The HoR workforce gained the IMSA GTD class title final yr with Roman de Angelis, and took class victory on this yr’s Daytona 24 Hours forward of the main GTD Professional crews with its Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
It would area a GTE-spec Vantage for the primary time at Spa for Ian James, Alex Riberas and Daniel Mancinelli after taking on the GTE Am class entry beforehand held by Dalla Lana, who has referred to as time on a WEC profession that stretches again to 2013.
HoR will proceed to compete beneath the NorthWest AMR banner and use the #98 for the rest of the season.
James stated: “The Coronary heart of Racing workforce has had ambitions to compete within the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the FIA WEC for a while.
“We’re an bold group and so as to add WEC to what we now have been lucky to attain in our different programmes over the previous three years is an honour.
“Going for the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona/24 Hours of Le Mans double may be very thrilling.
“I’d wish to take the chance to want Paul effectively sooner or later, and to thank him for giving us the possibility to take over his entry for the remainder of 2023.
“It will likely be a baptism of fireside in Spa, however we hope to proceed the profitable heritage of the #98 plate in WEC.”
#98 Northwest AMR Aston Martin Vantage AMR: Paul Dalla Lana
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Dalla Lana, 57, had contested the opening two rounds of the WEC alongside Aston manufacturing facility driver Nicki Thiim and Zimbabwean Axcil Jeffries however steps away citing a want to give attention to enterprise pursuits.
The Canadian gained the GTE Am drivers’ world championship crown in 2017 and claimed 17 class wins from 69 begins.
He got here near a category victory at Le Mans in 2015 earlier than a late accident and mustered a finest end of third on the race in 2022 alongside Thiim and David Pittard.
“To race for Aston Martin, compete at Le Mans and win a world championship title, has been one of many best adventures of my life and has given me so many reminiscences that I’ll cherish for the remainder of my days,” stated the Canadian.
“However the racing all the time needed to cease in some unspecified time in the future, and for me, that point has been coming for some time now.
“It has develop into more and more difficult to seek out sufficient time to arrange and compete on the highest stage; and to battle for a world championship it’s essential to be capable of give your all.
“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to race alongside some nice drivers and nice mates and compete towards the perfect in sportscar racing.
“I’ve been there as WEC has grown in stature and I’ve been in a position to drive the mighty V12, V8 and now the turbo-charged V8 Vantages at locations like Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans. It’s been one hell of journey and I’m very grateful to have been in a position to take all of it on board an Aston Martin.
“Due to all of the unbelievable followers which have come out to observe us through the years, and I’d wish to want Aston Martin luck sooner or later. I’m certain going to overlook it.”