After Porsche in 2013, Ferrari (via AF Corse) in 2014, Chevrolet Corvette in 2015 and Ford in 2016, only Aston Martin Racing had yet to win the LMGTE Pro class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Daniel Serra, Jonny Adam and Darren Turner (who won his third trophy in GT and clinched pole positon last year) rectified the situation masterfully.

This victory will be remembered for some time as the Vantage was the oldest GTE in the field (it will be replaced next year) and because the unfolding of the race was quite unexpected. One lap before the checkered flag, the #63 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R driven by Jordan Taylor was still in the lead. The #97 Aston Martin Vantage stayed on the heels of the American car until Jonny Adam found an opening and overtook him at the pit straight. The Brit crossed the finish line in first place ahead of the #67 Ford GT and the Corvette after it lost two spots in the final lap.

The #95 sister car finished ninth after an incident for Richie Stanaway at the Mulsanne corner. As for the #98, entered in LMGTE Am, a high-speed tire puncture cost Dalla Lana-Lamy-Lauda a loss of considerable time in the pits and it ended up finishing eighth in its class.

A few days earlier, Aston Martin president David Richards was given by Automobile Club de l'Ouest president Pierre Fillon the Spirit of Le Mans trophy, an award bestowed for making history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

VIDEO: YouTube - Aston Martin Racing