The Heart of Racing (also known as the Heart of Racing Team or simply Heart of Racing) is an American auto racing team established by British racing driver Ian James, American businessman Gabe Newell, and American developer Yahn Bernier. The team primarily competes in sports car racing with factory support from Aston Martin. Additionally, Heart of Racing races in support of Seattle Children's Hospital in Seattle, Washington.
The name âÂÂThe Heart of Racingâ began as a fundraising campaign created by Teamâ¯Seattle inâ¯1997 to benefit Seattle ChildrenâÂÂs Hospital in Seattle, Washington. That campaign has continued ever since, with the hospital receiving proceeds from every race in which the team competes. Former Teamâ¯Seattle driverâ¯Ianâ¯James subsequently founded a racing team of the same name; together with Teamâ¯Seattle and Alex Job Racing, it contested the IMSA SportsCar Championship for three seasons, concluding its initial programme inâ¯2016.
Fromâ¯2014 toâ¯2016, the combined operation fielded Porscheâ¯911 GT3 cars and finished inside the top five of IMSAâÂÂs GTâ¯Daytonaâ¯(GTD) class in two of those three seasons. Inâ¯2015 Theâ¯Heart of Racing also supported Michaelâ¯Ammermüller and Lechnerâ¯Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cupâ¯Germany, where Ammermüller placed fourth overall with six podium finishes. The team broadened its activities into drifting, winning the D1NZ series in both theâ¯2019 andâ¯2021 seasons with Newâ¯Zealander Darrenâ¯Kelly in a modified Nissanâ¯GTâÂÂR.
After a threeâÂÂyear hiatus, Theâ¯Heart ofâ¯Racing returned to IMSA competition inâ¯2020, once again in the GTD class, this time with factory support from Astonâ¯Martin. The driver lineâÂÂup comprised Romanâ¯Deâ¯Angelis, Alexâ¯Riberas, Ianâ¯James, Nickiâ¯Thiim and Darrenâ¯Turner. The teamâÂÂs best result that year was second place at the 12â¯Hours ofâ¯Sebring.
The teamâÂÂs first victory came at the 2021 Detroit Sportsâ¯Car Classic, where Romanâ¯Deâ¯Angelis and Rossâ¯Gunn were promoted to first place after CarBahn with Peregrineâ¯Racing was disqualified for breaching the mandatory 40âÂÂsecond refuelling rule. Deâ¯Angelis andâ¯Gunn won again at the 2021 Northeast Grandâ¯Prix. Joined by Ianâ¯James, they added a third win at that seasonâÂÂs Petitâ¯Leâ¯Mans, and the No.â¯23 Astonâ¯Martin ultimately finished third in the GTD championship standings.
Theâ¯Heart ofâ¯Racing also entered the 2021 GT4â¯Americaâ¯Series with an Astonâ¯Martin Vantageâ¯AMRâ¯GT4 driven by Ianâ¯James and Grayâ¯Newell, son of Gabeâ¯Newell. The pair finished 13th in ProâÂÂAm, taking a victory in the second race at Watkinsâ¯Glen. In the 2023 GT4â¯America season, Deâ¯Angelis andâ¯Newell placed fourth in ProâÂÂAm, while Hannahâ¯Grisham and Riannaâ¯OâÂÂMearaâÂÂHunt finished sixth in the Am class. Additionally, Alexâ¯Riberas and Darrenâ¯Kelly secured the 2021 Northâ¯Islandâ¯Enduroâ¯Series title in Newâ¯Zealand.
For the 2022 season, The Heart of Racing expanded its IMSA programme by entering a second No.â¯23 Astonâ¯Martin Vantage in the GTDâ¯Pro class, with Alexâ¯Riberas and Rossâ¯Gunn contesting the full season. Romanâ¯Deâ¯Angelis returned to drive the No.â¯27 entry in the GTD class. Ianâ¯James, Darrenâ¯Turner, Maximeâ¯Martin, and Tomâ¯Gamble also joined the team for selected rounds across both classes.
Each car secured two race victories during the season, including a standout performance at the 2022 SahlenâÂÂs Six Hours of The Glen, where the team achieved a rare double class win - triumphing in both GTD and GTDâ¯Pro. The No.â¯23 car concluded the season fourth in the GTDâ¯Pro standings, while the No.â¯27 entry and Deâ¯Angelis were crowned GTD class champions.
