Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, has high hopes for the Vantage’s 14th consecutive campaign of FIA World Endurance Championship competition in 2026, as the famous British brand bids to build upon another successful season in the series.
Run by long-time Aston Martin partner, The Heart of Racing, the Vantage AMR LMGT3 triumphed from pole position at COTA in 2024. While last year did not yield any further race wins, a trio of poles – including for the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and pair of podium finishes bore witness to its potential, with Mattia Drudi, Zacharie Robichon and Ian James falling less than two seconds shy of victory in the eight-hour Bahrain finale.
THOR Team Principal James will return for a third full campaign as the ‘Bronze’ driver in the #27 entry, with the US-based outfit similarly set to field FIA WEC’s second Vantage (#23), which was previously operated by Racing Spirit of Léman. The line-up for that car will include American ace Gray Newell, who made a positive impression during November’s Rookie Test in Bahrain.
“I was very surprised but honoured to be asked to compete for The Heart of Racing in FIA WEC,” admitted the 28-year-old, who makes the step up following a strong maiden season at GT3 level, reaching the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am rostrum three times alongside Aston Martin ‘works’ driver Darren Turner in 2025.
“When I was given the chance to drive in the Rookie Test, I had a sense that this might be the long-term goal, but I wasn’t anticipating being moved up so fast. I feel a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. For the team to be placing this level of trust in me is an immense honour, and I’m ready to meet the moment. There is a lot to learn, but Ian and the team have always known exactly how far to push me, and I trust their judgement completely. It’s time for a new chapter!”
“Gray was impressive during the Rookie Test, where he set times that would likely have given him the chance to fight in Hyperpole for the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain,” added James. “That said, it’s a big step for a rookie to race in FIA WEC and there will be a lot for him to learn. We will do all we can to make that transition successful and to continue to help Gray to build upon the potential he has shown so far in his racing career.
“As for me, FIA WEC represents some unfinished business; we will focus hard on improving upon last year’s fourth position in the LMGT3 championship and to have another crack at standing on the 24 Hours of Le Mans podium.”
Through five iterations spanning 13 seasons, Aston Martin’s iconic GT challenger – the company’s most decorated racing car of all time – has clinched 53 category victories in the world’s pre-eminent endurance racing series, the second-highest tally of any manufacturer.
It has won races in every FIA WEC division it has contested – from LMGTE Pro to LMGTE Am and most recently LMGT3 – alongside 11 titles, 69 pole positions and five Le Mans class triumphs since the world championship’s inception in 2012. Carter makes no bones that the objective for the forthcoming campaign is more of the same.
“The Heart of Racing is an outstanding partner and the right one to spearhead the Aston Martin Vantage’s attack in 2026,” he asserted. “We are fully aware of the team’s quality, the depth of engineering expertise and the intensity of its approach to achieving success – and, of course, its track record supports its ambition.
“Therefore, it made perfect sense for THOR to expand to a two-car operation in FIA WEC this season. Aston Martin is proud to have THOR represent it in GT racing at the highest level, and we hope and expect to see exciting results from this expanding partnership.”
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