The Brazilian driver Dudu Barrichello, prominent in the IMSA championship, will not make the immediate jump to the Aston Martin Valkyrie prototype. This has been confirmed by Ian James, director of the Heart of Racing team, who noted that 2027 is still early for the young driver.
James reaffirmed the long-term goal of promoting Barrichello in prototype categories, but warned that the ascent to the competitive Hypercar or GTP championship is not in the immediate plans. ‘I think the ultimate goal is to race in prototypes and drive the Valkyrie, but I think next year is probably too soon in his journey,’ James commented.
Despite not making the jump to the higher category, Barrichello has had an exceptional 2026 in his second season of GT competition. On board the #27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, he achieved three podiums in IMSA GTD, including two second-place finishes, and finished third in the drivers’ standings after showing a strong performance in the championship.
In his personal assessment, Barrichello has been aware and realistic about his evolution: ‘My dream has always been to drive a hypercar and, hopefully, if the team thinks I’ve worked hard enough, I’ll get an opportunity in future tests.’ However, the driver is aware that he still needs to improve in crucial aspects of endurance racing, such as car management and adapting to working with the team.
With the challenge of sharing the vehicle with other drivers, Barrichello acknowledges that he still has room for improvement: ‘I am working on my adaptation to endurance racing, as I was previously alone in the car.’ His dedication and patience will be vital on his journey towards the prototype he so desires to drive.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
