Fireworks over Daytona International Speedway at the Rolex 24. (Photo: Tyson Gifford | The Podium Finish)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Silly season is one of the most exciting times to be a motorsports fan. The excitement and curiosity of what is to come for the upcoming campaign always helps make those winter months feel like they are going just the slightest bit faster, and IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship teams are slowly revealing their plans for 2026 as silly season roars into full swing.
Over the last couple of days, multiple teams have announced changes to their 2026 IMSA campaigns with United Autosport announcing the driver lineup for their Nos. 2 and 22 Oreca 07s, the latter of which will be looking to defend their Rolex 24 victory from 2025.
The No. 2 entry will see a nearly reset driver lineup for the 2026 season with Canadian driver Phil Fayer competing for the full IWSC season. He will be joined by a pair of drivers who combine for 15 IMSA wins, Hunter McElrea and Mikkel Jensen, both of whom jumped ship to the Mooresville, North Carolina-based outfit after competing together for TDS Racing in this year’s rendition of North America’s most prestigious sportscar race. They will be joined by the outfit’s returning driver and winner in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Ben Hanley, who returns to the team for his third season with the organization.
The United Autosport No. 2 during the Rolex 24 at Daytona. (Photo: Tyson Gifford | The Podium Finish)
As for their No. 22 car, returning to defend both his pole position as well as the team’s overall win at Daytona this year will be Daniel Goldburg, carrying with him a pretty consistent lineup from the 2025 season. Rasmus Lindh and Paul Di Resta both return to the team for 2026 as well. The trio which took home two Michelin Endurance Cup wins at Daytona International Speedway and the six-hour event at Watkins Glen will be joined by Gregoire Saucy, stepping in for James Allen, who competed for the team this season.
Dragonspeed’s new No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R for 2026. (Photo: Dragonspeed)
It was not just a driver announcement for Dragonspeed as they will be making sweeping changes for 2026: a new class, a new driver lineup and a new manufacturer. It was announced that they will be the third customer outfit for Corvette under the current Z06 GT3.R customer program, joining DXDT Racing as well as defending GTD Rolex 24 champions, the former AWA now dubbed 13 Autosport.
The team that partnered with a now returning Risi Competizione will move from a GTD PRO Ferrari 296 GT3 outfit to the Corvette family following their down-to-the-wire championship fight with the American manufacturer’s flagship Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller No. 3 car.
“When we entered the GT fray after LMP2, it was very much a future with a Chevy relationship in mind,” team owner Elton Julian stated. “We had to demonstrate that we could handle the transition between categories, and I think taking the championship fight to the last round this season showed we can do the job.”
As for the driver lineup, long-time Dragonspeed driver Henrik Hedman will join Giacomo Altoe for the full IWSC campaign whilst Casper Stevenson will join the ranks moving over from The Heart of Racing Aston Martin crew to complete the No. 81’s lineup for the Michelin Endurance Cup.
Myers Riley’s new Mustang GT3 EVO. (Photo: Ford)
The final announcement from the last couple of days was Myers Riley announcing the final driver for their brand-new Ford Mustang GT3 EVO in the Rolex 24 and it is none other than Romain Grosjean.
Grosjean, who recently severed ties with Lamborghini following the 2025 season, finds himself in a move over to Ford for the 2026 Rolex 24, which marks the first time he will contest the race away from the Italian brand after three seasons, the final of which would see him not even take to the track in the Rolex 24 after the SC-63 GTP faced technical woes a mere 34 laps into the race.
He will join full-season driver Felipe Fraga, who has been a stalwart for Riley since 2019, as well as Sheena Monk and Ford Racing junior driver Jenson Altzman.
