24h Le Mans
Paul Dalla Lana has announced that he is calling time on a brilliant GT career to concentrate fully on his many business interests. The Canadian driver has raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans ten times.
Paul Dalla Lana competed in the opening two rounds of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship season alongside Nicki Thiim and Axcil Jefferies in the #98 Aston Martin Vantage AMR. However, he has decided to end his season and bow out of the sport.
The most successful amateur in WEC history with 17 class wins, Dalla Lana stands fourth on the Championship’s all-time winners’ list behind Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and former teammate Pedro Lamy. He won the 2017 Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am drivers with Lamy and Mathias Lauda at the wheel of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE.
Dalla Lana dreamed of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans but, despite coming very close in 2015, his best result at the French endurance classic was third in LMGTE Am last year with Thiim and David Pittard.
“To race for Aston Martin, compete at Le Mans and win a world championship title, has been one of the greatest adventures of my life and has given me so many memories that I will cherish for the rest of my days,” said Dalla Lana. “But the racing always had to stop at some point, and for me, that time has been coming for a while now. It has become increasingly challenging to find enough time to prepare and compete at the highest level; and to fight for a world championship you must be able to give your all. I have been lucky enough to race alongside some great drivers and great friends and compete against the very best. I’ve been there as WEC has grown in stature and I’ve been able to drive the mighty V12, V8 and now the turbocharged V8 Vantages at places like Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans. It’s been one hell of a ride and I’m very grateful to have been able to take it all on board an Aston Martin. Thanks to all the incredible fans that have come out to watch us over the years, and I’d like to wish Aston Martin luck in the future. I’m sure going to miss it!”
The #98 Aston Martin Vantage AMR entry will be taken over from this weekend by US outfit Heart of Racing who already run several Aston Martin programmes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and GT World Series. Ian James, Alex Riberas and Daniel Mancinelli will share driving duties.
