The Heart of Racing to Field Four Aston Martin Entries in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship
(December 8, 2025)
The Heart of Racing will expand its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) program for 2026, growing from a three-car effort to a four-car Aston Martin lineup. After competing with two Aston Martin Valkyries in the Hypercar category and one Aston Martin Vantage in LMGT3 throughout 2025, the team will assume a second Vantage entry for the upcoming season—campaigning the No. 23, a familiar number to Heart of Racing fans.
The newly added No. 23 Aston Martin Vantage will see WEC rookie Gray Newell step into the role of Bronze-rated driver. Newell transitions to the world stage following a strong full season in GT World Challenge America, where he earned three podium finishes in the Vantage GT3 alongside teammate Darren Turner. His outing in the WEC Rookie Test at Bahrain International Circuit in November further underscored his readiness, with competitive lap times and a trouble-free day.
Newell began his racing career in 2021 in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 before advancing into GT3 machinery, securing podium results at events including the 24 Hours of Dubai and the 12 Hours of Mugello. In 2024, he also appeared in Road to Le Mans.
“I was very surprised but honored to be driving for The Heart of Racing team in the 2026 World Endurance Championship,” said Newell. “When I was given the chance to drive in the Rookie Test, I had a sense that this might be the long-term goal, but I was not anticipating being moved up to WEC so fast. I feel a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. For the team to be placing this level of trust in me is an immense honor, and I’m ready to meet the moment. There is a lot to learn, but Ian and the team have always known exactly how far to push me, and I trust their judgment completely. Time for a new chapter!”
The familiar No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage will once again feature Ian James, who has been integral to the LMGT3 lineup since the team joined WEC in 2023. James has qualified the Vantage in all but two Hyperpole sessions across 20 WEC qualifying appearances. The No. 27 team earned pole position for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans and concluded the 2025 season with a third-place finish in Bahrain with co-drivers Zacharie Robichon and Mattia Drudi.
The Heart of Racing will also maintain its full Hypercar program, returning with an unchanged driver roster for both Aston Martin Valkyries.
The No. 007 Valkyrie will continue with British drivers Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble, with Ross Gunn supporting the duo at Qatar, Le Mans, and Bahrain.
The No. 009 Valkyrie will again feature Marco Sørensen and Alex Riberas, with Roman De Angelis joining for the marquee endurance events.
The Valkyrie’s first season in WEC delivered strong progress and breakthrough performances. A fifth-place finish at Fuji marked the highest WEC result for the Valkyrie to date, aided by Sørensen’s third-place qualifying effort. At the season finale in Bahrain, both Valkyries advanced to Hyperpole for the first time, with Riberas taking the No. 009 to the top of the leaderboard and leading the Hypercar field for 12 laps.
“Throughout 2025, as the program grew and developed, we have achieved a great deal as a team, but we have also learned a considerable amount,” said Team Principal Ian James. “The drivers as a group delivered over and above what we asked from them. That included a lot of work at the very beginning that required them to dig deep. But it also means that we have generated a hugely valuable hub of understanding and knowledge about Valkyrie that will be valuable as we move into season two. As we continue to understand more about how to exploit the competitive nature of Valkyrie, it’s a great opportunity for all our drivers to use what they have learned and push on to achieve more in 2026, and we have every faith that they will.”
The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship will open on March 28 at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.
