Aston Martin’s Vantage GT3 has continued its blistering start to the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, securing a hard-fought second-place finish at the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring with the Heart of Racing Team.
Fresh off a double podium at January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, the British marque now boasts three podium finishes from the opening two rounds, firmly establishing the Vantage as one of the standout contenders in this year’s GTD class battle.
Sebring weekend began in dominant fashion, with Dudu Barrichello delivering a sensational pole position on his race debut. That result maintained both Aston Martin and the Seattle-based Heart of Racing Team’s perfect qualifying record so far this season, underlining the outright pace of the Vantage across endurance racing’s biggest stages. The race itself, however, proved to be anything but straightforward.
Barrichello, alongside teammates Zach Robichon and Tom Gamble, showcased race-winning speed throughout the gruelling 12-hour contest, leading comfortably at multiple stages. But a combination of setbacks, including an unscheduled pit stop and a later pit lane penalty, dropped the #27 car out of contention.
Undeterred, the team mounted an impressive recovery. Strategic precision during multiple safety car periods, combined with consistently strong stints from all three drivers, propelled the Aston Martin back to the front of the field.
As the race entered its final phase, Gamble looked poised to secure victory after inheriting the lead amid penalties and pit strategies affecting rivals. However, a late Full Course Yellow wiped out his advantage, bunching up the field and ultimately denying the team a shot at the win. Forced to settle for second place, the result was bittersweet, but still a major statement.
The podium finish extends Aston Martin’s strong record at Sebring and reinforces the Vantage GT3’s reputation as one of the most competitive and resilient cars in endurance racing. Just as importantly, the result puts the team at the top of the GTD championship standings heading into the next round.
Built around Aston Martin’s bonded aluminium chassis and powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, the Vantage GT3 continues to demonstrate the perfect blend of performance, durability, and strategic flexibility, qualities essential for success in the unpredictable world of endurance racing.
With momentum firmly on its side, Aston Martin now turns its focus to Long Beach, where the Vantage will look to convert its early-season consistency into a long-awaited victory.
