Dalla Lana Calls Time on Racing Career

FIA World Endurance Championship GTE-Am driver Paul Dalla Lana has called time on his racing career with immediate effect.

The 57-year-old Canadian, who is the most successful Bronze-rated driver in the WEC to date with 17 class wins, will step away from driving to have “full focus” on his “multiple business interests” according to a statement from Aston Martin Racing.

His NorthWest AMR entry will be taken over by The Heart of Racing, which will make its WEC and GTE debut in the third round of the season at Spa this weekend.

Team principal Ian James is set to share the No. 98 Aston Martin Vantage GTE with Alex Riberas and Daniel Mancinelli.

Dalla Lana started the WEC season with Axcil Jefferies and Aston Martin factory driver Nicki Thiim, competing in the 1000 Miles of Sebring and the 6 Hours of Portimao.

He bows out from a long stint as a Bronze-rated driver, which he balanced with his business commitments as the head of Canadian healthcare real estate company NorthWest.

Dalla Lana, who made his WEC debut a decade ago, won the 2017 GTE-Am title alongside Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda after twice finishing third in the standings.

He more recently claimed a 24 Hours of Le Mans class podium with Nicki Thiim and David Pittard last year but never won the French endurance classic despite coming close multiple times.

Dalla Lana also contested the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in different types of GT3 machinery.

“To race for Aston Martin, compete at Le Mans and win a world championship title, has been one of the greatest adventures of my life and has given me so many memories that I will cherish for the rest of my days,” he said.

“But the racing always had to stop at some point, and for me, that time has been coming for a while now.

“It has become increasingly challenging to find enough time to prepare and compete at the highest level; and to fight for a world championship you must be able to give your all.

“I’ve been lucky enough to race alongside some great drivers and great friends and compete against the very best in sportscar racing.

“I’ve been there as WEC has grown in stature and I’ve been able to drive the mighty V12, V8 and now the turbo-charged V8 Vantages at places like Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans.

“It’s been one hell of [a] ride and I’m very grateful to have been able to take it all on board in Aston Martin. Thanks to all the incredible fans that have come out to watch us over the years, and I’d like to wish Aston Martin luck in the future.”

Heart of Racing Set for “Baptism of Fire” at Spa

This weekend’s six-hour WEC race in Belgium will mark the first GTE-Am appearance for The Heart of Racing, which usually competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The James-led team unsuccessfully applied to enter the WEC this year but is now set to join the championship for the rest of the season, including Le Mans in June.

It will compete under the NorthWest AMR banner, per championship regulations.

“The Heart of Racing team has had ambitions to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the FIA WEC for some time,” said James.

“We are an ambitious group and to add WEC to what we have been fortunate to achieve in our other programs over the past three years is an honor.

“Going for the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona/24 Hours of Le Mans double is very exciting.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to wish Paul well in the future, and to thank him for giving us the chance to take over his entry for the rest of 2023.

“It will be a baptism of fire in Spa, but we hope to continue the successful heritage of the No. 98 plate in WEC.”