Aston Martin Vantage, Valkyrie finish strong at 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans

MANILA: Aston Martin, via its partner racing teams, saw significant successes in two different classes at the recently concluded 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.

At the grueling endurance race in France, organized by the FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC), the Aston Martin Heart of Racing Team’s  Vantage GT3 car claimed its 11th class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans’ LMGT3 category in third place. 

Notably, the racers behind the wheel include Gray Newell and Dudu Barrichello. For Gray Newell, the son of tech mogul and founder of gaming giant Steam, this is his first-ever podium at Le Mans. For Barrichello, on the other hand, this recent victory is also his first-ever podium on his second-ever outing at the said endurance race. 

For the unaware, Newell and Barrichello took turns in piloting the latest generation of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, which is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine. 

“This was an outstanding performance from Vantage, another excellent weekend at Le Mans for Aston Martin, and a great result for our partners Heart of Racing,” Aston Martin Head of Endurance Racing Adam Carter said. 

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“This generation of Vantage has been a contender at Le Mans since it made its debut in 2024, and it is satisfying to see it achieve a podium in the hands of a very competitive, well-organized partner. We believe the car is capable of winning, and showed as much again through the race, so we will be back next year to try again.” Carter added. 

For reference, LMGT3 of the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours was topped in first place by TF Sport’s #33 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Meanwhile, the said car was followed by the Akkodis ASP Team in second place with its #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3. 

Per Aston Martin, the Heart of Racing Team’s Vantage GT3 battled its #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3 rival, also of Akkodis ASP Team, closely and fiercely throughout the 24-hour race. 

Aston Martin Thor Team: 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Besides the brand’s podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans’ LMGT3 category, Aston Martin Thor Team’s #007 Valkyrie also achieved an eighth-place finish in the Hypercar class. 

It is the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s best-ever finish for the said race track, and is a huge contribution in terms of points when it comes to the brand’s points standing in the current season of WEC. 

“To get a car home in P8 is a big step forward for the program,” Team Principal of Aston Martin Racing Thor Team Ian James said.

“It just shows how much progress we are making with the car, every race. We knew it would be difficult for us to race against such strong opposition here at Le Mans, but we worked hard and executed on all levels. It was great to see the #007 rewarded for the team’s hard work,” James added. 

For those curious, the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans’ top three finishers include Toyota Racing’s #7 TR010 Hybrid in first place, BMW M Team WRT’s #20 M Hybrid V8 in second place, and the #8 Toyota Racing TR010 Hybrid in third. 

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