Roster Ready: The Heart of Racing Finalizes 2026 Rolex 24 Squad
The countdown to the high banks of Daytona has officially begun. As the motorsport world turns its eyes toward the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, The Heart of Racing is making it clear they aren’t just showing up to participate. They are showing up to win. The team has officially confirmed its driver lineup for the 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona.
It reveals a strategy that balances proven continuity with an exciting injection of new blood. The organization is fielding a two-car assault on the grid featuring the cutting-edge No. 23 Aston Martin THOR Valkyrie in the premier GTP class and the No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage in the ultra-competitive GTD category.
Continuity Key for the GTP Lineup
In the world of prototype racing, chemistry is everything. You need drivers who can communicate telepathically about tire wear, fuel strategy, and traffic management at 200 mph. Recognizing this, The Heart of Racing has opted for stability in their top-tier entry. The No. 23 Aston Martin THOR Team Valkyrie will see an unchanged lineup for the upcoming season. Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis are back as the full-season pilots, tasked with taming the Valkyrie across the calendar.
For the grueling endurance rounds, the Rolex 24, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans, they will be joined by Alex Riberas. To round out the roster for the 24-hour classic at Daytona, Marco Sørensen steps in to complete the quartet. This decision isn’t just about keeping friends together. It’s about capitalizing on hard-earned momentum. The 2025 season was a rollercoaster of development for the Valkyrie program.
It started with heartbreak at Daytona, where an early mechanical gremlin forced a retirement, but ended in triumph with a second-place finish at Motul Petit Le Mans. Ross Gunn captured the mood of the garage perfectly. “2025 was a year of learning, growth, and relentless improvement with the Valkyrie,” he said.
“I think 2026 is an opportunity to keep pushing forward and enjoy what we’re building together. I’m really looking forward to Daytona, it’s a race we missed in the Valkyrie last year, and I’m determined to get back there.”That second-place finish at the end of last season proved the car has the pace. Now, the lineup has the experience to turn that pace into a Rolex watch.
A Famous Name Joins the GTD Roster
While the GTP garage focuses on continuity, the No. 27 GTD garage is buzzing with the arrival of a name that carries serious weight in motorsport history. Eduardo “Dudu” Barrichello is set to make his full-season IMSA debut.
Son of Formula 1 legend Rubens Barrichello, Dudu is stepping into the No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage with big shoes to fill and high expectations. He joins a lineup of returning heavy hitters: Tom Gamble, Zacharie Robichon, and Mattia Drudi. This trio already knows how to navigate the chaos of Daytona, having secured a podium finish at last year’s Rolex 24.
For the younger Barrichello, this isn’t just another race seat; it’s the realization of a lifelong ambition. “It’s always been a dream of mine to race in IMSA,” Barrichello admitted. “I’ve seen my dad compete in the series on multiple occasions, and since then, it has become a personal goal. To get to do it with such an iconic team is something I never thought possible.”
The dynamic here is fascinating. You have a proven, podium-finishing core in Gamble, Robichon, and Drudi, welcoming a hungry, talented rookie who grew up in the paddock. Gamble noted that while last year was great, the team has “unfinished business” regarding the championship. Bringing in Barrichello adds a fresh spark to a team that is already operating at a championship caliber.
The Road to the Roar
The Heart of Racing has laid its cards on the table. On the one hand, they have the No. 23 Valkyrie lineup, a group of drivers looking to redeem themselves from their 2025 Daytona heartbreak and prove their machine is the king of the GTP class. On the other hand, the No. 27 GTD squad is blending veteran savvy with the raw excitement of the Barrichello legacy.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see this lineup on track. The engines will fire up at Daytona International Speedway for the ROAR Before the 24 from January 16–18, 2026. That sets the stage for the main event, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, on January 24. If the end of 2025 was any indication, The Heart of Racing has found its rhythm. Now, it’s time to see if this roster has the stamina to go the distance.
