The Heart of Racing Team finishes 11th during WEC finale at Bahrain
Sakhir, Bahrain (November 3, 2024) - The Heart of Racing Team closed out the 2024 racing season with a 11th place finish with drivers Ian James, Daniel Mancinelli, and Alex Riberas after leading several laps with under two hours to go at Bahrain International Circuit this weekend.
James qualified sixth for the trio on Friday after making it to the Hyperpole qualifying session. The No. 27 Heart of Racing entry was the only LMGT3 entry to compete in every Hyperpole session in the season.
“Saturday’s finish doesn’t reflect how well we did as a team,” said James. “However this team has a lot to be proud of, this was our first full season in WEC and we had some strong outings and continued to grow as a team. No matter what happens on track we get to benefit our friends at Seattle Children’s and any day at a racetrack is a good day in my book. ”
On Saturday, James was behind the wheel of the Aston Martin for the first three stints keeping the No. 27 machine in seventh through most of his stints, but leading through the pit stop exchange ahead handing it to Mancinelli. The Italian driver battled understeer and a change in the track as the sun set, but managed to keep the Aston Martin clean and in the top ten when Riberas took over.
A mix between great strategy and solid driving put the car back in the lead as Riberas executed a great pass on a Lamborghini. After leading for several laps, Riberas was caught out in traffic as he fought for track position. Unfortunately, Riberas was spun with less than 10 minutes remaining in the eight hour race and the No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage crossed the finish line 11th.
“We didn’t have the speed and the pace to fight for a top spot,” said Mancinelli “Despite that, the team did a great job. We had the right strategies, a solid car, and no mistakes on the drivers side. We had a good season with a victory in COTA and podiums in Qatar and São Paulo. Thank you Heart of Racing for making it happen!”
The No. 27 Aston Martin entry closed the season fifth in FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 points standing in the teams first full season run in the championship.
