Comtoyou and Aston Martin Racing : our 2026 driver line-ups
By entering a significant number of cars each year, the off‑season has been a busy period for the Team as it selects the best line-ups possible for the upcoming season. Comtoyou Racing will once again be strongly represented in the GT World Challenge Europe, with three Vantage GT3 in Endurance and 3 in Sprint.
Worth highlighting right away: the historical trio who won the 2024 24 Hours of Spa is back for one more year, as well as the promotion of Kobe Pauwels recently named winner of the Aston Martin Academy means Comtoyou racing to run a Pro car in both Endurance and Sprint to fight for overall championship.
Endurance Cup
#007 (PRO): Mattia Drudi (It) – Marco Sørensen (Den) – Nicki Thiim (Den)
True pillars of the Gembloux based team, who value its competitiveness, these three drivers get along perfectly. Fast, complementary and fully committed, they will be determined to repeat their victory from 2024 24 Hours of Spa.
This marks the third consecutive season for the iconic #007, whose crew’s loyalty to the Comtoyou family is particularly appreciated.
All three have just returned from the 24 Hours of Daytona, where Nicki (2nd GTD), Mattia (3rd GTD), and Marco driving the melodious Valkyrie each delivered standout individual performances.
#21 (SILVER): Kobe Pauwels (B) – Oliver Söderström (Swe) – Sébastien Baud (F)
A member of the team since 2023 and last year’s Silver Sprint Champion, Kobe Pauwels is now one of Aston Martin’s rising stars. Highly versatile, quick, and reliable over long stints, he knows both the team and the Vantage GT3 perfectly.
Also outstanding, whether in single‑seaters, TCR or GT racing, and a multiple title‑winner, Sweden’s Oliver Söderström is the recent winner of the 2025 24 Hours (Silver category) at the wheel of a Vantage GT3. Like Kobe, he is a member of the Aston Martin Academy.
Frenchman Sébastien Baud also shone last weekend… at the 24 Hours of Daytona, driving an Aston Martin Vantage. Seen in WEC last year and previously in GT World Challenge, he is a former champion in Mitjet and Ligier JS2R, Bronze vice‑champion in GTWC 2023, and runner‑up in WEC GT in Qatar last season. Sébastien will form, together with Kobe and Oliver, a young, highly talented line‑up that will undoubtedly follow in the footsteps of the #007.
#11 (BRONZE): Kyle Marcelli (Can) – A.J. Muss (USA) – Marcelo Tomasoni (Bra)
At 36, Canadian driver Kyle Marcelli boasts an impressive record, largely built in the United States: Champion in Formula Ford, Porsche GT3 Cup Canada, GTWC America Pro‑Am, IMSA, and double Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Champion, a series he dominated. He now arrives in Europe, where his success is expected to continue.
Former member of the U.S. Olympic snowboard team, A.J. (Aaron) Muss has mainly distinguished himself in IMSA (Touring Car – TCR / GTD) and in Lamborghini Super Trofeo USA,where he claimed two victories and stood on the podium 19 times. Like Kyle who will be an outstanding mentor for him A.J. is discovering racing in Europe.
Also coming from the Americas, though from the South this time, Brazilian driver Marcelo Tomasoni was Brazil Porsche Sprint Challenge Champion and later… Porsche Cup Switzerland Champion in 2024. More recently, last year, Marcelo completed his first full season in GTWC Europe. Needless to say, he already knows what to expect, including the crown jewel: the 24 Hours of Spa.
Sprint Cup
#007 : (PRO) Nicki Thiim (Den) – Kobe Pauwels (B)
One of the surprises from the boss! The arrival of a full “Pro” line-up in Sprint !
No need to introduce these two: the fiery Nicki, paired with the highly promising Kobe already mentioned above will very likely be fighting at the sharp end in this very competitive championship. At Comtoyou, we love it. This discipline showcases pure speed, but also lightning‑fast pit stops.
Our mechanics, who already have some records stats to their name, are training daily to be ready to fight for the 1st race on.
#21 : (Silver) Arthur Dorison (F) – Oliver Söderström (Swe)
Oliver is already part of the Endurance entries, but he’s eager to battle in Sprint as well. He will be paired with French driver Arthur Dorison, who will be turning… 18 next October. For those in the know, Arthur is considered one of France’s greatest young motorsport talent. A snapshot of his early career: first in karting, Double Mini Champion 2019 (NSK & IAME Series), French OK‑Junior Champion and winner of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2022.
Then in single‑seaters: French F4 Vice‑Champion, with 4 wins and 5 podiums… If Oliver’s sporting objectives are perfectly clear, Arthur’s deserve a translation: our Junior intends to lead a double‑track career to take him to success – meaning both single‑seaters and GT racing. A smart and modern approach.
#11 : (Bronze) Marcelo Tomasoni (Bra) – Felice Jelmini (It)
Already driving the #11 in endurance racing, Marcelo will be joined in Sprint by Italian Felice Jelmini, who also boasts significant GTWC experience since 2024, after enjoying numerous notable successes in TCR Italy and then Europe. He also holds the Clio Cup Italy Championship title from 2019.
As the workshop of Comtoyou remains relatively quiet for now, François Verbist’s phone, on the other hand, hasn’t stopped ringing…
“It’s true, this off‑season has been incredibly intense! We’ve had a huge number of enquiries this winter; our team clearly has strong appeal, and I can only be pleased about that. Our victory at the 24 Hours, the title and wins in Silver, the podiums in GTWC last year, and our progress in DTM have all had an impact. In 2026, we’re starting the season with exceptional driver line‑ups. Of course, there’s a big step between paper and track. we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves but we are resolutely optimistic and more motivated than ever.”
Jean‑Michel Baert, the team owner, begins his third year of partnership with Aston Martin with the same optimism: “We have further strengthened our ties with our partner Aston Martin for this third year of collaboration, and we are delighted about it. I sincerely hope that we will be able to demonstrate the true value of our package and fight on equal terms with our competitors. Our car, our line‑ups, and our team are a real rocket. We’re among the best, and we fully intend to prove it again this year, just as we always have when given the opportunity. Based on our latest discussions with all involved parties, I am very confident heading into this new season, and I deeply hope that this year we will succeed in combining the professionalism and passion that drive us all! A huge congratulations already to our ‘back‑office’ team, who did an outstanding job during the winter break, and thank you to our loyal clients who once again place their trust in us for this new season! See you on the podiums and above all, see you in our paddocks. As you know, we love sharing this common passion: motorsport!”
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