Michelin IMSA Insider: Vantage DNA Meets Title Stakes

If you stood in a particular spot at Virginia International Raceway four weekends ago, GT cars surrounded you.

Some of the world’s finest GT race cars charged through the Esses while their road-going counterparts tackled the Patriot Course during Michelin Hot Laps.

The scene showed why fans connect so strongly with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro and GTD classes.

Eight manufacturers have scored victories this season, while the championship battles in both classes remain among the closest in the IMSA paddock.

One of the most compelling aspects of the competition is that the qualities defining the race cars are also recognizable in their road-going counterparts.

For Aston Martin and the Heart of Racing Team, those qualities have helped keep them in the fight for the GTD manufacturer and team championships.

From This Vantage Point

At the center of that effort is the No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, driven by Eduardo “Dudu” Barrichello and Tom Gamble.

The race car shares its mechanical architecture with the road-going Vantage, including a bonded aluminum chassis structure and a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine.

Few drivers know the connection as well as Jonny Adam.

During his 15 years as an Aston Martin works driver, Adam has developed and competed with multiple generations of the Vantage.

His resume includes class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017 and 2020, as well as a runner-up finish that delivered Aston Martin’s first Rolex 24 podium in 2022.

“When you start with a great base within the chassis, it allows engineers to refine the setup to help us achieve performance and results,” said Adam. “The Vantage’s short wheelbase and stiff chassis architecture give a great feel behind the wheel.”

Confidence Through the Corners

That familiar Vantage feel also comes through the tires. The road-going models are fitted with bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires with an AML marking, meaning the tires were co-developed with Aston Martin.

“The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tire goes hand in hand with the Aston Martin Vantage,” said Adam. “It provides amazing lateral grip when cornering, enhancing the driver’s confidence and stability through and out of any corner. It’s very impressive. A great combination.”

Behind the wheel of the Vantage GT3, Gamble says that shared character is felt even as the speed increases.

“The Aston Martin Vantage gives me the most confidence in high-speed corners,” Gamble said. “It’s really an unbelievable car to drive, but for me, the high-speed corners are where the car really comes alive.”

Making It Count

That confidence will be valuable at Indianapolis. Michelin classifies Indianapolis as a high-energy track, where the tires take on significant lateral loads through several corners.

The championship will then be decided at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, another high-energy circuit known for its fast, flowing corners.

With Aston Martin and the Heart of Racing Team still in contention, the final two races will put the Vantage’s defining qualities to the test with two titles on the line.