Heart of Racing Team finalises 2025 LMGT3 line-up
The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship grid has taken another step towards completion today (3 February), with the announcement that Zacharie Robichon and Mattia Drudi will flank Ian James in Heart of Racing Team’s Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3.
The American outfit enjoyed a successful season in 2024, as James together with team-mates Alex Riberas and Daniel Mancinelli converted pole position into victory on home soil at COTA and scooped the runner-up spoils in both Qatar and São Paulo in the fiercely-disputed new LMGT3 category, on their way to fifth in the overall standings.
James will be returning to the cockpit of the iconic British sportscar for the third consecutive campaign in FIA WEC, while with Riberas moving up – to Aston Martin’s nascent Valkyrie Hypercar project – and Mancinelli moving on, Robichon and Drudi will join the squad’s Team Principal on the driving strength.
The Canadian made his debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022, going on to compete for Proton Competition in FIA WEC last year, claiming four top ten results. A Heart of Racing Team driver in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2024, Robichon recently reached the rostrum in the 24 Hours of Daytona and triumphed in the Bathurst 12 Hour race. He is also a former title-winner in IMSA’s GTD division and the European Le Mans Series’ LMGTE class.
“I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of Heart of Racing Team for a little over a year now,” the 32-year-old reflected. “I’m excited to finally be able to complete a full season together with Ian and Mattia in FIA WEC. This championship is one that I love, and the chance to compete with Aston Martin and Heart of Racing Team cannot come soon enough!”
Drudi, by contrast, will be making his series bow later this month. The Italian has contested the GT World Challenge Europe for the past six campaigns, securing multiple wins – including the latest edition of the 24 Hours of Spa behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Vantage – and the 2023 Sprint Cup crown. Most recently, Drudi partnered Robichon in Heart of Racing Team’s third place-finishing car in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
“I’m super-excited to be making my FIA WEC debut with Heart of Racing Team,” enthused the 26-year-old Italian. “Zach was one of the best Silver-rated drivers in 2024, and Ian has been one of the quickest Bronze-rated drivers. I think overall, we have a really strong line-up. The Aston Martin Vantage was one of the most competitive cars last year. I can’t wait to get the season started in Qatar later this month!”
“I’m excited to see what 2025 holds for our team,” echoed James. “Zach and Mattia are both great drivers and have already shown what they can do this year at Daytona. We have a solid crew working on our Aston Martin, who have been on our car since we started in FIA WEC, and we will be building on the success we have had during the past two seasons.”
The action will get underway with the curtain-raising Qatar 1812km on 28 February, preceded by the traditional ‘Prologue’ group test at the same circuit on 21-22 February.
