Ford Will Retain IMSA GTD Pro Drivers for 2027

The manufacturer confirmed its driver pairings and team structure will return for the 2027 IMSA season.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Motorsports

Ford Will Retain IMSA GTD Pro Drivers for 2027

Live Poll

Do you prefer when your local sports teams maintain the same roster across multiple seasons?

Ford Racing has announced that it will retain its current driver line-up for the 2027 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. The decision keeps the existing team structure and Ford Mustang GT3 hardware in place to build on momentum from 2026.

Why it matters

By keeping the same teams and drivers, Ford aims to maintain consistency and improve its performance in the manufacturer and driver championship standings. The program is prioritizing stability to contend for all three IMSA titles in the upcoming year.

Ford currently sits in second place in the Manufacturer Championship, trailing the leader by 68 points. The pairing of Frederic Vervisch and Christopher Mies finished fourth in the driver standings, while teammates Dennis Olsen and Ben Barker finished fifth.

The players

Ford Racing

This is the motorsport division of Ford Motor Company which manages its factory efforts in major racing series like IMSA.

Frederic Vervisch

He is a professional racing driver who competed in the #65 Ford Mustang GT3 during the 2026 season.

Christopher Mies

He is a seasoned GT racing competitor who paired with Frederic Vervisch in the Ford factory program.

Dennis Olsen

He is a veteran driver who campaigned the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 throughout the 2026 IMSA schedule.

Ben Barker

He is a factory driver who shared the #64 Mustang GT3 with Dennis Olsen during the 2026 campaign.

The details

The team will continue to field the #64 and #65 Ford Mustang GT3 cars, both of which received significant aerodynamic, kinematic, and braking updates prior to the 2026 season. This continuity is designed to refine the performance of the Mustang GT3 platform as the team looks to close its current points gap in the manufacturer standings.

May 2026 marked the victory for Vervisch and Mies at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
September 2026 featured a win for Olsen and Barker at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
October 2026 concludes the 2026 racing season at the Motul Petit Le Mans.
The 2027 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season begins next year.

Season Trajectory

Ford's decision to maintain its current driver roster signals a long-term commitment to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro class. This stability positions the manufacturer to better compete for the manufacturer title against rivals who frequently rotate personnel.

Fans tracking the championship will note that by keeping both pairings intact, Ford avoids the learning curve often associated with new driver chemistry in endurance racing. This strategy keeps the current 4th and 5th place driver standings as the baseline for the 2027 season opening.

The takeaway

Maintaining a consistent driver lineup is often a key factor for success in high-level endurance racing. By retaining its current team, Ford is banking on the idea that familiarity with the vehicle hardware will lead to improved results in the upcoming season.