Aston Martin Racing Set for Rolex 24 GTD Effort

Photo: F. Peirce Williams/IMSA

Aston Martin Racing will take part in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona with an expected single-car GT Daytona class entry spearheaded by Paul Dalla Lana.

Dalla Lana revealed to Sportscar365 that he and FIA WEC co-drivers Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda have been confirmed for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener in an Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.

It will mark the British squad’s first WeatherTech Championship start since the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March after a two-race endurance race program this year.

“Obviously Aston wanted to do it and they had to work out the manufacturer involvement,” Dalla Lana told Sportscar365. “Now I think things [are sorted] so that’s good. It was an easy decision.”

The Canadian, who initially explored an option with HTP Motorsport in a Mercedes-AMG GT3, which he will still drive in February’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, said securing a return with AMR was his primary goal for Daytona.

“I think last year, we felt like we were right there,” Dalla Lana said. “If it wasn’t for a couple drops of gas, I think we would have won it.

“I feel like there’s some unfinished business. But it’s hard to tell, there’s a lot of new cars and teams, it’s stacking up pretty tough.”

The team’s fourth driver will likely either be newly crowned WEC GT World Champions Nicki Thiim or Marco Sorensen, according to Dalla Lana.

“We’re hanging a little carrot out in front of Nicki and Marco,” he said.

The team will take part in the Roar Before the Rolex 24 on Jan. 6-8, with next month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona unlikely, despite the car already being in the States.

Dalla Lana has ruled out a return to Sebring in March due to family commitments.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John