Vantage brings curtain down on GTE era with double podium finish in Bahrain FIA WEC finale
· Ahmad Al Harthy أحمد الحارثي (@alharthyracing) • Oman Racing with TF Sport’s Ahmad al Harthy during the final race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season in Bahrain on Saturday, after qualifying a highly competitive third fastest. All images ©
· D’station Racing scores best-ever FIA WEC result with second place
Debutant Liam Talbot joins Casper Stevenson & Tomonobu Fujii on podium
· Heart of Racing secures first world championship podium with third place
Vantage ends GTE era with 33 wins in GTE Am – an all-time record
The multiple title-winning Aston Martin Vantage GTE recorded a double-podium finish on its final appearance in the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC], in the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain on Saturday. The result brings the curtain down on an incredible era of GT racing, as the class closes with Vantage as the most successful car in LMGTE Am history.
In a race free of Safety Car periods, pure performance mattered more in Bahrain than at any other race in the 2023 WEC, and this enabled Aston Martin Racing partner teams D’station Racing, Heart of Racing and ORT by TF to show the true endurance pace of the Vantage GTE and score a milestone 75th LMGTE Am podium in the category’s final race.
Japanese entrant D’station Racing, with a Vantage GTE operated by 2022 World Champions TF Sport, scored its best ever result in the WEC as series debutant Liam Talbot (AUS) qualified second in GTE Am and set a strong pace; the intensity of which was matched by team-mates Casper Stevenson (GBR) and Tomonobu Fujii (JPN) as the trio finished second, just five seconds from victory after eight hours of hard racing.
The Heart of Racing team made it a double-podium finish. Its trio of drivers, led by Team Principal Ian James (GBR), Daniel Mancinelli (ITA) and Alex Riberas (ESP) took third, with the team in contention for victory until contact delayed the #98 car with two hours to go.
Heart of Racing’s result is the latest in a long line of achievements for the team with Vantage in the past 13 months. The US-based operation won the 2022 GTD division in the North American IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and was the first GT car home in this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona – a first for Aston Martin.
The race result means that the Vantage GTE, the prototype version of the British-built race car derived from Aston Martin’s critically-acclaimed ultra-luxury sportscar, which shares the same aluminium body-frame and a specially-tuned version of the four-litre V8 turbo-charged production engine, completes the GTE Am era as its most successful car with a record 33 wins and a total of 75 podiums.
In what was the best event of the year for Vantage, ORT by TF ran strongly inside the top four after a quick and consistent performance by Omani driver Ahmad Al Harthy, Michael Dinan (USA) and Aston Martin works racer Charlie Eastwood (IRL) but retired with 20 minutes to go.
Combining both the GTE Am and GTE Pro classes – the latter of which was discontinued after 2022 – Vantage has amassed 52 victories in the WEC’s 85 races and has finished on the podium 119 times, at least one of which came in every single season since the FIA revived the World Championship in 2012.
Eleven world titles have been achieved in that time as well as five victories in the world’s biggest motor race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including a GTE Pro and Am double in 2020.
“The Aston Martin Vantage GTE has completed every single one of its objectives and covered itself in glory in the process,” said Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Racing Adam Carter. “A multiple championship-winning race car, Vantage won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both classes and was a force throughout its six-year run in the world championship. It will be rightly remembered as one of the great sportscars in the modern era of the sport. We’re incredibly excited about what’s coming next for Aston Martin in world endurance racing, but we must also be proud of what has been achieved with Vantage GTE.”
The 2024 FIA WEC, and its new LMGT3 era, commences with the Qatar 1812km at Lusail on March 2. The Qatar round is the first of an extended-eight race calendar, the centrepiece of which will be the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15-16.
Aston Martin’s vision is to be the world’s most desirable, ultra-luxury British brand, creating the most exquisitely addictive performance cars.
Founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, Aston Martin is acknowledged as an iconic global brand synonymous with style, luxury, performance, and exclusivity. Aston Martin fuses the latest technology, time honoured craftsmanship and beautiful styling to produce a range of critically acclaimed luxury models including the Vantage, DB11, DBS, DBX and its first hypercar, the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin Lagonda designs, creates and exports cars which are sold in 56 countries around the world. Its sports cars are manufactured in Gaydon with its luxury DBX SUV range proudly manufactured in St Athan, Wales.
Lagonda was founded in 1899 and Aston Martin in 1913. The two brands came together in 1947 when both were purchased by the late Sir David Brown, and the company is now listed on the London Stock Exchange as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc.
2020 saw Lawrence Stroll become the company’s Executive Chairman, alongside significant new investment, a move that led to Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of motorsport with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team and commenced new era for the iconic British marque.
I Read also: The Inaugural FIM World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Etihad Arena was a Roaring Success
20 UAE junior riders also participated in their own race categories, the 65cc and the 85cc
Etihad Arena was transformed into a dirt track for the first time ever to host the event’s Middle East debut, the penultimate race in the Championship
40 riders competed in 2 race categories with Joey Savatgy taking the victory in the WSX (450cc) category and Max Anstie placing first on the podium for the SX2 (250cc) class
The highly anticipated FIM World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the penultimate race in the Championship, concluded its Middle East debut today at Etihad Arena, which was transformed into a sandy dirt track battlefield for the occasion.
Fans packed into the arena in the UAE’s capital to enjoy a full day of world class racing, freestyle motocross shows, live music, and a show stopping pyrotechnics display. The event is the first ever supercross championship to take place in the region and is the first time an event at Etihad Arena and a supercross track have both run indoors and outdoors. 40 of the world’s best riders battled it out for the prestigious podium spots, with Joey Savatgy emerging as champion in the WSX (450cc) division, and Max Anstie placing first in the SX2 (250cc) race.
Joey Savatgy, winner of the 450cc WSX category and the current Championship leader, said “It’s always really exciting to ride a new track, and today surpassed our expectations. The team in Abu Dhabi has done an amazing job transforming this indoor arena into a suitable dirt track for us. Having a two row start gate is a really unique concept and I luckily got out of the gate pretty well in the first two races, which put me in a good spot going into the third. The competition was really tough this weekend, and I’m glad to have come away with the overall win.”
Max Anstie, the winner of the SX2 250cc class, said “We have had a great day in Abu Dhabi, and I’m really happy to have come out with a win, especially for the first ever World Supercross Championship event in Abu Dhabi. The atmosphere was electric today in Etihad Arena, thanks to all the fans. We have been blown away by the size of the fan base that our sport already has here, and are excited to see it grow even more.”
Closely following in the footsteps of their senior counterparts, the junior category unveiled a new generation of emerging stars from the UAE. 20 young riders, all aged between 7 and 13, showcased remarkable skill and technique in their own race categories, inspiring the next generation of talent in the region at a grassroots level.
Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, remarked on the success of the inaugural event, commenting: “We aimed to bring the world's most thrilling supercross action to the heart of Abu Dhabi, and the overwhelming response from fans and the exceptional performances we witnessed have exceeded our expectations. We are also happy to have provided young talent from the UAE a platform to showcase their skills to an international audience.
“At Ethara, we are committed to continually adding more variety and diversity for the Abu Dhabi entertainment and sporting calendar, and the addition of the FIM World Supercross Championship to our portfolio is testament to our dedication to setting new standards of excellence for events.”
The entire transformation process of Etihad Arena from a clean venue into a finished racing track, took approximately four days, involving 16 different forms of earth moving machinery such as excavators, dozers, and street sweepers. 7,000 tonnes of locally sourced clay-based dirt were brought in to the venue, after being carefully selected to adhere to safety regulation.
The track boasted multiple jumps, including the “Triple” - the most significant and challenging jump. The Triple comprised three jumps that riders had to clear in a single leap, covering a distance of around 70 feet. Looping outside of the Etihad Arena, the outside section saw riders take on two tight rhythm sections with corners that posed high risk for errors, and high entertainment for the audience.
