Aston Martin amateur driver Dalla Lana retires from racing

Aston Martin amateur driver Paul Dalla Lana has announced he is stepping away from racing at the age of 57.

This means the Northwest AMR team entry, which was funded by Dalla Lana and featured him as the team’s bronze driver, will be handed to IMSA team, and fellow Aston Martin partners, The Heart of Racing for the rest of the FIA World Endurance Championship season. More on that here.

Dalla Lana has raced in WEC for a decade, taking a podium in his very first race at Silverstone into 2013. He won the WEC GTE-Am drivers’ world championship title in 2017, and finished third at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, his best result at the French endurance classic.

Overall he took 36 podiums in 69 WEC races — a strike rate of 54%. This makes him the most successful amateur racer in WEC history.

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Dalla Lana’s departure from racing comes as he aims to focus more time on his business interests, of which one is Northwest Healthcare, which manages medical buildings in his native Canada.

This also means his current teammates in the #98 Northwest AMR Aston Martin Vantage AMR, Axciil Jeffries and Nicki Thiim, are now out of a drive.

“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 the Canadian.

“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’ve been lucky enough to race alongside some great drivers and great friends and compete against the very best in sportscar racing. I’ve been there as WEC has grown in stature and I’ve been able to drive the mighty V12, V8 and now the turbo-charged V8 Vantages at places like Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans.

“It’s been one hell of 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!”