Gradient Racing has announced an updated line-up for its second season as a Ford Racing customer team in IMSA’s GTD class, one of several GTD teams to announce their 2026 plans this week.
The #66 Ford Mustang GT3 Evo features a combination of new and returning talent: After two Michelin Endurance Cup campaigns with Turner Motorsport, Jake Walker will get his first full-time opportunity in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the Austin-based outfit.
He’ll begin his 2026 campaign alongside Ford Racing factory driver Joey Hand, Lola Cars owner Till Bechtolsheimer, and 2020 Daytona GTD class winner Corey Lewis – back in the series for the first time since his 2024 campaign with Proton Competition.
Similar to last year, Hand and Bechtolsheimer will run alongside Walker for the five Michelin Endurance Cup races, while Lewis will be alongside Walker for Daytona, plus the sprint races at Long Beach, Laguna Seca, CTMP, VIR, and Indianapolis.
Gradient Racing’s best finish in its first year with Ford was a fifth place at VIR, and the #66 car finished 13th in the GTD Teams’ Championship with a rotating cast of drivers.
“Jake has been a standout young talent in GTD and VP Challenge over the last few years, and we’re thrilled to welcome him for a full WeatherTech season as we bring the Mustang’s new Evo package online,” said Gradient Racing owner Andris Laivins. “His fresh perspective will be invaluable as we continue developing the kit. Corey and I have also been trying for years to find a way to race together, so it’s exciting to finally see the stars align for 2026. His experience with the Ford platform will be a tremendous asset, and hopefully we can help him add a few more major wins to his résumé.”
“We also have a pair of fast, steady hands in Till and Joey,” Laivins continued. “Both of them are rock solid in the car, and we had a fantastic time working together in the paddock this past year. 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.”
“I’m excited to be joining Gradient Racing and competing in the full IMSA WeatherTech Championship season,” said Walker, who turns 20 in February. “Teaming up with Corey Lewis for the sprint rounds, and with Joey Hand and Till Bechtolsheimer for the endurance races, makes this an incredible opportunity. I’m looking forward to kicking off the season at Daytona with all four of us together. I’m incredibly grateful to Andris Laivins for the opportunity and his confidence in me. 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, an iconic American brand.”
“It feels like I’ve been part of this team for years, and that’s what makes this return so special, said Hand, the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner. “We’re heading into Daytona ready to pick up right where we left off. For me, comfort and chemistry make all the difference, and I think that will allow us to hit the ground running from the very first session. It’s a strong group, and I really believe we have what it takes to fight for wins together. Last year was all about building relationships and figuring things out. This year, we get to start from a place of trust, experience, and momentum. I love this team, I love driving the Mustang, and I think we can do some really cool things in 2026.”
“This team has felt like home for many years, and every time I return, I’m reminded of the level of commitment that everyone brings to the programme,” added Bechtolsheimer. “We made solid progress with the Mustang GT3 throughout 2025, and coming into year two with the Evo package gives us a real opportunity to take another step forward. The lineup we’ve put together is incredibly strong, and I’m looking forward to making further progress together at Daytona. I’m very hopeful we can build on that and fight for another big result in January.”
Feature image © Andrew Lofthouse / dailysportscar.com
