The Heart of Racing secures first GTWCA podium at VIR
Alton, VA (July 21, 2025) - Through high temps and afternoon storms, The Heart of Racing made it through the SRO America weekend at VIRginia International Raceway with a second place finish on Saturday in GT World Challenge America, marking the team’s first podium finish in the championship. The No. 24 team followed up its Saturday podium with a third place finish on Sunday. In Pirelli GT4 America, “The Hannahs” piloted the No. 26 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4, the duo ended the weekend with an eighth and ninth place finish in the Silver category.
It was a weekend of new experiences for Gray Newell and Darren Turner as the duo teamed up in the No. 24 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in GTWCA. Newell made his first start at the quick Virginia circuit in a GT3 machine, while Turner made his first start ever at VIR. The duo had another first together as the No. 24 team secured its first GTWCA podium finish of the season.
Newell was first to qualify on Saturday morning securing the fifth fastest lap in the Pro-Am category. Turner finished the second 15 minute qualifying session with the seventh fastest lap time in the category.
The first GTWCA race of the weekend took place Saturday afternoon. Newell originally lost a position at the start, but was quick to make it up with a strategic pass in turn one just a few laps later. Newell maintained the fifth place position when a caution came out just 45 minutes into the race. The team made a great strategy call on when to pit to put Turner in the Vantage. When the field went green again, Turner was second in class. The Brit maintained position until the last lap when he was passed by a BMW, at about that same time the class leader was forced to pit, placing the No. 24 Vantage back in second at the checkered flag.
Turner started the Vantage from seventh in Sunday’s afternoon race, but was quick to move to sixth. Turner made a pass going into turn one for fifth, where he maintained position until handing the Vantage to Newell with 40 minutes remaining. Just 20 minutes into his stint, Newell found himself in fourth when the car he was battling sent himself around. Newell passed for third in the closing laps of the race, securing the second podium finish of the weekend.
“It was a very pleasing weekend here at VIR,” said Turner. “We didn’t come into the weekend expecting to have two podium results. I’m super happy for the team and all their hard work up until this point. Gray had an exceptional stint on Sunday, his pace was really strong and that got us back onto the podium for race two. It was my first race here at VIR, it was bloody hot, but I loved it! Now let’s see if we can keep the momentum going as we head into the rest of the season.”
“That was a good weekend,” said Newell. “I think we came in with a fifth place car and finished the weekend with two podiums. Saturday’s race we finished second with good consistency and a great strategy call. Sunday we had a bit of trouble at the pit stop. I knew I had to give maximum effort, so I put my head down and I think I drove the best stint in my career so far. I’m really happy with that.”
The all-female duo of Hannah Grisham and Hannah Greenemeier were back in the No. 26 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 this weekend in Pirelli GT4 America. Grisham was first to qualify in the Vantage on Saturday morning, setting the ninth fastest lap. Greenemeier qualified tenth for Sunday’s race.
Just as Saturday’s Pirelli GT4 America race went green, the field was called down pit lane before finishing the first full lap due to lightning in the area. Grisham waited out the remainder of her stint in the pitlane. Once the weather hold was lifted, Grisham made one caution lap around the wet track before Greenemeier got behind the wheel. There was only six minutes left on the clock when the track went green once again. Unfortunately, it was just not enough time for Greenemeier to make any in-class passes, the Colorado native finished race one in ninth.
Greenemeier was first in the Vantage for Sunday’s 60 minute race, starting towards the rear of the field due to an off track excursion during qualifying Greenemeier was quickly making her way forward. Greenemeier made it up to sit seventh before handing the Vantage to Grisham. Grisham was able to maintain position and close the gap to the next car in class. Unfortunately with just eight minutes to go, contact with a competitor caused too much damage ending the race early for the No. 26 team.
“It was not the weekend we were hoping for,” said Grisham. “The team did a great job preparing a fast car and Hannah (Greenemeier) did an awesome job driving. We just didn’t have enough time on Saturday’s race due to the weather hold to gain any positions. Then today, we just had some bad luck. We are already looking ahead to Road America!”
The Heart of Racing SRO team will be back in action next at Road America, August 15-17. In the meantime the IMSA crew will be on track August 1-3 for the IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Road America.
