The program brings together familiar faces from The Heart of Racing’s IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championship efforts, pairing established teammates in a new competitive setting. Gray Newell, Eduardo “Dudu” Barrichello, and Roman De Angelis will share the No. 26 Vantage, while Ian James, Zacharie Robichon, and Mattia Drudi will team up in the No. 27 sister entry.
“We’re excited to take The Heart of Racing into the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time,” said Ian James, driver and Team Principal. “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.”
Newell and Barrichello look to carry their momentum from their FIA WEC efforts. De Angelis joins them, having shared a Vantage with Newell in SRO GT4 America and with Barrichello in the IMSA WeatherTech Series. Newell and De Angelis will both make their first starts at all three Asian Le Mans Series circuits, while Barrichello has made four starts at Circuit Paul Ricard.
“I’m really looking forward to competing in the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time,” De Angelis said. “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.”
In the sister car, James, Robichon, and Drudi will continue their partnership following a race-winning campaign together in the FIA WEC’s LMGT3 category. Robichon has podium finishes at Circuit Paul Ricard and Autodromo do Algarve, including a 2023 win at Algarve while competing in the European Le Mans Series. Drudi has also started at both circuits; most recently, the Italian secured a win at Circuit Paul Ricard this season in GT World Challenge Europe.
“It’s exciting to take on a new championship with Ian and Mattia,” said Robichon. “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.”
The Asian Le Mans Series entry marks another step in The Heart of Racing’s international growth, extending its racing program to a new championship while continuing its mission of raising awareness and support for Seattle Children’s. The first race will take place at Circuit Paul Ricard, November 13-15.
