Former International GT Open champions Optimum Motorsport will return to the championship for the 2026 season finale at Barcelona, fielding a McLaren 720S GT3 EVO for American newcomer Ford Koch and experienced British driver Joe Osborne.
The pairing will compete in the Pro category at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 23–25 October, marking Koch’s first appearance in European motorsport and his competitive debut in GT3 machinery. The 20-year-old arrives with experience in North American GT4 and one-make championships, while Osborne reunites with a team he has represented extensively throughout his career.
Optimum’s return follows a successful history in International GT Open, including championship victories and several memorable performances at Barcelona. The British outfit also enters the weekend with confidence following a Silver Cup victory at the same circuit during the recent GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup finale.
For Koch, the event represents an opportunity to take the next step in his racing career, while Osborne hopes to use his experience with the team and McLaren machinery to help his new teammate adapt to the demands of international GT3 competition.
Ford Koch prepares for European and GT3 debut
Koch will make an important step forward in his racing career when he joins Optimum Motorsport for the final International GT Open round of 2026. Although the American has competed in several established North American championships, Barcelona will mark his first racing appearance in Europe and his first competitive outing in GT3 machinery.
The 20-year-old has built his experience through the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, where he has competed in a Toyota GR Supra GT4 and secured podium finishes. The championship has provided opportunities to develop his racecraft in multi-class competition, preparing him for some of the demands he will encounter in International GT Open.
Koch has also competed in Toyota GR Cup North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, gaining experience in different categories of production-based racing machinery. These programmes have contributed to his development, although stepping into the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO will introduce greater aerodynamic performance, power and technical complexity.
The American expressed his enthusiasm for joining Optimum, highlighting the team’s reputation and Osborne’s experience as important factors in his decision.
“I’m excited to be coming over for my first taste of European GT3 racing with Optimum in McLaren’s GT3 machinery – switching up from my normal IMSA GT4 platform! I’m thrilled to be with Optimum, as they come highly recommended by many accomplished drivers and their global success speaks for itself. I have known Joe for several years; he’s a safe pair of hands in the car that can also help me develop myself as a driver and hopefully together we can achieve a solid result in Barcelona!”
Koch’s familiarity with Osborne should help him settle into the new environment, particularly as the team prepares to compete against drivers with considerably more experience in GT3 machinery.
Osborne reunites with Optimum after three-year absence
Osborne’s return represents another significant development for Optimum Motorsport, reuniting the British driver with a team that has played an important role throughout his racing career.
Their relationship began in 2007, when Osborne joined the outfit for its inaugural campaign in the Ginetta Championship. He subsequently returned on several occasions, contributing to Optimum’s development into an established international GT racing operation.
Osborne also represented the team during his time as a McLaren factory driver, gaining extensive experience in GT3 competition across multiple championships. His International GT Open career includes successful campaigns alongside Nick Moss, with the pairing achieving a memorable victory at Barcelona in 2020.
More recently, Osborne has combined his involvement in motorsport with television commentary, establishing himself as a familiar voice in international racing broadcasts.
However, his relationship with Koch extends beyond their upcoming partnership, having first met the American several years earlier during a McLaren driving experience. Osborne recalled recognising Koch’s potential when the young driver was still developing his skills.
“It’s mega to be back in a championship I love, with a team I love, and a car I love. I met Ford when he was 15 years old, ice driving on a McLaren Experience event, where I was his coach. He didn’t have a driving license, but he had a race license, and I allowed him to drive. We had lots of fun, and I saw the immense talent that he possessed. From that point he’s gone on and used it, racing well in the States in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, and now bringing that skill set to Europe – and stepping up into GT3. It’s going to be a good weekend!”
Their reunion now provides an opportunity to build on that relationship in a competitive environment, with Osborne taking on an important role in supporting Koch’s transition.
Optimum Motorsport brings championship-winning experience
Optimum Motorsport returns to International GT Open with an established record of success, having competed regularly in the championship since 2017.
The British outfit enjoyed a particularly successful period in the early 2020s, securing the 2021 Pro-Am Championship through its Inception Racing programme before claiming the 2023 Overall Drivers’ title with Sam de Haan and Charlie Fagg.
