WTR Andretti Finalizing Full Season GTD Effort for 2024

Photo: WTR Andretti

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport is finalizing its 2024 GTD class effort in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship according to the team’s Vice President and general manager Travis Houge.

The championship-winning sports car racing organization is set for its first full-time effort in the production-based ranks after partnering with Racers Edge Motorsports for a limited-season campaign with an Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 this year.

The entry, bearing the name WTR Andretti and No. 45, appeared on IMSA’s 2024 WeatherTech Championship entry list that was released on Thursday.

Houge wouldn’t confirm the car model or drivers it will campaign but said details will be released shortly.

Sportscar365 understands that WTR Andretti is waiting for this current season, which concludes with Saturday’s Motul Petit Le Mans, to wrap up, before making any formal announcements.

“We’ll have some announcements after this event, probably in the next week,” Houge said. “It will be a full season entry and be operated by WTR Andretti. Our announcement on who it will be with and who the drivers will come next week.”

WTR Andretti drivers Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal, who recently clinched back-to-back Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America titles, have been part of the Racers Edge-run GTD effort this year in the Michelin Endurance Cup races alongside Ashton Harrison, another longtime team driver.

Houge explained establishing its own team in GTD will help create a ladder system from the single-make series all the way to the WeatherTech Championship GTP class, where it will expand to run two Acura ARX-06 cars next year.

It had been a long-held goal for the team to expand into the class.

“With all of our programs together, it makes sense for us to have that GTD side where we can move people from Super Trofeo into that,” Houge said.

“It just fills that hole we have. We have Super Trofeo, we have GTP, we needed GTD. The drivers that come to us, it gives them that next place to go and aspirations to get to GTP. It fills our stable, if you will.”

Racers Edge Motorsports team principal Jon Mirachi declined comment to Sportscar365 when asked if his team will be involved in the WTR Andretti operation next year.

Mirachi, however, said Racers Edge will continue its partnership with Honda Performance Development, which will be known as Honda Racing Corporation America beginning next year.

Racers Edge, which also runs full-time in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, did not appear on the 2024 WeatherTech Championship or Endurance Cup entry lists.

Daniel Lloyd contributed to this report

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John