Racing at Road Atlanta proved pivotal in the closest IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD PRO title fight in history, with just four points (0.12%) separating the winners from runners-up.

The battle came down to series veteran The Heart of Racing with Ross Gunn in the Aston Martin versus newcomers AO Racing with rookie Laurin Heinrich in the Porsche. AO Racing entered the Motul Petit Le Mans with a commanding 104-point lead, but mechanical issues threatened to derail their championship hopes.

A broken steering wheel cable forced the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R into repairs, dropping them six laps behind and into ninth place. Meanwhile, the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo needed a second-place finish or better to clinch the title.

Despite setting the race's fastest lap and pushing the limits, Gunn finished third, just 1.9 seconds short of securing the championship. The outcome was particularly bittersweet for Gunn and Heart of Racing, as they'll transition to the Valkyrie AMR GTP program in 2025 after a one-off at Daytona.

Heinrich will return to defend AO Racing's championship in 2025 with Klaus Bachler as his full-season teammate. The dramatic conclusion highlighted IMSA's competitive nature, where even with a large points system, championships can be decided by the smallest of margins.

The Heart of Racing's impressive comeback from a challenging start with their new Vantage GT3 Evo - securing their first podium in Detroit and lone victory at Watkins Glen - made their near-miss even more remarkable.

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