Former GT Open champions, Optimum Motorsport, is back for the Barcelona finale, fielding a McLaren 720S for American racer Ford Koch (20), who steps up to GT3 machinery for his European debut and Optimum stalwart Joe Osborne, reunited with the team for the first time since 2023.
The pairing combines Osborne’s extensive history with Optimum Motorsport with Koch’s experience across several competitive North American racing series. The event will mark an important milestone for Koch, who makes his European racing debut - also stepping onto the international GT3 stage for the first time. The 20-year-old Koch arrives in Europe with an impressive racing resume built through competition in the United States. He has gained valuable experience and podium finishes in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 machinery, as well as in single-make series such as Toyota GR Cup North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge North America.
Joe Osborne, now also known as a brilliant TV commentator, has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Optimum Motorsport, which began back in 2007, in the Ginetta Championship. Since then, Osborne has returned to the team many times, including as a McLaren factory driver, and has contributed to many of the team’s successes over the last two decades. His experience in the International GT Open includes memorable Barcelona wins in 2020 and 2021, together with Nick Moss.
Ford Koch: “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!”
Joe Osborne: “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!”
Shaun Goff, Optimum Motorsport Team Principal: “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.”