Optimum's Inception Racing Program Announces Corvette Switch for Fifth Consecutive IMSA Season
Inception Racing, operated by UK-based GT racing powerhouse Optimum Motorsport, will embark on its fifth successive full-season campaign in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2027, beginning a new chapter with Chevrolet Racing and its Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
Brendan Iribe and Frederik Schandorff will return as the team's full-season drivers in the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) category, with Ollie Millroy continuing in his established role as third driver for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events. The trio will contest the 2027 season together in the No. 70 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, having previously partnered with McLaren and Ferrari aas customer team, running their respective GT3 machinery.
The move marks an important milestone for the Optimum Motorsport-run programme, which first appeared in IMSA at the 2021 season finale, Motul Petit Le Mans. After making selected appearances in 2022, the team committed to a full-time championship campaign in 2023, establishing itself as a regular competitor in North America's premier sports car series.
Inception Racing Sporting Director Bas Leinders welcomed the new manufacturer partnership and outlined the team's enthusiasm for working with Chevrolet and its racing partners.
"We are extremely excited to be joining the Corvettefamily for our IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign,” Leinders said.“GM and Pratt Miller have an incredible racing pedigree and a long history ofsuccess in sports car racing. We are already building a strong relationshipwith both organizations, and we look forward to working closely together.
“At every IMSA event, we see the passion and loyalty of theCorvette fans, and it is fantastic to now become part of that community andsuch a rich racing heritage. We are looking forward to this new chapter and aredetermined to contribute to Corvette's continued success on track.”
Corvette Racing also expressed its welcome for the team's arrival ahead of the 2027 season.
“Corvette Racing and Chevrolet are pleased to welcomeInception Racing to the Corvette Z06 GT3.R family for the 2027 IMSA season,” added Andrea Hidalgo, Corvette Racing Program Manager. “Inception is one of the leading GTD teams in the series, and we’re grateful for its confidence in what our program represents. This addition will strengthen both teams and the broader Corvette Racing program in 2027.”
The returning driver combination brings established experience and recent success in IMSA competition. Iribe, Schandorff and Millroy secured a memorable first victory in the championship at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2025, winning the six-hour TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks. The trio added another strong result in 2026, finishing third at Virginia International Raceway for their best finish of the season.
For Leinders, maintaining a presence in IMSA is important not only for the team's sporting ambitions but also for the wider development of the Optimum Motorsport organisation. Its continued participation provides team members with the opportunity to compete at some of the biggest events in international sports car racing.
“Obviously, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championship is a very important championship, not only to us, but in the world of sports car racing,” Leinders said. “I know it’s a privilege to be part of this championship. It’s great to continue year in, year out. We are actually really proud to be part of this IMSA family, and it actually grows our team. We do a lot of other projects. There’s mechanics that at one point want to join the Inception outfit to experience these great races.”.
Iribe's development as a Bronze-rated competitor has been a notable feature of the team's IMSA journey. His performances earned him the Bob Akin Award in 2023, securing an invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans the following year. He then demonstrated his pace on the international stage by taking pole position in the LMGT3 class at Le Mans with Inception Racing in June 2024.
Leinders highlighted the progress Iribe has made while balancing his racing commitments with the demands of running a business.
“He’s among all these experienced people,” Leinders said. “He’s made good progress and he continues to. And don’t forget, he’s a businessman with work every day. To combine racing at this level and continue his business is amazing.”
Schandorff has also seen the benefits of that improvement, particularly during sprint-format races where driver performance can have a decisive influence on the outcome.
“He's super competitive considering the gap between me and him now,” Schandorff said. “So, for sure, his job now has been super important, especially the sprint rounds. In Virginia here now, there was no safety car after only the first one. But after that, his driving actually matters a lot, so that's why we actually used his speed to our advantage when there is no safety car.”
Millroy has played a central role in the team's development from its earliest days, having joined forces with Iribe for GT Open, Creventic, and GT World Challenge America. Leinders emphasised Millroy's importance to the project, as well as the close relationships that have helped shape the team's identity over the years.
“We are definitely not to forget Ollie,” he said. “Without Ollie, there’s no Inception Racing as such. Ollie came together with Brendan at the end of 2019, beginning of 2020, so first we started running GT Open and other championships.
“And we ran with others. Ben Barnicoat, for instance. He got this really good deal and fit with Lexus. Then Jordan Pepper, who then went to Lamborghini (and later, BMW).
“Then we got Fred. I think it’s four years now. The combination of the three of them is great. They’re friends and part of the family. That is what Brendan likes. Yes, he likes fast drivers, but good people and folks he wants to work with. He wants to enjoy it fully.”
