points leader Jonny Edgar (GBR).
AMR partner Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn also returns to the ALMS with works driver Jonny Adam (GBR) and regular teammate Giacomo Petrobelli (ITA), joined again by Kobe Pauwels (BEL), who claimed pole on his São Paulo debut in WEC, back in July
Meanwhile, later in the month, AMR partner Comtoyou Racing will take Vantage back to the legendary Guia Circuit at Macau for the FIA GT World Cup with drivers Marco Sørensen (DEN) and 2024 AMR Driver Academy winner Jamie Day (GBR).
The Vantage GT3 shares the mechanical architecture of the ultra-luxury Vantage road car and is built around Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminium chassis and powered by its fearsome twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine.
How to follow
The 6 Hours of Monza will begin at 1100 local time (1000 GMT) on Sunday, 8 November. Final practice, qualifying and the race will be broadcast live on FIAWEC+ online with a choice of English or French-language commentary and via selected broadcasters at a national level.
2020 saw Lawrence Stroll become the company’s Executive Chairman, alongside significant new investment. This coincided with Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of motorsport with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team and commenced a new era for the iconic British marque.
