Morgan Tillbrook and Ben Barnicoat reunite with Optimum Motorsport for full-season attack on British GT Championship 

Morgan Tillbrook and Ben Barnicoat reunite with Optimum Motorsport for full-season attack on British GT Championship 

Accomplished bronze driver Morgan Tillbrook will team up with Optimum Motorsport for a second consecutive season to contest British GT in 2026. Tillbrook’s association with Optimum has previously delivered standout performances in the UK’s premier GT series, and this newly-announced 2026 campaign marks a renewed push at the sharp end of the GT3 field.

Since stepping up to top-class machinery, Tillbrook has established himself as a proven race winner and consistent podium contender in one of the most competitive GT championships in Europe. The 43-year-old driver, who has piloted McLaren GT3 machinery since his British GT debut in 2021, secured three overall podiums last season with the Wakefield-based team. He also took pole position for last year’s Silverstone 500, British GT’s blue-riband event, which, for the first time in its 13-year history, will kick-off the 2026 season over the weekend of the 25-26th April.

Joining Tillbrook aboard the #77 Assured-backed McLaren GT3 Evo, as he targets championship honours, will be GT ace Ben Barnicoat, who recently returned from the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour at Australia’s Mount Panorama Circuit, where he was reunited with Optimum Motorsport following a series of one-off appearances with the team in recent years - including the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in 2024, plus the 2025 edition of the Gulf 12 Hours.

Since securing Asian Le Mans Championship honours in 2022 with Optimum Motorsport’s Inception Racing programme - also aboard McLaren machinery, Barnicoat has continued to enjoy global success, adding an IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD Pro title, as well as 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins to his already impressive CV.

Part of Lexus’ factory driver roster since 2022, the 29-year-old has represented the Japanese carmaker in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship in recent years.

Having Tillbrook’s British GT success and Barnicoat’s global GT3 experience converge under the familiar guidance and results-driven approach of Optimum Motorsport, this driver duo possesses all the attributes required to be a formidable Pro-Am pairing this season, which will no-doubt prove to be a stand-out favourite for the British GT fans for 2026.

“I’m really excited to be Competing in British GT this year alongside Morgan with Optimum Motorsport ! Morgan’s a proven force in this series, and I’ve already had success with this team, so I’m confident we can have success together in 2026” - Ben Barnicoat, #77 Optimum Motorsport McLaren GT3 EVO

Fans of the series will be able to catch Ben and Morgan in action, ahead of the season-opener, alongside Optimum Motorsport’s previously announced line-up of Marc Warren and Jack Brown, at British GT Media Day at Silverstone on March 31st 2026.

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