Elias Sabo and Andy Lee are teammates in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in an Aston Martin GTD (GT3) car. Sabo also drives an Aston Martin GT4 car in the SRO Americas championship. At the press day luncheon for the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach we caught up with them to ask about their gorgeous race car and how they became teammates among other things. Sabo was pulling triple duty during race weekend with a single race in the GTD car (sharing with Lee) and two races in the GT4 car. Enjoy!
NOTE: Next week, we’ll have Andy give us a walkaround on each of the two different Aston Martin race cars. The Roar Before the 24 test, and the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona are coming up on January 17-19 and January 22-26, 2025. Also of note, after a challenging start to the season, the team switched manufacturers in August to the BMW M4 GT3/GTD platform looking for their results to improve for 2025.
By Larry Mason
Copyright © 2024 Larry Mason
Andy Lee (left) and Elias Sabo (right) share a victory celebration in New Orleans!
Photo credit: Bob Chapman Autosport Image
Elias Sabo has become a winning professional race car driver in his short racing career.
Andy Lee is not only a professional race car driver and Sabo’s teammate. He’s cut his teeth as a mechanic and driver coach too.
The Aston Martin IMSA GT3/GTD race car is shown here in Turn 10 at Long Beach. The fender flares are so wide that there are special side-mirror mounts to aid visibility. Note the massive rear wing too.
The Aston Martin GT4 race car is shown here in Turn 10 at Long Beach. The voluptuous bodywork is mainly stock from Aston Martin. Notice that there is significantly more body roll through the same corner compared to the GT3 car.
The Apex logo on the inside front fender just happens to be right over the apex of the fountain turn at Long Beach. Note the massive front splitter and multiple dive planes for extra front downforce.
The GT4 version (shown here exiting Turn 9) has a much cleaner front end aerodynamically than the GT3 version.
Sabo waits patiently on pit lane while his teammate Lee puts the IMSA car through its paces.
Lee is happy to be living the dream as a professional race car driver, and while his teammate Sabo takes his turn on track, he can take a moment to relax.
The Aston Martin IMSA GTD race car is shown here rocketing down Shoreline Drive at Long Beach. The huge rear wing, fender flares, diffuser and rear tires won’t help it go fast in a straight line, but every time you have to slow down or go around corners, they’re essential!
Interview and photos Copyright © by Larry Mason (unless otherwise noted)