The all-new Aston Martin Vantage GTE will make its first competitive appearance on the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe this weekend (16-17 June). The team has entered two new Vantage GTEs in the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Aston Martin Vantage GTEs are based on the stunning Aston Martin Vantage road car, they are even powered by the same 4.0-litre, V8 turbo-charged engine optimized by AMR. They are part of a 17-strong GTE Pro line-up that represents the most competitive field ever assembled for the class. Following an extensive development program that covered 35000 km over the winter, the team is now ready to give the car its toughest examination yet in the most famous race of all. This in spite of Sørensen’s accident at the Le Mans test day, which required the team to build up a brand new chassis in a tight time-frame.
The new Vantage GTE replaces the highly-decorated naturally-aspirated V8 Vantage GTE, but that doesn’t mean the old car’s hunt for Le Mans glory is over; two naturally-aspirated Vantage GTEs will compete in this year’s event. The #98 car, driven by Aston Martin Racing’s reigning GTE Am champions Paul Dalla Lana (CAN), Mathias Lauda (AUS) and Pedro Lamy (PRT), will seek to add a Le Mans class victory to its extraordinary success tally, which continued with another GTE Am win in the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Spa last month. The second V8 Vantage GTE meanwhile, will be campaigned by Aston Martin’s partner team TF Sport, driven by Charlie Eastwood (GBR), Euan Hankey (GBR) and Salih Yoluc (TUR).
The #95 turbo-charged Vantage GTE will feature Marco Sørensen (DNK), Nicki Thiim (DNK), and Darren Turner (GBR). The other turbo-charged Vantage GTE, #97 will be driven by Alex Lynn (GBR), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Jonathan Adam (GBR). Both cars will be piloted by drivers who have the pace and performance to deliver fantastic results.