Turner to make IMSA return at Laguna Seca

Aston Martin Racing legend and three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Darren Turner will return to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition next weekend with The Heart of Racing Team.

Turner, who last raced in IMSA’s premier series in 2023, will drive the GTD class No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca alongside Casper Stevenson.

Tom Gamble, Heart of Racing’s other full-time GTD driver, will be unavailable for the Laguna Seca round due to a clash with the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on the same weekend. Gamble will be in Belgium driving the No. 007 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Turner was part of Heart of Racing’s 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona GTD class victory – and made three appearances for the team during its first IMSA season in 2020. Turner currently runs full-time for Heart of Racing in GT World Challenge America, competing alongside co-driver Gray Newell in a Vantage GT3. The pair scored two top-ten finishes at GT World America’s visit to Circuit of the Americas this past weekend.

“It’s been a long time since I last raced at Laguna, but it’s a super enjoyable circuit,” Turner said after getting the call to run at Laguna Seca. “My last IMSA race was Daytona 2023 with the Heart of Racing where we won the GTD class. IMSA is a championship that I love, it’s super impressive.

“I’ll be teamed up with Casper (Stevenson) for the first time, he’s a super talented driver and it’s exciting to be teamed up with a youngster that’s already doing a great job in the championship.”

Turner last competed at Laguna Seca during the 2013 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and also made starts at the 2005 and 2006 American Le Mans Series rounds.

His co-driver Stevenson is currently third in the GTD Drivers’ Championship with podium finishes at Daytona and Sebring.