The Heart of Racing has confirmed its six-driver line-up for the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS), announcing two Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo entries as the American outfit prepares to make its championship debut.
Gray Newell, Eduardo ‘Dudu’ Barrichello and Roman De Angelis will share the #26 Aston Martin, while Ian James, Zacharie Robichon and Mattia Drudi will compete in the sister #27 entry. All six drivers will make their first appearances in the Asian Le Mans Series when the championship begins at Circuit Paul Ricard in November.
The programme brings together drivers already familiar with one another through the team’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and GT4 America activities. Team Principal James believes those established relationships will provide an important foundation as Heart of Racing enters another international endurance racing championship.
Heart of Racing builds on established partnerships for Asian LMS debut
Heart of Racing will expand its international endurance racing activities through its first Asian Le Mans Series campaign, fielding two Aston Martins in the championship’s GT3 category.
The team has already established a presence in the FIA WEC, where it competes with two LMGT3 entries, alongside its programmes in North American sportscar racing.
Rather than introducing an entirely new driver roster, Heart of Racing has selected six competitors with existing connections to the organisation. The decision will allow the team to build on the experience and working relationships established across its other racing programmes.
James, who will combine his responsibilities as Team Principal with driving duties in the #27 entry, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to compete in a new championship.
“We’re excited to take The Heart of Racing into the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time. It’s a new challenge for all six of us behind the wheel, but there’s a lot of familiarity within these lineups and a strong foundation to build on. We’re looking forward to learning some new circuits together and seeing what we can achieve.”
The team will face a competitive GT3 field featuring 29 entries, with four Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evos among the championship’s confirmed full-season competitors.
Newell, Barrichello and De Angelis join forces in #26 Aston Martin
The #26 Aston Martin will bring together Newell, Barrichello and De Angelis, combining experience from several of Heart of Racing’s existing programmes.
Newell and Barrichello currently share the #23 Aston Martin in the FIA WEC alongside Jonny Adam. The pair have continued developing their partnership throughout 2026, including a podium finish at Circuit of The Americas, where Heart of Racing secured a one-three finish in LMGT3.
De Angelis will join them after competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Canadian has previously raced alongside Newell in GT4 America and shared an Aston Martin with Barrichello in IMSA, providing familiarity with both teammates ahead of their Asian LMS debut.
The programme will introduce new circuits for several members of the crew. Newell and De Angelis have yet to compete at any of the three venues, while Barrichello has previously made four starts at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Their existing relationships will therefore be particularly valuable as the team prepares for unfamiliar circuits and a new competitive environment.
De Angelis welcomes opportunity to explore new circuits
De Angelis expressed his excitement about returning to GT racing and competing at circuits he has not previously visited.
Although the Canadian has extensive experience in international sportscar competition, the Asian Le Mans Series calendar will provide opportunities to race at venues that have not featured prominently in his previous programmes.
The 25-year-old highlighted the challenge of competing against the championship’s established teams and drivers, while expressing confidence in the familiarity of Heart of Racing’s line-up.
“I’m really looking forward to competing in the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time. Having circuits on a calendar that I haven’t been to before, like Paul Ricard and Jerez, isn’t something common for me these days, so it’s something I’m particularly excited about. It’s always nice to get back to GT racing as well whenever I have the opportunity. The racing is really competitive, and the level of drivers in ALMS is always high, which makes it a great challenge I’m looking forward to. I’m excited to get started with my teammates and the Heart of Racing Team to hopefully put together a strong campaign.”
De Angelis will now prepare to adapt to the championship’s four-hour endurance format alongside Newell and Barrichello, with the trio aiming to establish themselves among the leading GT3 competitors.
James, Robichon and Drudi continue WEC partnership in #27 Aston Martin
Heart of Racing’s sister #27 entry will retain the same driver combination that has represented the team in the 2026 FIA WEC LMGT3 Championship.
James, Robichon and Drudi have enjoyed a competitive season together, securing victory at Circuit of The Americas and establishing themselves among the category’s leading crews.
Their victory at the 2026 Lone Star Le Mans ended Heart of Racing’s two-year WEC winless streak and highlighted the effectiveness of their partnership.
The trio will now aim to carry that momentum into the Asian Le Mans Series, where their experience competing together could provide an advantage during the opening rounds.
Both Robichon and Drudi also bring previous experience at circuits featured on the calendar. Robichon has secured podium finishes at Circuit Paul Ricard and the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, including a victory in the 2023 European Le Mans Series at the Portuguese venue.
Meanwhile, Drudi has competed at both circuits and claimed a victory at Paul Ricard during the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season.
Their familiarity with the venues will provide valuable reference points as Heart of Racing prepares for its first championship campaign.
Robichon targets competitive start to Asian Le Mans Series campaign
Robichon welcomed the opportunity to continue racing alongside James and Drudi, emphasising the confidence established through their successful WEC partnership.
The Canadian driver believes the crew’s understanding of one another will provide a strong foundation for the new championship, particularly as they adapt to different circuits and race conditions.
He also highlighted the importance of previous experience at several venues, which could help the team establish competitive performance during its first Asian LMS weekend.
“It’s exciting to take on a new championship with Ian and Mattia. We know how to get the best out of each other, and hopefully we can carry that momentum from WEC into ALMS. Mattia and I also have experience at some of these circuits, which should give us a good starting point. The goal is to put everything together and be competitive from the opening round.”
Robichon’s comments reflect the team’s ambition to challenge for strong results immediately, rather than treating its first season solely as an opportunity to gain experience.
Although the trio already has a successful working relationship, the Asian Le Mans Series will present different sporting conditions and competition, requiring the team to adapt its approach throughout the six-race championship.
Heart of Racing joins competitive 47-car Asian LMS field
The 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series will feature six four-hour races across three European venues, with 47 full-season entries competing in Hypercar, LMP2 and GT3.
The official entry list includes 29 GT3 cars representing eight manufacturers. Heart of Racing will contribute two of the four Aston Martin entries, competing against established teams such as Manthey, AF Corse, Team WRT, Garage 59 and Leipert Motorsport.
The season will begin with a double-header at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on 13–15 November 2026. The championship will then move to Circuito de Jerez in Spain on 15–17 January 2027 before concluding at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal on 19–21 February.
Heart of Racing’s participation represents another stage in the organisation’s international growth, extending its racing activities while continuing its charitable mission of raising awareness and support for Seattle Children’s.
With both driver combinations confirmed, the team will now focus on preparing its Aston Martin entries for their first Asian Le Mans Series appearances.
The familiarity within the two crews, combined with their experience across WEC, IMSA and other GT championships, will provide a foundation as Heart of Racing targets a competitive introduction to the championship.