The team also supported the development of Darrenâ¯KellyâÂÂs Formulaâ¯Drift Astonâ¯Martin Vantage, which debuted in the 2022 Formulaâ¯D season. The drift car was powered by a twinâÂÂsupercharged 6.0âÂÂlitre Astonâ¯Martin V12 and incorporated components from both the GT3 and GT4 versions of the Vantage.
In the 2023 season, both Heart of Racing entries finished inside the top five of their respective IMSA championship classes: the No.â¯23 Aston Martin placed fifth in GTD Pro, while the No.â¯27 car secured second place in the GTD standings. A major highlight of the year came at the 24 Hours of Daytona, where The Heart of Racing claimed its first class victory at the iconic event. The No.â¯27 GTD entry, driven by Roman Deâ¯Angelis, Marco Sørensen, Ianâ¯James, and Darrenâ¯Turner, not only won its class but also finished ahead of the GTDâ¯Pro-winning car - a rare feat.
The No.â¯23 car also added two more wins during the season, with victories at Roadâ¯America and Limeâ¯Rockâ¯Park. The No.â¯27 entry also triumphed at Limeâ¯Rock, marking another double class win for the team.
Following the retirement of Paul Dallaâ¯Lana, The Heart of Racing took over the NorthWestâ¯AMR entry in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) as part of a midâÂÂseason transition, beginning with the 6â¯Hours of SpaâÂÂFrancorchamps. The revised driver lineâÂÂup featured Alexâ¯Riberas, Ianâ¯James, and Danielâ¯Mancinelli. Although the team continued to race under the NorthWestâ¯AMR banner in compliance with WEC regulations, they delivered consistent results, finishing in the top seven at all remaining rounds - except Monza - including a third-place podium finish at the 8â¯Hours of Bahrain.
Later in 2023, The Heart of Racing announced that it would lead Astonâ¯MartinâÂÂs revived Valkyrie AMR Pro programme for the 2025 season, marking the manufacturer's renewed commitment to top-class endurance racing following its earlier decision in 2020 to pause the project in favour of Formula One. The team is partnering with Multimatic to support the technical and operational aspects of the programme.
In 2024, The Heart of Racing confirmed its plans to field two Aston Martin Valkyrie prototypes in the Hypercar class for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Leâ¯Mans. This announcement followed a regulation change by WEC organisers requiring all Hypercar entrants to run a minimum of two cars in order to compete at Leâ¯Mans. The car, officially named the Valkyrie AMRâÂÂLMH, completed its first shakedown tests in July at Silverstone Circuit and Donington Park. Participating in the test were Aston Martin factory driver Darren Turner, Multimatic driver Harry Tincknell, and Heart of RacingâÂÂs Mario Farnbacher. In the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, The Heart of Racing entered under its own name for the first time, fully replacing NorthWest AMR as the second official Aston Martin team. The team retained its existing driver line-up of Ianâ¯James, Alexâ¯Riberas, and Danielâ¯Mancinelli. During the season, the team secured its first LMGT3 class victory at the 2024 Lone Star Leâ¯Mans, having started from pole position. Over the course of the campaign, they collected three podium finishes and concluded the season fifth in the LMGT3 championship standings.
In the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship, Marioâ¯Farnbacher joined the team to replace Davidâ¯Pittard in the No.â¯23 GTDâ¯Pro entry, partnering with Rossâ¯Gunn and Alexâ¯Riberas. Spencerâ¯Pumpelly and Zacharieâ¯Robichon took over from Darrenâ¯Turner in the No.â¯27 GTD entry. At the IMSA Battle on the Bricks, the No.â¯27 car was reclassified to the GTDâ¯Pro class and ran under the number No.â¯027. Late in the season, Rossâ¯Gunn entered a close battle for the GTDâ¯Pro Driversâ Championship with AO RacingâÂÂs Laurinâ¯Heinrich. At the final round, the 2024 Petit Leâ¯Mans, Gunn had a chance to claim the title following a gearbox issue that hindered HeinrichâÂÂs team. However, Gunn was unable to overtake Danielâ¯Serra for second place, ultimately finishing third in the race and second in the final championship standings.
In the 2024 GT4 America Series, The Heart of Racing participated in the first four rounds. Romanâ¯Deâ¯Angelis and Grayâ¯Newell achieved two podium finishes during that span.
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Season still in progress.
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Season still in progress.