20/24 #18: Aston Martin Vantage AMR (chassis #16A-204-1)
Chosen by: Sarah Rigby
Best finish: none
Team: TF Sport
Driven by: Valentin Hasse-Clot, Arnold Robin, Maxime Robin

It seems obvious to say, but without fans, sport would be a rather less signifiant endeavour. More than 300,000 are expected at this year’s 24 Hours, and each one of them will have different reasons for being there, different favourites, and different stories.

“Martyn & I are huge fans of endurance racing and love watching the greatest race in the world,” says Sarah Rigby. “The whole weekend is sacred – it’s a case of ‘disturb me at your peril’!”

Sarah, and her husband Martyn, are both enormous fans of Aston Martin. Proper, dyed-in-the-wool AMR fans. Cut either of them in half, and they’d have the logo down the middle like a stick a rock.

“Nothing makes my heart race more than the LMGTE Pro class win for the #97 Aston Martin Racing Vantage in 2017,” continues Sarah, who was one of many left slack-jawed by an unbelievable late battle for the class win. “My stomach was knotted, finger nails chewed, my voice was hoarse from shouting.

“I was a blubbering wreck and bursting with so much pride for all our AMR family when they won.”

But her choice of favourite car sees the aligning of stars, with her favourite brand and one of her favourite drivers together in 2023.

“We have been fans of Valentin Hasse-Clot for several years now and have followed his racing in various series, from the comfort of our sofa,” says Sarah, who without hesitation picked this particular car from Aston’s storied history at La Sarthe. “We were very excited that he was going to race in the centenary race last year, and in such a stunning car. The livery was a tribute to Henri Pescarolo, and we loved it.”

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