Heart of Racing Enters Dubai With SPS-Run Mercedes

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team The Heart of Racing will enter next month’s Hankook 24H Dubai with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo run by SPS Automotive Performance.

The American squad usually operates Aston Martin GT3 and GT4 machinery but is now gearing up for its first appearance with a Mercedes-AMG in the 24H Series season-opener on Jan. 14-15.

Reigning IMSA GTD class champion Roman De Angelis forms part of the driving squad alongside Heart of Racing regulars Ian James, Gray Newell and Alex Riberas.

The same quartet including team principal James contested this year’s 24H Dubai in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4.

The Heart of Racing went on to run two GT3-spec Astons in IMSA, with Riberas and Ross Gunn teaming up in GTD Pro and De Angelis partnering Maxime Martin in GTD.

Its season also included a TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa cameo with a TF Sport-run Aston Martin.

German outfit SPS operated the SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG that finished third overall in the most recent edition of the 24H Dubai.

“We are very proud to welcome Heart of Racing to our team,” said SPS team principal Stephan Sohn.

“In the past, the team has achieved very strong results with other manufacturers and deservedly won the championship in IMSA.

“Now we are happy to support Heart of Racing in their first steps with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and offer advice and support.

“We have a lot of experience with the Mercedes-AMG cars and also with the race in Dubai, where we were very successful, especially last year. So the omens are good to be able to achieve a good result again.”