Hand cleared to return to IMSA action at Road America

As teams have arrived at Road America for the Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix, there are other changes to the entry list to note as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship begins on-track activities tomorrow.

Following yesterday’s news that Robert Wickens would make his first IMSA endurance race appearance for DXDT Racing, other teams in GTD have made last-minute changes. This includes Gradient Racing, which welcomes back Ford Racing factory driver Joey Hand to drive the No. 66 Ford Mustang GT3 with Till Bechtolsheimer and Jake Walker. An injury sustained while karting prevented Hand from running in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, but the American driver has been cleared to race this weekend.

“I’m thrilled to be back in the race car with Gradient Racing, driving the Ford Mustang GT3 that I know and love so much,” said Hand. “I can’t think of a better place to make my return than Road America. It’s my favorite racetrack in the world, one of the greatest places to race, with incredible fans, great food and everything that makes Road America so special. I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel and making something happen.

“I feel like we have something coming with this program. The team does all the right things so often, and it’s just a really fun program to be part of. I can’t wait to get back in the car and help deliver the great result this team deserves. I’d also like to thank Dr. Terry Trammell for all his help and advice in getting me back in the car as soon as possible.”

Elsewhere on the GTD grid, RS1 has made more changes to the line-up of the No. 28 Porsche 911 GT3 R, which makes its fourth IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup appearance of 2026.

Team mainstay Jan Heylen will be joined by former IndyCar Series driver Devlin DeFrancesco and reigning Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion Ryan Yardley. DeFrancesco last raced in IMSA in 2024, driving for Forte Racing in the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, and finishing second in GTD at that year’s Motul Petit Le Mans.

Yardley, meanwhile, makes his second start of the IMSA season, his first since the Rolex 24 At Daytona. As one of Porsche Motorsport North America’s Selected Drivers, Yardley has also raced full-time in GT World Challenge America for Wright Motorsports.

Finally, the LMP2 field welcomes Intersport Racing back after Jon Field and his team missed the most recent Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Joining Field and Oliver Jarvis this time out is a new face in IMSA, Max van der Snel from the Netherlands. Van der Snel, who turns 23 on race day, will also make his LMP2 race debut after racing full-time in LMP3s since 2023. He is currently racing full-time in both the European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup.