Pauwels to Contest Imola Opener in Place of Barrichello

Aston Martin Academy graduate Kobe Pauwels will make his FIA World Endurance Championship debut in the opening round at Imola in place of Eduardo Barrichello, who has a clashing IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship commitment.

Former rallycross champion Pauwels had an impressive second season in the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS last year and won the Sprint Cup Silver title with Comtoyou Racing.

The 21-year-old has now been rewarded with his WEC debut at Imola on April 19 alongside Jonny Adam and Gray Newell in the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, with Barrichello instead competing with the team at Long Beach.

The Brazilian is sharing with Heart of Racing returnee Spencer Pumpelly in the third round of the WeatherTech Championship season.

There is another WEC/IMSA clash later in the year but there has been no announcement yet on whether Pauwels will again deputize for Barrichello at Interlagos in July.

“The WEC debut is very exciting and, if I’m honest, has come earlier than I expected it would,” admitted Pauwels, who is due to be contesting the full season of GTWC Europe in a Comtoyou Aston as his main program.

“I will do my best to show the Heart of Racing Team and Aston Martin that I was the right choice.”

Aston Martin has also revealed a 22-strong list of contenders to follow in Pauwels’ footsteps as the Academy winner with their performances being judged throughout the season and one being selected to receive factory funding and support in 2027.