2025 AMR Driver Academy winner Kobe Pauwels will make his FIA World Endurance Championship debut at Imola next weekend, with the Heart of Racing Team.
The Belgian will drive the #23 Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 alongside fellow rookie Gray Newell and AMR factory driver Jonny Adam, as a one-off replacement for Dudu Barrichello, who is instead competing at the clashing IMSA Sportscar Championship round at Long Beach.
Pauwels’ main programme for 2026 is a return to GT World Challenge Europe with Comtoyou Racing, where he won the Silver drivers’ title in the Sprint Cup last year. The 21-year-old will race in Silver in the Endurance Cup this season, but step up to a Pro class drive alongside works driver Nicki Thiim in the Sprint Cup.
“The WEC debut is very exciting, and if I’m honest, has come earlier than I expected it would!,” Pauwels said. “I will do my best to show the Heart of Racing Team and Aston Martin that I was the right choice!”
The quest to find Pauwels’ successor is also underway, with Aston Martin confirming the 22 candidates for this year’s Driver Academy. The competition is eligible for drivers aged 16 to 26 who are racing Vantage GT3 or GT4 machinery, with the 2026 roster including drivers from 10 different nationalities competing in series as diverse as the IMSA Sportscar Championship and Iberian GT4.
The winner will be given financial support towards their 2027 race programme, as well as assistance and guidance from Aston Martin Racing.
Headlines names include 2025 SRO GT Academy winner Gaspard Simon, and reigning 2025 24 Hours of Spa Silver class winners Oliver Söderström and Mateo Villagomez.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin head of endurance, commented: “We’re very proud of the Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy. As the initiative matures, we see even more clearly how its alumni have flourished. Two of the six drivers racing works Valkyries are AMR Academy graduates, and at least four will contest WEC and IMSA races this season.
“Others will race in the GT World Challenge Europe, the Spa 24 Hours and ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours. As a tool for defining potential endurance racing talent, it’s clearly effective and we look forward to seeing who it produces in 2026!”
2026 Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy Candidates:
- Sebastien Baud (FRA), Van der Steur Racing, IMSA, GT3
- Joel Bergström (SWE), Racar Motorsport, Iberian GT4, GT4
- Louka Desgranges (FRA), Racing Spirit of Léman, GT4 European Series, GT4
- Baudouin Detout (FRA), Comtoyou Racing, ADAC GT Masters, GT3
- Arthur Dorison (FRA), Comtoyou Racing, GT World Europe, GT3
- Roberto Faria (BRA), Racar Motorsport, Iberian GT4, GT4
- Dennis Fetzer (DEU), Walkenhorst Motorsport, NLS, GT3
- Marius Fossard (FRA), Racing Spirit of Léman, European Le Mans Series, GT3
- Pedro Garcia (BRA), Racing Spirit of Léman, GT4 European Series, GT4
- Hannah Grisham (USA), Heart of Racing Team, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, GT4
- Ethan Ischer (CHE), Walkenhorst Motorsport, GT World Europe, GT3
- Mathieu Martins (FRA), Racar Motorsport, Iberian GT4, GT4
- Anton Morsing (DEN), Racar Motorsport, Iberian GT4, GT4
- Will Orton (GBR), MKH, British GT4, GT4
- Ronan Pearson (GBR), GBR Stratton, British GT4, GT4
- Gaspard Simon (FRA), Walkenhorst Motorsport, GT World Europe, GT3
- Jodie Sloss (GBR), Mirage Racing, FFSA GT4, GT4
- Oliver Söderström (SWE), Comtoyou Racing, GT World Europe, GT3
- Rory van der Steur (USA), Van der Steur Racing, IMSA, GT3
- Athan Sterling (USA), Medusa Motorsport, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, GT4
- Mateo Villagomez (ECU), Walkenhorst Motorsport, GT World Challenge Europe, GT3
- Hunter Yeany (USA), Medusa Motorsport, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, GT4
Image courtesy of Aston Martin Racing
