Heart of Racing Team
Rubens Barrichello is one of Formula 1's all-time greats — 326 Grand Prix starts, the second most in F1 history. He won multiple F1 races and was Michael Schumacher's Ferrari teammate from 2000 to 2005 during two of Ferrari's most dominant championship-winning seasons. Rubens racing in IMSA GTD is a gift to American motorsport fans who never had the chance to see him in F1.
Race Entry
About Heart of Racing Team
Heart of Racing is one of IMSA's most respected and beloved GT teams — a genuine passion project built from scratch by Ian James, an American gentleman driver who turned his love of motorsport into a professional-level operation. The team's name reflects exactly that philosophy: this is racing from the heart, not just from the spreadsheet.
What began as Ian James's personal racing adventure has grown into a serious competitive team that has competed at the highest levels of IMSA GT racing and attracted factory Aston Martin support. The story of a passionate amateur building a team to compete against factory-backed operations is one of the great endurance racing narratives.
The Car: Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO
The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO is the GT3 racing version of Aston Martin's Vantage supercar — a British grand tourer with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine developed in partnership with Mercedes-AMG. The road car is elegant and powerful; the GT3 EVO strips away the luxury and adds a full race specification.
The Vantage GT3 EVO incorporates aerodynamic and mechanical updates from the base GT3 version, improving both performance and reliability based on competitive experience. Aston Martin's racing heritage is deep — from the legendary DBR1 that won Le Mans in 1959 to the modern Vantage GTE in the WEC — and the Vantage GT3 EVO continues that lineage.
GTD: The Gentleman Driver Class
The GTD class is where professional drivers and passionate amateurs (called "gentleman drivers") share cockpits at the world's most demanding circuits. Ian James exemplifies the gentleman driver: a successful businessman and car enthusiast who races seriously, invests in a top-quality team, and competes against professionals. This democratization of high-level motorsport is part of what makes GTD such a compelling class to watch.
Ian James (USA) is the American founder, owner, and driver of Heart of Racing. His dual role — running the business and then strapping in to drive the car — is unique in professional motorsport. Building a team competitive enough to attract factory driver support and international talent reflects genuine ability, both as an organizer and as a racing driver.
Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) needs little introduction. He started 326 Formula 1 Grands Prix — the second-highest total in F1 history at the time of his retirement. He won 11 F1 races, scored 14 pole positions, and was Ferrari's co-pilot alongside Michael Schumacher during their dominant early 2000s period. After F1, Barrichello raced in IndyCar and various sportscar events. His appearance at Sebring in IMSA GTD gives American fans a chance to see a true F1 legend competing on home soil.
Zach Robichon (Canada) is one of Canada's best GT drivers with multiple IMSA class wins to his credit. His professional pace gives the #27 a genuine chance at GTD class victory.
Schumacher's Teammate
During 2000-2005, Rubens Barrichello was Michael Schumacher's teammate at Ferrari — the most dominant period in F1 history. While Schumacher won five consecutive world championships, Barrichello was consistently competitive and is regarded as one of Ferrari's greatest drivers.
What is GTD?
GTD allows a mix of professional and gentleman drivers — one driver per car must be a "Silver" or lower FIA-rated amateur. This class celebrates the gentleman driver tradition central to endurance racing. Learn more →