AUSTIN

The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, is set to host the return of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) this weekend, with Aston Martin looking to build upon its extraordinary legacy at the venue. The British luxury sports car manufacturer brings its latest Vantage GT3 to compete in the Lone Star Le Mans 6-hour race, a track where Aston Martin has historically dominated.

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Aston Martin's record at COTA is unparalleled in the WEC, boasting an impressive nine GT class victories out of the six events held since the championship's inception in 2012. This translates to a remarkable 75% win ratio, including four double-class triumphs. The manufacturer's most recent success at the circuit came in 2020, with a double-class victory in what was then the last WEC event held at COTA.

The new Aston Martin Vantage GT3, which shares its core design with the road-going Vantage unveiled earlier this year at Silverstone, will make its Texas debut. Built on Aston Martin's proven bonded aluminium chassis and powered by a formidable twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine, the car has already shown promise in other racing categories. While it awaits its first WEC victory, the Vantage GT3 has demonstrated increasing competitiveness in the fiercely contested LMGT3 class, which features entries from nine different manufacturers.

Two partner teams will represent Aston Martin at COTA: The Heart of Racing (THoR) and D'station Racing. THoR, competing on home soil for the first time since joining WEC at Spa in 2023, enters the race with momentum following a second-place finish in the previous round in São Paulo, Brazil. The team's driver lineup of Ian James, Alex Riberas, and Daniel Mancinelli currently sits fourth in the LMGT3 standings, 20 points away from second place and 45 points behind the leaders, with 91 points still up for grabs in the final three races of the season.

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D'station Racing has also tasted success this season, securing a podium finish in Qatar and consistently scoring points in every round, including a top-ten class finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team's #777 car will be piloted by Clément Mateu, Marco Sørensen – Aston Martin's most decorated active works driver and recent Spa 24 Hours winner – and Erwan Bastard. They currently hold seventh place in the championship standings, just 11 points behind THoR.

Outside of WEC, Aston Martin's racing program continues to gain momentum. In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, THoR has extended its podium streak to five consecutive rounds. At Virginia International Raceway, both of the team's cars secured top-three class finishes in the recent 160-minute sprint race. Works driver Ross Gunn, partnered with Alex Riberas in the GTD Pro class, is now just 17 points away from the class lead with two races remaining.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin's Head of Endurance Motorsport, expressed confidence in the Vantage GT3's potential: "The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has established itself as a competitive force on the global GT landscape in a relatively short period of time. Historically, Aston Martin has been incredibly successful at COTA in WEC, and the ingredients are there with both THoR and D'station Racing for the new Vantage GT3 to continue that trend this weekend."

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As the teams prepare for the Lone Star Le Mans, all eyes will be on whether Aston Martin can add another chapter to its impressive COTA legacy. Official practice begins on Friday, August 30, at 12:40 local time (18:40 BST), with the race scheduled to start on Sunday at 13:00 local time (19:00 BST). Fans can follow the event through official series websites and apps, as the world of endurance racing eagerly anticipates another thrilling battle on the challenging Circuit of the Americas.