Heart of Racing Team completes Le Mans Cup and Fun Cup at Le Mans

Le Mans, France (18 June 2024) - The Heart of Racing Team not only competed in the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans with the FIA World Endurance Championship this weekend, but also had entries in the Le Mans Cup Road to Le Mans doubleheader and four hour Fun Cup enduro. 

Road To Le Mans: 

Gray Newell, regular driver of the No. 25 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in SRO America’s GT America powered by AWS competed in the Le Mans Cup two-race weekend leading up to the 24 hour Le Mans main event.

Newell and co-driver Valentin Pierburg qualified on Thursday before the first race of the weekend later that evening. Two red flag-filled qualifying sessions left little time for flying laps on the eight-mile circuit.

Newell was first up to qualify for the pair, securing the thirteenth starting spot on the race one grid. Pierburg qualified sixth for the second race on Saturday morning. 

The first race took place Thursday afternoon with Newell taking the first stint. Unfortunately the race never got into a rhythm as Newell only had two green flag laps while the remainder of his stint was under caution. Pierburg finished the race for the duo crossing the finish line in thirteenth.  

“I think that was the most exciting lap and half of my life,” said Newell after his stint in the first race. “All things considered I actually think everybody did a really good job when the front of the field compressed and everybody got mixed together. Everyone in the GT3s and LMP3s were just trying to find space and somehow a majority of us managed to make it through, so that was really cool.” 

After no on track action Friday, the Newell / Pierburg pair started the second race of the weekend on Saturday morning ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race start. It was Pierburg’s turn to start the race before handing the No. 25 machine to Newell to finish the race in twelfth. 

“Running here at Le Mans is an incredible honor,” added Newell after the conclusion of the weekend. “I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to participate in Le Mans Cup and support the rest of the team as they contend the main event. It was a challenge to reacclimate to the GT3, but it is so much fun to drive.” 

Fun Cup: 

Making their debut at Circuit de la Sarthe, Hannah Grisham and Hannah Greenemeier stepped out of their GT4 comfort zone to battle against 115 other specially-prepared VolksWagen Beetles in a four hour endurance race. The female duo normally compete in the No. 26 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in SRO America’s Pirelli GT4 America. 

After two practice sessions the pair qualified on Thursday morning, both drivers took turns during the 45-minute session ultimately setting a fast lap time of 5:11.408 seconds meaning a 22nd row start. 

“It was an amazing experience and privilege to get to race at Le Mans and on the same weekend as the 24H of Le Mans under the Heart of Racing banner,” said Grisham. “The race was very exciting; we had 115 other Fun Cup cars to battle with. Overall I think we had a strong showing making up 27 positions in the race to ultimately finish 15th. A huge thank you to the Heart of Racing for letting Hannah and I take part in this race and hopefully it won’t be the last time we get to race at Le Mans.”  

Grisham was first behind the wheel for the first 40 minute stint driving from 42nd to 19th before handing the Beetle to Greenemeier. The two switched back and forth every forty minutes working their way up to sit ninth before a safety car came out. The team made the call to pit under the safety car, but unfortunately lost a few spots. Greenemeier finished the final 45-minute stint crossing the finish line 15th and on the lead lap. 

“It was an amazing experience to be able to drive on such an iconic track like Le Mans,” said Greenemeier. “It was probably the most fun race I have ever been a part of. The draft played such a big part in the race, but it also kept things very close. It was different to not be able to have radio communications back to the team for pit strategy, but I felt Hannah and I handled that well. I think we showed great speed getting all the way to P9 in a stint, an unfortunate safety car set us back a little, but we recovered well to get P15 out of 115. Thanks to everyone at the Heart of Racing for having Hannah and I at Le Mans to race in the Fun Cup and watch the 24 hour race, and thanks to Team M3M for the great car.” 

Newell, Grisham, and Greenemeier will be back with SRO America July 19-21 at VIRginia International Raceway.