Dalla Lana launches NorthWest AMR team for 2021 WEC campaign

Canadian gentleman driver Paul Dalla Lana will contest the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship with his own team, NorthWest AMR.

The 2017 GTE Am champion will continue to race in GTE Am with the #98 Aston Martin Vantage AMR after the factory GTE operation shut down at the end of 2020.

He will contest his ninth season in the championship, always running Aston Martin machinery since his championship debut at Silverstone in 2013.

“I’ve had great success with Aston Martin Racing over the past nine years and winning the title in 2017 in Bahrain was undoubtedly the highlight,” Dalla Lana said.

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"Firstly, we are very happy to welcome Mari to the new programme. He is a promising talent with a strong track record, natural speed, and a determined mindset, but he is also an incredibly well-rounded athlete – a trait we value in motorsport. Our aim is to support his development in every area, from racecraft and technical feedback to media, fitness, and personal growth, preparing him for the demands of top-level racing. "We are also proud to launch the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Driver Academy, a programme designed to identify, support, and develop exceptional driving talent. This initiative gives us the opportunity to shape the next generation of drivers, helping them grow into the complete package both on and off the track. Guiding young talent through some of the most challenging and competitive phases of their careers is not only a privilege, but a shared passion across the entire team."

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“However, I still have unfinished business at Le Mans and I believe we now have the best package of car, team and drivers to emulate 2017 and to secure our first Le Mans title.”

Dalla Lana is joined by a pair of Brazilian drivers: Augusto Farfus and Marcos Gomes.

Farfus and Dalla Lana previously teamed together at last year’s Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Outside of racing for Aston Martin, the Brazilian is a renowned GT and touring car racer with the likes of BMW and Hyundai. He holds two Rolex 24 at Daytona class wins and won the Intercontinental GT Challenge in 2020.

“The FIA World Endurance Championship is the pinnacle of sportscar racing and a full season is a goal for any driver,” Farfus commented. “I really enjoyed driving the Vantage with Paul last year at Spa and Le Mans.

“Paul is a great teammate, with an absolute passion for his racing and a desire to win, while Marcus has proven just how quick he is.

“The GTE Am Class this year is going to be the most competitive in the championship and we are going to have to fight for every point.”

Gomes, meanwhile, is the newcomer to the line-up. After debuting in sportscar in 2015, he took the GT class title in the Asian Le Mans Series with HubAuto Corsa last year and subsequently raced with the team for his maiden Le Mans outing in a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo.

It has been a long-held ambition of mine to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship,” he said. “Le Mans last year was an amazing experience and now to get the opportunity to compete in a full season and to do this with Aston Martin is a dream come true.

“I have yet to drive the Vantage GTE and can’t wait to try it at Spa, but it proved just how competitive it was last year in WEC.”