The Heart of Racing finishes sixth in the LMGT3 class in Qatar

Doha, Qatar (March 1, 2025) - During this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship season opening race in Qatar the Heart of Racing made its first WEC start with three entries. The Heart of Racing Team finished sixth in the LMGT3 category, while the two Aston Martin THOR Team Hypercar teams continued to develop the new Aston Martin Valkyrie as it made its international competition debut. 

Ian James, Zacharie Robichon, and Mattia Drudi teamed up in the Heart of Racing Team’s No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 entry. The WEC’s new LMGT3 qualification rules saw both James and Robichon qualify. James set the seventh fastest lap to solidify the No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage in the Hyperpole round. Robichon set a 1:54.755-second lap in the Hyperpole session to earn a fourth row starting position for Friday’s ten-hour enduro.

James started the Qatar 1812km, completing 89 laps before handing the Aston Martin Vantage over to Robichon after remaining in the top five for a majority of his four-stint run. Robichon took the next 51 laps, racing forward to second position before passing the wheel to Drudi at the five hour halfway mark.

Drudi was driving in second when he set the No. 27 team’s fastest lap time of the race at 1:55.083-seconds. Unfortunately just eight laps later the Italian driver had to serve a drive through penalty from the previous pit stop. Robichon took over the Aston Martin Vantage on lap 195, fighting his way back up to a second place position. Drudi drove the final 36 laps, but with 13 laps to go he had to dive into the pits from second place for an energy only stop. The No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 crossed the finish line in sixth. 

“Happy to be in the top six for the first race of the WEC season,” said Robichon. “We moved up one position from qualifying and had a few spells in the top three during the race. Ian and Mattia drove a faultless race and the crew was on it, as always. We’ll be ready for Imola in April.” 

“A top six result is a positive way to start the season,” said Drudi. “We were in contention for the podium in many phases of the race, until our drive through penalty from a quite hectic pit lane moment. I think we are happy, the car was strong and the team did a really good job, Ian and Zach as well and we will take the positives from the race. I think if we stay focused the rest of the season, it can be a really good year for us.” 

The Aston Martin THOR Team debuted the Aston Martin Valkyrie in Qatar where the No. 009 finished in 17th with Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen, and Roman De Angelis driving. The No. 007 piloted by Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble, and Ross Gunn completed 181 laps before being forced to retire. 

The Heart of Racing will be back in action at Sebring International Raceway March 14-15 for IMSA’s Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.