Luca Hopkinson makes Optimum return to campaign the 2026 British GT season alongside Porsche Carrera Cup’s Josh Stanton

Reigning British GT4 Silver champion Luca Hopkinson returns to Optimum Motorsport to campaign the 2026 British GT season alongside Porsche Carrera Cup’s Josh Stanton.

Optimum Motorsport has confirmed its first GT4 driver line-up for the 2026 British GT Championship, with Josh Stanton joining the team to partner reigning British GT4 Silver champion and Optimum Motorsport alumni, Luca Hopkinson. Contesting the series’ GT4 Silver class in their #59 McLaren Artura, the new-for-2026 pairing look to continue the team’s strong form in the ultra-competitive GT4 category.

Stanton arrives at the McLaren Customer Racing team following a successful rise through Porsche’s one-make racing championship, securing Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Am honours in 2022, having finished vice-champion in his rookie season the year previous. For 2023, Stanton, alongside his third Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign - this time in Pro-Am, stepped up to Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe, where he enjoyed multiple podium finishes and victory at Portimao - closing the season as Club Division vice-champion. He also made his Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup debut at the 2023 Formula 1 British Grand Prix. The last two years have seen the Burford-born driver campaign a Porsche 911 992 GT3 Cup racer in the UK and abroad, securing scoring numerous podiums, to finish fourth in class in 2025.  

With experience in high-level Porsche competition and a reputation for consistency and pace, Stanton is well-prepared for the demands of the super-competitive British GT Championship.

“I am really excited to be joining Optimum Motorsport for British GT this year! They’re a fantastic team with a proven pedigree in the championship. Pairing up with Luca, bringing both his experience in the championship and the McLaren is huge bonus! I know we’re both raring to go for Silverstone in April and feel confident that we will be challenging for the title this season. A huge thanks to Evolution, GP59 and the Lexi May Trust for their support in getting here!”- Josh Stanton, #59 Optimum Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4

Pairing up with Stanton will be Luca Hopkinson, returning to the Wakefield-based team following a highly successful 2025 campaign. The young British driver played a key role in one of the team’s most successful seasons in GT4 competition.

Alongside Harry George, Hopkinson secured the 2025 British GT4 Silver Drivers’ title, having claimed their first British GT class win at Spa-Francorchamps. The duo went on to claim an inpressive overall GT4 win at Brands Hatch, and concluded their stand-out season with a decisive podium finish at Donington Park, which helped confirm the class title and secured third place in the overall GT4 standings.

“I’m super excited to get going on my second GT4 campaign with Optimum Motorsport; we have high expectations based on our performance last year and Josh’s ability makes me look forward to it. I’m going into this season feeling super confident and prepared"- Luca Hopkinson, #59 Optimum Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4

For the 2026 season, the #59 entry brings together Hopkinson’s experience within Optimum Motorsport’s operation and Stanton’s proven ability in highly competitive championship environments. The combination is expected to provide a strong platform, with the team striving to secure their second consecutive GT4 Silver title.

Luca and Josh, along with their McLaren Artura GT4, will be on-track alongside Optimum Motorsport’s GT3 cohort at British GT’s Media Day. Giving British GT fans a taste of the season ahead, Media Day will be held on Tuesday 31st March, at the home of British motorsport, Silverstone Circuit.

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