Aston Martin Names 2024 Driver Academy Roster

Aston Martin has named the 32-driver roster for the latest edition of its Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy, with the winner set to receive support and assistance from the manufacturer and a test outing in a GT3 car.

All drivers selected are aged between 16 and 26 and they compete in Aston Martin GT3 or GT4 machinery in recognized championships, either international or on a national level.

They will be judged by a panel consisting of Aston Martin factory drivers Darren Turner, Jonny Adam and Valentin Hasse-Clot, himself a former Academy graduate, as well as Head of AMR Academy Rachel Adam, AMR Head of Performance Gus Beteli and Head of AMR Partner Racing Huw Tasker.

Drivers will be evaluated based on their ability to manage the strategic, teamwork, commercial and public relations aspects of their role.

The driver selected at the end of the program receives financial support towards their 2025 race program, as well as assistance and guidance from the factory.

The 2023 graduate, Mike David Ortmann, will race an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo in ADAC GT Masters. Other previous graduates include Hasse-Clot, Ross Gunn, Tom Canning, Roman de Angelis and Romain Leroux.

The selected candidates recently took part in a three-day seminar that included media training, simulator training as well as a comprehensive fitness assessment.

Notable GT3 names include FIA World Endurance Championship racer Erwan Bastard, as well as European Le Mans Series driver Lorcan Hanafin while Nicolas Baert, Mex Jansen, Matisse Lismont, Charles Clark and Esteban Muth are some of the drivers to compete in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge regular Rory van der Steur is amongst the GT4 candidates, as well as former Pirelli GT4 America driver Rianna O’Meara-Hunt.

“The Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy is now a proven and established method for us to assess emerging talent from within our partner network,” said Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance.

“It allows the brand to contribute back into the sport in a constructive and supportive manner that benefits all concerned.

“You only have to read back through the alumni to understand the impact the initiative has for GT-focussed drivers, of which  there are a growing number of exciting prospects with every passing season.”

GT3
Nicolas Baert, Erwan Bastard, Denis Bulatov, Charles Clark, Lorcan Hanafin, Nico Hantke, Mex Jansen, Matisse Lismont, Esteban Muth, Sebastian Ogaard, Mahaveer Raghunathan, Maxime Robin, Josh Rowledge, Casper Stevenson

GT4
Jamie Day, Baudouin Detout, Roberto Faria, Philipp Gogollok, David Kullmann, Alexandre Machado, Mathieu Martins, Josh Miller, Rianna O’Meara-Hunt, Will Orton, Mikey Porter, Fabio Rauer, Raphael Rennhofer, Ruben del Sarte, Jodie Sloss, Rory van der Steur, Matteo Villagomzer, Victor Weyrich