D’station Expecting to Receive Aston Martin LMGT3 Berth

D’station Racing is set to remain on the FIA World Endurance Championship grid next year as one of two teams to be nominated by Aston Martin in the LMGT3 class.

Team managing director Tomonobu Fujii told Sportscar365 that he anticipates to receive one of two LMGT3 entry slots, should Aston Martin be chosen by the WEC Selection Committee.

Sportscar365 understands that the second entry slot will be given to The Heart of Racing, with both teams set to campaign a single example of Aston Martin’s updated Vantage GT3 challenger that will be rolled out to teams ahead of the 2024 season.

If confirmed, it will mark the fourth consecutive season for D’station in the globe-trotting series after it debuted in 2021.

It achieved its best result in last weekend’s 8 Hours of Bahrain, where Fujii, Liam Talbot and Casper Stevenson finished second in the GTE-Am class.

Fujii, who told Sportscar365 that he will continue in his role as managing director when the squad moves into LMGT3, said his team would be “very honored” to be selected for the new class.

“I’m sure everyone will find out just the same as everyone else when it’s announced later this month, but I expect that we will be able to continue our entry in the WEC,” said Fujii.

“Out of the two entries that Aston Martin should have, we should have one of those at possible slots. Because each manufacturer has two entries so I also expect that Aston Martin will choose The Heart of Racing as well as D’station Racing.

“We would be very honored if it works out that way, because a lot of big changes are coming to the WEC next year.

“There’s a new chapter opening with LMGT3 and even more manufacturers competing in the series. Even changes with Hypercar and the number of entries there.

“So even if there’s the slightest chance, even 1 percent to be able to participate in the WEC, there’s no reason for us not to be a part of that.

“If it does become reality, we will likely be the only Asian [LMGT3] entry in the paddock, including Japan. So we would be very honored if that happens.”

Fujii said that the team has boosted its fleet of Aston Martin GT3 machinery as it prepares for a joint program, dovetailing its WEC commitments with a return to Super GT competition in Japan.

“We expect to be in the WEC, so we will have one car for that and we have ordered three additional cars for our domestic series in Japan,” he said.

“So the order’s been completed. I’m looking forward to driving and competing in that car. I’m confident that we will be successful in that car.”

Fujii also revealed that D’station will rely on Prodrive for operational support in its WEC bid as TF Sport, its previous WEC operational partner, will switch to running a pair of Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs next year.

The Banbury-based operation, which ran Aston Martin’s factory GTE-Pro program for many years, previously acted as the operational partner for Paul Dalla Lana’s NorthWest AMR squad until the Canadian retired from racing earlier this year.

“We have been in collaboration with Prodrive for a long time,” he said.

“Our intentions are to continue with our relationship with Prodrive. They are also Aston Martin Racing. I expect that AMR also has the same aspirations as we do.

“AMR and Prodrive have contributed to the series for a long time and they have a long history.

“I expect that they want to continue their success. So, to be able to aim for the same goals, we will work with Prodrive and AMR.”