The 2025 GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season has been one of steady growth and breakthrough moments for the Heart of Racing duo of Gray Newell and Darren Turner. Sharing driving duties in the No. 24 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO in the Pro-Am class, the pair scored their first podiums of the year at VIRginia International Raceway, then went on to back it up with another at Road America, signaling their arrival as a force to be reckoned with.
For Newell, those podiums represented the payoff of years of development within SRO America’s ladder system. Having previously competed in GT America in the GT4 class, as well as the ever-competitive Pirelli GT4 America championship, Newell was prepared to take the next step.
“I came up through the GT4 ranks, and I like driving in SRO because there’s a really nice, logical progression for you as a driver,” Newell explained. “There’s always been someone of a similar skill level to battle against. Now that I’m in GT3 machinery, it’s been super rewarding to move up with a lot of the guys I raced against in GT4 and fight them at the top level.”
That progression reached a high point at VIR, where Newell and Turner stood on the Pro-Am podium twice in two days. For Newell, Sunday’s Race 2 drive in particular was a career-defining moment.
“The second race at VIR was confidently my best drive that I’ve had of my career in terms of really meeting the car where it was and how it needed to be driven given the conditions,” he said. “That was honestly one of the most gratifying podiums of my career so far. I felt like I was able to maximize my performance, it was a great benchmark for me to be able to say I’m here, I’m in GT3, and we’re here to start winning races."
“Every time I get in the car, I want to feel like I'm 1% better,” he continued. “As they say, compounding interest is the most powerful force in the universe. So whether it's a test, practice, qualifying or the race, I want to come out and say that I made a 1% improvement. Sometimes it's more than that and sometimes I don't succeed, but then it becomes its own learning experience. Fortunately, the team has been really supportive and let me do my thing in order to figure out how I can improve with the tools and resources I have. My development path has kind of been unique, but the team has done an amazing job of adapting to that.”
One key ingredient to Newell’s continued development has been his partnership with longtime Aston Martin driver and three-time Le Mans winner Darren Turner.
“I was actually the one who put in the original idea to have Darren on board with me,” Newell revealed. “Darren is insanely knowledgeable and super fun to learn from. We have slightly different driving styles, which has been interesting to compare, but he’s taught me that driving is all about making a series of decisions, not just one absolute way to drive the car. He’s been a great mentor.”
For Turner, who returned to a full-season GT3 campaign this year, the pairing has been a natural fit.
“It’s been good to come back and do a full championship in America,” Turner exclaimed. “This championship is getting stronger, and the competition is improving. It’s my first full year in a GT3 program for a number of years now, so what better place to do it than out in America. The paddock is so open and friendly, and everyone comes here to go racing for the right reasons. It’s always a positive experience coming here. I've thoroughly enjoyed the season so far.”
“I’ve shared a car with Gray a couple of times before, including at the Dubai 24 Hour, so I knew he had the skill sets to do a really good job in a GT3 car,” Turner shared. “This year has been all about adapting to the Vantage GT3 from his GT4 experience. He’s very good at analyzing his own performance and working out where he is and where he needs to find lap time. It’s been really great to see him develop.”
Beyond the data and debriefs, Turner says the partnership has clicked on a personal level as well; “Like anything, you spend a lot of time together over a race weekend, so you want to be with someone with whom you enjoy their company. It’s been really good.”
Both drivers have credited the Heart of Racing Team for their ability to unlock more pace from the No. 24 Aston Martin as the season has developed. The transition to the new Pirelli tire initially presented its challenges, but steady work has brought results.
“The team has done an excellent job of figuring out how to get our car into the window,” Newell stated. “I’ve been able to steadily progress with each race, and I’m getting closer and closer to the front. The podiums were a really nice reward for all of the work we’ve been doing.”
Turner echoed that sentiment; “Most of the progress is in relation to what we’re doing with the car, and every time we come out of a session we’ve learned something new. We’ve definitely gotten stronger as the season has gone on. Our first podium came from a great strategy call, and then the next podium was down to Gray’s really strong stint. If we can continue that way, that’d be fantastic. We’re just trying to carry on with getting points and gaining experience.”
With the regular season behind them, attention now turns to one of the crown jewels of the global SRO calendar: the Indianapolis 8 Hour. It will be Newell’s first start in the Brickyard classic, though he’s already logged valuable experience in long-distance races overseas with the team.
“The most useful thing for me has been figuring out a pace that I can sustain over a long stint, both physically and mentally, without putting the car at risk,” Newell explained. “Those little changes over the hours are really fun to figure out, and I’m excited to get to do that here in SRO.”
For Turner, the focus is on carrying forward the momentum they built throughout the summer; “With the regular length rounds behind us, we’re now fully able to concentrate on the Indy 8 Hour. We’ve tried to learn what we can from these past weekends, we have a very talented driver joining our lineup, and I think we’re taking good steps for when we get to Indianapolis.”
With a string of podiums under their belts and growing confidence in their Aston Martin, the Heart of Racing duo enters the Indianapolis 8 Hour with a potent blend of experience and momentum. For Newell, it’s another step in his evolution as a GT driver. For Turner, it’s a chance to add another chapter to his storied career. And for both, it’s a partnership built on trust, growth, and the opportunity to pursue victory.