Hanley Motorsports Integrated (HMI) and DXDT Racing are combining forces to launch a multi-tier IMSA program for the 2027 season, competing below the HMI banner in each the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Michelin Pilot Problem.
As a BMW-supported operation, the squad will compete throughout three tiers of North American GT racing: the GTD and GTD Professional classes throughout the premier IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, alongside the GS class within the IMSA Michelin Pilot Problem. To anchor the bold effort, HMI is taking on the operational belongings of Paul Miller Racing, together with the store in Buford, Georgia – inheriting the operational footprint of the squad that captured the 2026 IMSA GTD Professional championship with drivers Connor De Phillippi and Neil Verhagen – whereas a brand new everlasting facility is accomplished down the street in Flowery Department.
The growth marks a pivotal evolution for workforce founder Robert Hanley, who bought his begin on filth greater than 30 years in the past. After stepping away to concentrate on household and enterprise, Hanley returned in 2019 to win a Masters Championship earlier than fielding entries in Porsche Dash Problem and SRO in 2023. Through the 2026 season, Hanley deepened his sports activities automobile involvement via a minority partnership with DXDT Racing in IMSA’s GTD class, alongside a three way partnership with Bryan Herta Autosport and PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports in LMP2.
“This can be a dream come true for me,” stated Hanley. “After I began Hanley Motorsports, the intent was at all times to compete on the prime stage in all of our endeavors. With the experience introduced by Dave, Mitchell, and Bryan, we imagine we’re aggressively constructing a corporation that’s able to delivering sustained success, on the highest stage of sportscar racing in North America, The IMSA Weathertech Championship. There is no such thing as a query our objectives and aspirations won’t be simply achieved as we’re absolutely conscious of the super rivals, for whom we have now quite a lot of respect, that may problem us at each alternative. We’re dedicated and energized by what’s forward of us.”
DXDT Racing will not be competing below the identical title or with the Corvette Z06 GT3.R in 2027.
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen by way of Getty Pictures
DXDT Racing brings a longtime IMSA basis to the partnership, with HMI taking a majority stake within the effort. Based by David Askew, the squad transitioned full-time to the WeatherTech Championship in 2025 following a dominant eight-win SRO GT3 Professional marketing campaign in 2024. DXDT has since confirmed its tempo in IMSA’s prime tier, securing six top-10 finishes in its debut season, adopted by its first pole at Lengthy Seashore and a podium at Petit Le Mans in 2026.
“That is such an excellent alternative for all of us at DXDT Racing to develop and grow to be one thing larger than our preliminary foray into the IMSA paddock,” Askew stated. “We’ve actually been engaged on setting a powerful basis in our first two years within the sequence and now that we have now that, it’s time to take the following step and I actually suppose this partnership with Robert will assist facilitate that. I’m excited to see what’s to return for HMI and actually thrilled to be alongside for the journey as a part of this workforce.”
To steer the operation, HMI has named Mitchell Simmons as Workforce Principal and former IMSA champion Bryan Sellers as Competitors Director.
Simmons brings a deep engineering background, together with software program improvement for Components 1 applications and expertise throughout European, Asian, and North American championships earlier than spending over a decade at Paul Miller Racing. His resume consists of a number of IMSA championships, most not too long ago serving to safe an IMSA GTD Professional title earlier this yr.
“Robert Hanley is assembling an excellent workforce for this push into IMSA for 2027 and past,” Simmons stated. “He’s introduced on a few of the better of the very best throughout Paul Miller Racing and DXDT for this endeavor and I’m actually excited to supervise such an expansive and bold program. IMSA is the highest stage of sports activities automobile racing and I do know all of us wish to see Hanley Motorsports out in entrance of such a aggressive discipline. I’m trying ahead to the problem!”
Hanley Motorsports will take over the operational belongings of Paul Miller Racing, the reigning GTD Professional champions.
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen by way of Getty Pictures
Sellers transitioned to administration at DXDT on the finish of 2024 following a legendary driving profession that included two IMSA GTD titles and victories on the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, Motul Petit Le Mans, and three consecutive wins at Lengthy Seashore.
“This type of alternative is strictly what I envisioned when shifting over to the administration aspect on the finish of 2024,” Sellers stated. “It’s actually thrilling to see these two spectacular workforce homeowners come collectively to type HMI and set their sights on such an bold racing program in 2027. Each Robert and Dave excel at the whole lot they do each in competitors and of their enterprise lives and it’s been such an excellent expertise working with them to place this deal collectively. Plus, reuniting with Mitchell in any case of our success collectively is a cherry on prime. I can’t wait till we get our BMWs on the monitor and go wheel to wheel with the very best of the very best in IMSA.”
The workforce’s expanded manufacturing unit backing from BMW Motorsport will help the squad’s GTD Professional marketing campaign with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO alongside its GTD and GT4 efforts.
“BMW Motorsport is glad to welcome Hanley Motorsports to our racing household,” stated Adam McGregor, BMW NA Motorsport & Buyer Racing Supervisor. “As I’ve gotten to know Robert and the entire Hanley group it has grow to be clear that they share the identical drive for excellence on the race monitor that BMW Motorsport does. Due to this fact, they’re good to proceed to construct our legacy in GTD Professional class with the M4 GT3 EVO. Additionally it is thrilling to see HMI planning to increase BMW’s presence in GTD and GT4 courses of IMSA. The Rolex 24 is true across the nook and I can’t wait to see BMW M4’s in HMI’s livery on the pavement in Daytona!”
HMI will make its official aggressive debut at Daytona Worldwide Speedway in January 2027, with driver lineup bulletins anticipated within the coming months.
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