Like the majority of the drivers who will contest the Sprint Cup opener at Brands Hatch, Kobe Pauwels began his racing career in karting. But while his rivals were dreaming of a future in single-seaters or sportscars, Pauwels had a very different objective: he wanted to compete in rallycross.
"My path has been a bit different," acknowledges Pauwels. But while he did not plan for a career in GT racing, he's making a real success of it – and this season could take him to the next level.
"I thought it was going to be bad news"
"My father, my grandfather, everybody in our family has been a rallycross driver," explains Pauwels. "It's a family affair. I've been at rallycross tracks since I was just a few months old. So my plan was to start in karting and then move to rallycross as soon as I was old enough."
In 2021, he did exactly that. Aged 16, Pauwels switched from karts to the RX3 class of the FIA European Rallycross Championship. After finishing as runner-up in his rookie season, he dominated in 2022 with four wins from five events. This should have been followed by a step up to the premier RX1 class. But, at this crossroads, Pauwels chose a different route.
"My goal had been to make a professional living in rallycross, but unfortunately there were not a lot of manufacturers left after Covid," he explains. "At the same time we learned about a Belgian team called Comtoyou Racing, which was competing at a very high level in TCR."
He points out that both TCR and rallycross use front-wheel drive cars, which helped to ease the transition. And, after a strong first test, he signed up for a full campaign in the TCR Europe Touring Car Series in 2023.
Competing against tin-top veterans like Tom Coronel and John Filippi, the youngster was instantly on the pace. Podiums and wins quickly followed and he finished an impressive third in the standings, hinting at a very bright future. But another change was just around the corner – this time thanks to his bosses at Comtoyou Racing.
"I'd just won the TCR race at Circuit Paul Ricard," says Pauwels. "Afterwards I was called into the office to speak with Jean-Michel Baert (CEO), Francois Verbist (Team Director) and Robin Van Hemelrijck (Project Manager). They weren't giving anything away, and I thought it was going to be bad news..."
In fact, they had made a big decision. Comtoyou needed a driver for the upcoming GT World Challenge Endurance Cup race at the Nürburgring, and they had chosen Pauwels to take the seat.
"I was a little bit blown away!" he laughs. "I said, 'Okay, when is the race? How much time do I have to prepare?' They told me it was the following Sunday and I'd need to be at the Nürburgring on Wednesday. Oh, and I'd be sharing the Pro car with Christopher Haase and Fred Vervisch – no pressure!"
Pauwels could hardly have hoped for two better teammates with whom to make his debut. Both are vastly experienced and Haase in particular has a well-deserved reputation for mentoring young drivers. Nevertheless, the task was daunting.
"I had zero GT3 experience. In fact, I'd never driven any kind of GT car. I had basically done half a season of circuit racing! When I arrived at the Nürburgring it was cold and it was raining, then the track would be dry for the next session...
"It was very tough to learn the car, because I had never driven with a high aero, never driven with ABS or traction control," he continues. "They put a lot of trust in me and that gave me a lot of confidence. I think we finished P8 in the race; all things considered, that was for sure a highlight of my GT career so far."
"We wouldn't be racing if we didn't like a challenge"
Having previously run with Audi, Comtoyou Racing joined forces with Aston Martin in 2024, and it's with the famous British brand that Pauwels has really built his reputation.
He got his first full-season drive last year, forming part of a Silver Cup line-up that proved particularly strong in Sprint. Pauwels and teammate Jamie Day didn't enjoy the smoothest start, but they hit form mid-season and rode that wave all the way to the title.
"We didn't lose motivation, which I think a lot of people would do after five very tough races," he says. "Finally, at Misano, we got everything together."
The #21 Aston Martin won at the Italian track and then swept the following weekend at Magny-Cours – a result that Pauwels is quick to attribute to his team as much as the drivers. Having built a big advantage, they sealed the title with a race to spare at Valencia.
There was more good news during the off-season. Pauwels was chosen as the Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy winner for 2025, which helped to pave the way for his big opportunity this year.
As well as another Silver Cup assault in Endurance, Pauwels will drive the British marque's Pro car – run by Comtoyou – in Sprint. His teammate is none other than Nicki Thiim, a modern-day great whose larger-than-life personality is matched by his ability behind the wheel.
"I'm really looking forward to sharing with him," says Pauwels. "He's a special personality and super fast in the car, which will be great for me to learn from. I've got one of the best Aston Martin factory drivers beside me, so there are not many better teachers.
"Our goal is clear: we want to win races," he continues. "The potential is there with the car and the team to do well. Of course, we know that the opposition is super, super strong. That will only make the challenge harder, but we wouldn't be racing if we didn't like a challenge."
The year ahead is pivotal for Pauwels. Should he perform well alongside established superstar Thiim, more doors will open. Looking at his career so far, he has been very good at grabbing opportunities: his switch from rallycross to TCR, his unexpected GT3 debut, and his Silver Cup title last year are just a few examples.
Don't bet against this good-natured kid from Belgian going all the way to the top.