With its driver line-up retained and a new Corvette partnership in place, Inception Racing now turns its attention to the 2027 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, aiming to build on its previous results and make a strong start with the No. 70 Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
Inception Racing, operated by UK-based GT racing powerhouse Optimum Motorsport, will embark on its fifth successive full-season campaign in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2027, beginning a new chapter with Chevrolet Racing and its Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
Brendan Iribe and Frederik Schandorff will return as the team's full-season drivers in the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) category, with Ollie Millroy continuing in his established role as third driver for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events. The trio will contest the 2027 season together in the No. 70 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, having previously partnered with McLaren and Ferrari aas customer team, running their respective GT3 machinery.
The move marks an important milestone for the Optimum Motorsport-run programme, which first appeared in IMSA at the 2021 season finale, Motul Petit Le Mans. After making selected appearances in 2022, the team committed to a full-time championship campaign in 2023, establishing itself as a regular competitor in North America's premier sports car series.
Inception Racing Sporting Director Bas Leinders welcomed the new manufacturer partnership and outlined the team's enthusiasm for working with Chevrolet and its racing partners.
"We are extremely excited to be joining the Corvettefamily for our IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign,” Leinders said.“GM and Pratt Miller have an incredible racing pedigree and a long history ofsuccess in sports car racing. We are already building a strong relationshipwith both organizations, and we look forward to working closely together.
“At every IMSA event, we see the passion and loyalty of theCorvette fans, and it is fantastic to now become part of that community andsuch a rich racing heritage. We are looking forward to this new chapter and aredetermined to contribute to Corvette's continued success on track.”
Corvette Racing also expressed its welcome for the team's arrival ahead of the 2027 season.
“Corvette Racing and Chevrolet are pleased to welcomeInception Racing to the Corvette Z06 GT3.R family for the 2027 IMSA season,” added Andrea Hidalgo, Corvette Racing Program Manager. “Inception is one of the leading GTD teams in the series, and we’re grateful for its confidence in what our program represents. This addition will strengthen both teams and the broader Corvette Racing program in 2027.”
The returning driver combination brings established experience and recent success in IMSA competition. Iribe, Schandorff and Millroy secured a memorable first victory in the championship at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2025, winning the six-hour TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks. The trio added another strong result in 2026, finishing third at Virginia International Raceway for their best finish of the season.
For Leinders, maintaining a presence in IMSA is important not only for the team's sporting ambitions but also for the wider development of the Optimum Motorsport organisation. Its continued participation provides team members with the opportunity to compete at some of the biggest events in international sports car racing.
“Obviously, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championship is a very important championship, not only to us, but in the world of sports car racing,” Leinders said. “I know it’s a privilege to be part of this championship. It’s great to continue year in, year out. We are actually really proud to be part of this IMSA family, and it actually grows our team. We do a lot of other projects. There’s mechanics that at one point want to join the Inception outfit to experience these great races.”.
Iribe's development as a Bronze-rated competitor has been a notable feature of the team's IMSA journey. His performances earned him the Bob Akin Award in 2023, securing an invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans the following year. He then demonstrated his pace on the international stage by taking pole position in the LMGT3 class at Le Mans with Inception Racing in June 2024.
Leinders highlighted the progress Iribe has made while balancing his racing commitments with the demands of running a business.
“He’s among all these experienced people,” Leinders said. “He’s made good progress and he continues to. And don’t forget, he’s a businessman with work every day. To combine racing at this level and continue his business is amazing.”
Schandorff has also seen the benefits of that improvement, particularly during sprint-format races where driver performance can have a decisive influence on the outcome.
“He's super competitive considering the gap between me and him now,” Schandorff said. “So, for sure, his job now has been super important, especially the sprint rounds. In Virginia here now, there was no safety car after only the first one. But after that, his driving actually matters a lot, so that's why we actually used his speed to our advantage when there is no safety car.”
Millroy has played a central role in the team's development from its earliest days, having joined forces with Iribe for GT Open, Creventic, and GT World Challenge America. Leinders emphasised Millroy's importance to the project, as well as the close relationships that have helped shape the team's identity over the years.
“We are definitely not to forget Ollie,” he said. “Without Ollie, there’s no Inception Racing as such. Ollie came together with Brendan at the end of 2019, beginning of 2020, so first we started running GT Open and other championships.
“And we ran with others. Ben Barnicoat, for instance. He got this really good deal and fit with Lexus. Then Jordan Pepper, who then went to Lamborghini (and later, BMW).
“Then we got Fred. I think it’s four years now. The combination of the three of them is great. They’re friends and part of the family. That is what Brendan likes. Yes, he likes fast drivers, but good people and folks he wants to work with. He wants to enjoy it fully.”
With its driver line-up retained and a new Corvette partnership in place, Inception Racing now turns its attention to the 2027 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, aiming to build on its previous results and make a strong start with the No. 70 Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
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