SX Global CEO, Adam Bailey, said: “The success of the first ever World Supercross event in Abu Dhabi marks a significant milestone in the Championship's history and demonstrates our commitment at SX Global to delivering top-tier sporting entertainment for our fans. We’ve been blown away by the positive response we’ve received from Abu Dhabi and the crowd tonight was sensational - so much energy and enthusiasm.”
The event opened with a showstopping pyrotechnics display, which set the scene for the adrenaline-filled and action-packed day. The opening ceremony then concluded with a traditional Ayala performance, before the riders took to the track and battled it out for their chance at a podium spot. The audience was then treated to a nail-biting FM freestyle display, carrying out a series of jumps and stunts that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Abu Dhabi-born rapper Freek closed off the night with a live performance of his hits including “Doos” and “Mush Fathi”.
At the end of the month, the riders will head to the home of WSX, Australia, for the Melbourne Grand Prix - the final event of the Championship.
The success of the first ever FIM World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi Grand Prix signifies not only the growing appetite for motorsport in the region, but also showcases the capital’s ability to host world-class sporting spectacles. The event adds to Ethara’s growing portfolio of diverse entertainment offerings and is testament to the company’s dedication to setting new standards of excellence for events.
The FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) is an international supercross racing Championship led by SX Global in Australia. The World Supercross Championship was primarily based in the USA before the world governing body for motorcycle sport, Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), awarded SX Global the exclusive organisational and commercial rights to stage and promote the World Supercross Championship from 2022 onwards.
Last year, the WSX pilot season was launched at Principality Stadium, Cardiff to over 35,000 fans before it headed down under, where 50,000 fans witnessed the finale across two nights at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The 2022 Championship saw Ken Roczen from Germany win the WSX class, and Shane McElrath from the USA win the SX2 class.
WSX offers the biggest prize money in World Supercross Championship history, with US$250,000 to be won at each round across the two racing classes – WSX (450cc) and SX2 (250cc). Under its independent team franchise model, the Championship also features unprecedented financial support for teams and riders. WSX provides an elevated experience for fans through unique race formats, broadcast innovations, and in-stadium entertainment suitable for people and families of all ages. Visit WSXChampionship.com to find out more!
2023 World Supercross Championship Calendar
British GP Villa Park, Birmingham 1 July
Abu Dhabi GP Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi 4 November
Australian GP Marvel Stadium, Melbourne 24-25 November
Ethara was created following the integration of activities and operations of Flash Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management. Ethara is setting the standard of excellence in entertainment, sport, culture, event services, and asset management regionally and internationally. With offices throughout the region, the company employs over 300 professionals who offer an unrivalled wealth of expertise, experience, knowledge, and skills. Ethara, meaning ‘thrill’ in Arabic, manages an impressive portfolio of assets, including Yas Marina Circuit, Etihad Park, Etihad Arena, and the Yas Conference Centre. The company works with leading events companies, IP owners, and entertainment partners locally and internationally to deliver world-class, first-to-market events and experiences. For further information, visit: www.ethara.com
Etihad Arena ©
FIM World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi Grand Prix descends on Yas Island ahead of inaugural event at Etihad Arena tomorrow
A group of junior 65 & 85cc supercross riders got to meet their heroes at Yas Marina Circuit. Ahead of the inaugural FIM World Supercross Championship Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday 4th November at Etihad Arena, the juniors mingled with WSX riders before they swapped their usual two wheels for four, as they challenged one another to a go karting race.
The Abu Dhabi GP will be the first international supercross event to take place in the region and will see Etihad Arena transformed into a dirt track for the first time ever. It is also the first time an event at Etihad Arena and a supercross track have run both indoors and outdoors. Fans can enjoy an adrenaline-fuelled spectacle with pyrotechnics and heart-stopping action as they watch 40 of the world's best riders compete. Limited tickets are still on sale. Secure your seat with tickets for the day of action starting from just 110 AED per person, available at WSXChampionship.com or etihadarena.ae
Get ready for a day of thrills and unforgettable moments at the FIM World Supercross Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday 4th November at Etihad Arena.
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