A Major Strategic Shift in the IMSA Paddock
The landscape of North American sports car racing is undergoing a significant transformation as the 2027 season approaches. Hanley Motorsports Incorporated (HMI) has announced a bold, multi-tier expansion into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge, anchored by the acquisition of the operational assets of the championship-winning Paul Miller Racing.
By absorbing the footprint of the reigning GTD Pro champions—including their established race shop in Buford, Georgia—Hanley Motorsports is positioning itself as a major new player in the paddock. This move is not an isolated effort; it is part of a strategic alliance between team owner Robert Hanley and David Askew of DXDT Racing to create a dominant, high-performance operation.
Building a 'Super Team' for 2027
The new-look HMI program will serve as a BMW-supported operation, ensuring that the German manufacturer remains a force across the GT spectrum. The expansion covers three distinct tiers of competition:
- GTD Pro: Competing at the pinnacle of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
- GTD: Running a competitive effort in the premier sports car series.
- Michelin Pilot Challenge: Fielding entries in the GS class.
The consolidation of resources from both the Paul Miller Racing organization and the existing DXDT infrastructure is designed to create a streamlined, professional squad capable of challenging for titles immediately upon arrival.
Robert Hanley is assembling a super team for this push into IMSA for 2027 and beyond. He's brought on some of the best of the best across Paul Miller Racing and DXDT for this endeavor and I'm really excited to oversee such an expansive and ambitious program.
— Simmons, overseeing the program
Looking Ahead: What This Means for the Grid
This transition marks the end of an era for Paul Miller Racing, which has long been a benchmark for excellence in the GTD ranks. For Hanley Motorsports, it represents the rapid evolution of an organization that only began its journey in 2023. By securing factory-supported status with BMW and inheriting a championship-proven operational base, HMI is clearly setting its sights on the top step of the podium.