Its participation in Barcelona will mark its second International GT Open appearance of the 2026 season. Earlier in the campaign, the team fielded Ben Barnicoat and Morgan Tillbrook at Spa-Francorchamps, where the pairing secured a Pro-Am podium.
Optimum has also continued expanding its international racing activities, maintaining programmes across British GT, GT World Challenge Europe and other GT competitions. Its expanded GTWC Europe campaign for 2026 introduced a full-season Sprint Cup entry alongside its existing Endurance Cup commitments.
Consequently, the team brings extensive experience with the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO into its latest GT Open appearance, providing Koch with a competitive platform for his first race in the category.
The decision to partner him with Osborne also offers continuity, combining the team’s technical knowledge with a driver who understands its working environment and has already achieved success at Barcelona.
Goff confident in Koch and Osborne combination
Optimum Motorsport Team Principal Shaun Goff welcomed the announcement, expressing confidence in the pairing’s ability to challenge for a strong result.
Goff highlighted Osborne’s longstanding relationship with the team, describing the British driver as an important part of Optimum’s history. He also welcomed the opportunity to support Koch’s development as the American moves into GT3 racing for the first time.
The team enters Barcelona with particular confidence following its recent success at the same circuit, where Mikey Porter and Guilherme Oliveira secured the Silver Cup victory in GTWC Europe Sprint Cup Race 1.
“Joe is part of the Optimum family and has been from the start, so there’s great trust between us. We’re delighted to give Ford his European debut – and his GT3 debut too. We’re confident that they’ll be a force to be reckoned with among the GT Open grid in Barcelona. We recently had a sprint win there with our GT World Challenge Europe crew a few weeks ago, so the team is highly motivated to replicate their performance. Having been very successful within GT Open since 2017, we’re looking forward to returning to the paddock for the second time this year. It’s a great series, and definitely the best one for Ford to step up into GT3.”
Goff’s comments reflect the team’s ambitions for the finale, although Koch’s lack of GT3 experience will present a significant challenge against established Pro competitors. Nevertheless, Optimum’s familiarity with the McLaren and Osborne’s racing experience should provide valuable support throughout the weekend.
Recent Barcelona victory provides encouragement
Optimum Motorsport will return to Barcelona only three weeks after securing an important victory during the GTWC Europe Sprint Cup season finale.
The team’s #5 McLaren, shared by Porter and Oliveira, emerged victorious in the Silver Cup during a rain-affected opening race on 3 October. The pairing navigated challenging conditions to secure its first class victory since the Sprint Cup season opener at Brands Hatch.
Their Silver Cup victory at Barcelona formed part of a dramatic contest in which Alex Aka and Dylan Pereira claimed the overall win for Tresor Attempto Racing after starting 14th.
Although International GT Open presents a different competitive field and sporting format, Optimum can draw encouragement from its recent performance at the Catalan circuit. The team’s familiarity with the venue and McLaren machinery should prove particularly valuable as Koch prepares for his first GT3 race.
Osborne also brings previous success at Barcelona, having won there with Moss during their International GT Open campaigns. His experience of the circuit should help the pairing develop a competitive setup and prepare for the demands of the two-race finale.
The combination of recent team success and established driver experience provides an encouraging foundation, although both drivers will need to adapt quickly to their new partnership.
Barcelona finale marks next step for Koch and Optimum
The 2026 International GT Open season will conclude at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 23–25 October, with the championship returning to its traditional two-race format following September’s Monza GT Open 500.
The final round will determine the remaining championship honours across the Pro, Pro-Am and Am categories, bringing together established full-season contenders and several additional entries.
Optimum’s appearance adds another former championship-winning team to the field, while Koch’s participation introduces a promising American driver to European GT3 racing.
The pairing will contest the finale in the #23 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, with Osborne aiming to guide Koch through his first experience of the category while remaining competitive against the championship’s regular entrants.
For Koch, the weekend represents an opportunity to evaluate his progress against experienced international drivers and gain valuable experience in more powerful machinery. Meanwhile, Osborne will return to familiar surroundings after three years away from Optimum’s GT Open programme.
With a proven car, an experienced team and a successful history at Barcelona, Optimum will aim to conclude its latest International GT Open appearance with a strong result. The event could also provide a foundation for Koch’s continued development as he considers future opportunities in international GT racing.
