The Heart of Racing returns to SRO action at Road America

Elkhart Lake, Wisc. (15 August 2023) – The Heart of Racing (HOR) SRO Pirelli GT4 America program is back in action this weekend at Road America after a nine week hiatus. HOR’s GT America powered by AWS No. 25 Aston Martin team was on track two weeks ago on the streets of Nashville during the Music City Grand Prix where the team scored a fourth place finish and will compete again this weekend.

Rianna O’Meara-Hunt and Hannah Grisham will pair up to compete in the fifth event weekend of Pirelli GT4 America in the No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage. O’Meara-Hunt and Grisham will be making their debut at the Wisconsin track, which was recently repaved.

During her summer break, O’Meara-Hunt caught up with family and friends, but was still able to get some racing in herself. The Kiwi raced to defend her New Zealand Superkart Nationals Championship title, winning the award once again. O’Meara-Hunt then went on to win the New Zealand Superkart Nationals Grand Prix as well.

“During the past month I have been enjoying some time at home, working and catching up with family,” said O’Meara-Hunt. “I was lucky enough to get a day in a Porsche MR GT3 around Hampton Downs which went really well and kept me in the seat. I have also been in London the past two weeks catching up with my cousin, but I managed to get a day in with Rob Wilson, who is a driver coach for most of the F1 paddock. It was really helpful and I am excited to use what I learned there in the car for Road America. It has felt like such a long time since being with my American family, I am very excited to head over in a couple days!”

The duo last raced together at VIRginia International Raceway in June where O’Meara-Hunt and Grisham drove to a fifth place finish in the second race of the weekend matching their best finish of the season so far.

“I’m really looking forward to Road America, and finally getting into the car after six weeks,” said Grisham. “Driving the track on its newly repaved surface will be exciting and challenging. I think it will be super helpful having Roman in the No. 24 Aston, as he just raced a couple weeks ago on the new surface. I’m excited to get in the car and continue Rianna and I’s progression and hopefully get on the podium!”

In the sister car, the No. 24 Heart of Racing Aston Martin will host Gray Newell and Roman De Angelis competing in Pirelli GT4 America. The pair last competed together at VIR in June, but both young drivers have been busy competing in other series.

Newell most recently competed August 4-6 in Nashville with SRO’s GT America powered by AWS series scoring a fourth place finish during the Music City Grand Prix weekend. That same weekend, De Angelis competed in IMSA’s SportsCar Weekend at Road America scoring an eighth place finish. De Angelis was able to get a feel for the freshly paved track during his time in Wisconsin.

“I think going to Road America having the experience from the IMSA weekend on the new track surface will be a huge asset,” said De Angelis. “Just knowing how different it is as well as what works and what doesn’t with the new surface will be an advantage. I’m definitely looking forward to the weekend and hopefully can bounce back from a few tough weekends in COTA and VIR to get some good results with the team.”

Last season at Road America Newell and co-driver Team Principal Ian James scored a third place finish in Pirelli GT4 America.

Newell will pull double duty, as he will also compete in GT America powered by AWS for the seventh event weekend of the series. Newell currently sits fourth in points standings, just 79 points behind the leader and three event weekends left in the season.

Last season in GT America powered by AWS, Newell scored his best qualifying run of the season at Road America with a fourth place starting position in the first race. Newell scored his best finish at the Wisconsin track in 2021 with a seventh place finishing position.

The SRO Weekend at Road America will begin with practice sessions on Friday. Watch all four races on GT World YouTube Channel (@GTWorld) with GT America’s first race on Saturday at 1:55p ET followed by Pirelli GT4 America at 5:00p ET. Sunday morning will see races from both series with GT America at 945a ET and Pirelli GT4 America at 11:55a ET.