Inception Racing has announced that it will switch to Chevrolet and the Corvette Z06 GT3.R Evo for the 2027 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the team’s fifth full season of IMSA racing in partnership with British-based operating partner Optimum Motorsport.
Brendan Iribe and Frederik Schandorff will drive the #70 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the full season, joined by Ollie Millroy throughout the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup, continuing a partnership which has lasted throughout Inception Racing’s time in IMSA.
Inception Racing Sporting Director, Bas Leinders, said today: “We are extremely excited to be joining the Corvette family for our IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign. GM and Pratt Miller have an incredible racing pedigree and a long history of success in sports car racing. We are already building a strong relationship with both organizations, and we look forward to working closely together.
“At every IMSA event, we see the passion and loyalty of the Corvette fans, and it is fantastic to now become part of that community and such a rich racing heritage. We are looking forward to this new chapter and are determined to contribute to Corvette’s continued success on track.”
“Corvette Racing and Chevrolet are pleased to welcome Inception Racing to the Corvette Z06 GT3.R family for the 2027 IMSA season,” added Corvette Racing Programme Manager, Andrea Hidalgo. “Inception is one of the leading GTD teams in the series, and we’re grateful for its confidence in what our programme represents. This addition will strengthen both teams and the broader Corvette Racing programme in 2027.”
Chevrolet will be the third manufacturer run by Inception Racing since its IMSA debut in 2021 Inception ran with the McLaren 720S GT3 in IMSA through 2024 before switching to a Ferrari 296 GT3 late in the season.
With Ferrari, Inception Racing scored its first IMSA GTD race victory at Indianapolis in 2025.
Iribe finished sixth in the GTD standings in 2023, matching his best result from 2023 – the year he also won the Bob Akin Award and gave Inception Racing an invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“He’s among all these experienced people,” Leinders said of Iribe. “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.”
“He’s super competitive considering the gap between me and him now,” said Schandorff, who’s been Iribe’s full-time co-driver since 2023. “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, who suffered injuries in a horrific China GT Championship accident in Shanghai back in September, is expected to return in 2027 and continue as an ever-present member of the Inception Racing team.
“We are definitely not to forget Ollie,” Leinders 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.”
Inception Racing’s move to Chevrolet will ensure at least two Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs on the grid next year in GTD, alongside that of 13 Autosport – which is owned by Orey Fidani, Iribe’s main rival for the Akin Award over the last three years.
Images © Chevrolet and Optimum Motorsport
