The Heart of Racing Team returns to SRO action at VIR
Alton, VA (16 July 2024) - After a nine week hiatus, the Heart of Racing’s SRO Pirelli GT4 America and GT America powered by AWS program will be back in action at VIRginia International Raceway this weekend (July 19-21).
Hannah Grisham and Hannah Greenemeier reunite in the No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in Pirelli GT4 America. The duo will compete in their first race in the Silver class after Grisham was bumped from the AM class ahead of the race weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in May.
This season, the Hannah duo has scored a win and two third place finishes while competing in the AM category. Their first outing in the PRO-AM division came to an unfortunate early end in the Lone Star Enduro at COTA.
Most recently the duo competed in the Heart of Racing Team’s Fun Cup entry at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France in June - combined Grisham and Greenemeier passed 27 cars to finish 15th out of 115 entries.
“I’m very excited for VIR after a bit of a hiatus since COTA,” said Grisham. “It’ll be a new challenge this coming weekend for Hannah and myself as we will be stepping up into the silver class. I’m really looking forward to being back with the team and to start the second half of the season off strong!”
The upcoming weekend marks Grisham’s second time competing at VIR in Pirelli GT4 America - earning a seventh and fifth place finish. Grisham is no stranger to the track, having also competed there in the World Racing League. Greenemeier will make her way around VIR in a GT4 car for the first time, though the young driver drove in the US F4 Championship there with a sixth, seventh, and ninth place finishes.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to the track with my Heart of Racing family at VIR,” said Greenemeier. The last time I looked at the weather it showed some rain, hopefully it clears up, however if it doesn’t I know that myself, Grish, and everyone on the team will embrace it and continue to do our best. Thank you again to the Heart of Racing for the opportunity and can’t wait to get back on track soon!”
Roman De Angelis and Gray Newell will tag team driving duties in the No. 24 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in Pirelli GT4 America PRO-AM category. The duo currently holds two podium finishes on the season and sit third in the PRO-AM championship points standings.
The De Angelis / Newell pair drove to a sixth place finish in last year’s outing at VIR. De Angelis has a second place finish at the 3.27-mile track while competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2022. Newell has a highest finish of second driving with Ian James in Pirelli GT4 America in 2022.
Since the previous race at COTA, De Angelis drove in the IMSA WeatherTech series at Watkins Glen and won at Canadian Tire Motorsports park as well as drove in the 24 hours of Le Mans. Newell also competed at Le Mans in the Michelin Le Mans Cup Road to Le Mans double header.
“I’m definitely looking forward to Virginia in the SRO championship next weekend with Gray,” said De Angelis. “It's been a bit of a break since our last race at COTA. I think we've always had a really strong car and I think we're actually in a pretty good position for the championship. I’m looking forward to hopefully getting some more points. I think the key this weekend will be trying to stay cool.”
Newell will also compete in GT America powered by AWS alongside his Pirelli GT4 America duties. The Washington state native has seven podium finishes in the 2024 season in the GT4 category. Newell sits third in championship points standing going into the second half of the season.
“I’m hugely excited for VIR,” said Newell. “It’s a track that I enjoy greatly and somewhere the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 seems to favor. Unfortunately it hasn’t been kind ot me in the past, but I’m focusing on controlling all of the aspects of the race that are within my power to do so. This marks the beginning of the second half of the season and we are in the hunt for the championship. Now is the time to dig deep and get results.”
The first race of the weekend will be GT America powered by AWS on Saturday at 1:00pm ET with its second race on Sunday at 8:45am ET. Pirelli GT4 America will see the green flag for the first time Saturday at 5:00pm ET, the second race of the weekend will follow on Sunday at 10:55am ET. All races can be streamed on GT World’s YouTube.
