Gradient Racing Unveils 2026 Lineup for IMSA GTD Season
[Date] – Gradient Racing has officially announced its driver lineup for the highly anticipated 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, continuing as a Ford Racing customer team in the GTD class. The No. 66 Ford Mustang GT3 Evo will feature both new and returning talent, marking a crucial step for the team in its second season.
Driver Composition
This season, driver Jake Walker, who impressed in the Michelin Endurance Cup with Turner Motorsport, secures his first full-time role in IMSA. He will share the cockpit with Ford Racing factory driver Joey Hand, Lola Cars owner Till Bechtolsheimer, and 2020 Daytona GTD class winner Corey Lewis. During the five Michelin Endurance Cup races, Walker will team up with Hand and Bechtolsheimer, while Lewis will join for the sprint events at Long Beach, Laguna Seca, CTMP, VIR, and Indianapolis.
Past Performance and Ambitions
Reflecting on the previous season, Gradient Racing achieved its best result with a fifth-place finish at VIR and ended the 2025 season ranked 13th in the GTD Teams’ Championship, despite a rotating driver lineup.
Quotes and Insights
Gradient Racing owner Andris Laivins expressed enthusiasm about Walker’s potential: “Jake has been a standout young talent in GTD and VP Challenge over the last few years… his fresh perspective will be invaluable as we continue developing the Mustang’s new Evo package.”
Laivins further highlighted the importance of experience within the team, stating, “With their experience, our incredible crew at the shop, and the exceptional engineering support we receive from Ford Racing and Multimatic, I’m confident we have something truly special heading into 2026.”
Walker himself is eager for the challenge: “I’m excited to be joining Gradient Racing… Racing full-time in IMSA has been a major goal of mine, and I’m proud to take this next step while joining the Ford family.”
As the team gears up for the season, the partnership aims not only for improved standings but also to leverage the formidable capabilities of the Mustang GT3 Evo on the track.
