Hanley Launches Multi-Car, Dual Series BMW Effort
Image: HMI
Hanley Motorsports Incorporated will launch a dual-series IMSA campaign next year, utilizing race and championship-winning resources and experience for its multi-faceted BMW program.
Announced on Wednesday, HMI, which has joined forces with DXDT Racing and will also work with ex-Paul Miller Racing staff, including its longtime team boss Mitchell Simmons, who will serve as team principal.
Additionally, DXDT program manager Bryan Sellers has been named competition director for the program, which will see BMW M4 GT3 EVOs entered in both the GTD Pro and GTD classes of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, as well as GS class effort with at least one BMW M4 GT4 EVO in Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Drivers for the programs have yet to be announced.
The GTD Pro effort effectively takes over from Paul Miller Racing’s championship-winning campaign from this year, and the team will be initially based out of the former PMR shop in Buford, Ga., before moving to a new ground-up facility in Flowery Branch Ga. late next year.
Team owner Robert Hanley, a former Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge driver, has purchased the assets of what was Paul Miller Racing, including its two GT3-spec BMWs.
It is awaiting delivery of BMW GT4 machinery for a targeted two-car Pilot Challenge effort next year.
Hanley has also expanded his partnership with DXDT, which has combined with ex-PMR staff under the HMI banner, a process that began several weeks ago following the WeatherTech Championship season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans.
DXDT team owner David Askew will remain on as an advisor but told Sportscar365 that his the DXDT moniker will become “inactive” at this point.
The fifth member of the leadership team is Clark Condreay, who will serve as the Chief Financial Officer following a nearly eight-year stint with Adobe.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said Hanley. “When I started Hanley Motorsports, the intent was always to compete at the top level in all of our endeavors.
“With the expertise brought by Dave, Mitchell, and Bryan, we believe we are aggressively building an organization that is capable of delivering sustained success, at the highest level of sports car racing in North America, the IMSA WeatherTech Championship.
“There is no question our goals and aspirations will not be easily achieved as we are fully aware of the tremendous competitors, for whom we have a great deal of respect, that will challenge us at every opportunity.
“We are committed and energized by what is ahead of us.”
Askew added: “We’ve really been working on setting a strong foundation in our first two years in the series and now that we have that, it’s time to take the next step and I really think this partnership with Robert will help facilitate that.
“I’m excited to see what’s to come for HMI and really thrilled to be along for the journey as part of this team.”
Simmons revealed to Sportscar365 in the summer that the future of Paul Miller Racing was unclear, with a deal now having been reached to merge efforts into a single organization.
“Robert Hanley is assembling a super team for this push into IMSA for 2027 and beyond,” said Simmons.
“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.
“IMSA is the top level of sports car racing and I know all of us want to see Hanley Motorsports out in front of such a competitive field. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Sellers, meanwhile, reunites with Simmons and the former PMR crew that helped take him to WeatherTech Championship GTD titles as a driver, alongside Madison Snow, in 2018 and 2023. He had since been DXDT’s program manager.
“This kind of opportunity is exactly what I envisioned when moving over to the management side at the end of 2024,” said Sellers.
“It’s really exciting to see these two impressive team owners come together to form HMI and set their sights on such an ambitious racing program in 2027.
“Both Robert and Dave excel at everything they do both in competition and in their business lives and it’s been such a great experience working with them to put this deal together.
“Plus, reuniting with Mitchell after all of our success together is a cherry on top.
“I can’t wait until we get our BMWs on the track and go wheel to wheel with the best of the best in IMSA.”
Hanley confirmed that he’s no longer a partner in Bryan Herta Autosports with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports’ LMP2 program, with his full focus on IMSA’s newest powerhouse sqaud.
Source: Sports Car 365