We’re getting more of the No. 69 AMG Pirate Ship in IMSA in 2027.
Confirmed on Wednesday, Bartone Bros. and GetSpeed Performance will be expanding their WeatherTech Championship efforts next season with an entry in the Michelin Endurance Cup.
The No. 69 will contest all five rounds of the MEC at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Road America and Petit Le Mans.
Anthony Bartone (Silver) and Fabian Schiller (Gold) have been confirmed as the full-season drivers, while the remainder of the driver lineup will be announced at a later date.
The news marks the fourth confirmed entry for the 2027 season, following CarBahn, Winward Racing and Ford Racing.
The No. 69 has run the last two editions of the Rolex 24 in the Pro class, with the 2025 entry seeing Bartone, Schiller, Maxime Martin and Luca Stolz nearly pull off the shock victory, ultimately finishing P5 and on the lead lap in the Pro class. The revamped quartet of Bartone, Schiller, Maximilian Götz and Jules Gounon finished 11th in the Rolex 24 back in January.
The partnership between Bartone Bros. and GetSpeed, and more specifically between Bartone and Schiller, has blossomed over the last three seasons and is paying dividends in GT World Challenge Europe this season, with the duo competing in the Silver Cup class.
Bartone and Schiller claimed a class victory in Race 2 at Misano and are currently in contention to finish inside the top three in the final-season standings for both the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships.
Bartone and Schiller have also competed in the Asian Le Mans Series in recent seasons. Now, the duo are spearheading a new challenge for both Bartone Bros. and GetSpeed individually, as this venture into the 2027 Michelin Endurance Cup season will serve as the first extended commitment for either entity in their racing history.
The news is a major shot in the arm for IMSA fans, as we’ve eagerly awaited how the future of the series will look with some veteran teams and brands set to leave the grid at the conclusion of this season. The addition of a team like GetSpeed runs parallel to Manthey Racing’s decision as a major German-based force in GT racing to run the Endurance Cup schedule this season — hopefully, those guys confirm their return soon.
Although it’s only the Endurance Cup rounds, we will absolutely take the No. 69’s expanded attendance next season. IMSA President John Doonan recently claimed that the waiting list for entries into the Rolex 24 exceeds 80 cars, which can also be seen as an indication that there are plenty of teams that could aim to participate in expanded roles beyond just the opening race.
If that’s the case, the No. 69 serves as the first car from that expanded pool to receive its ticket for next season’s competition.
