Albuquerque Announces Acura Departure

Filipe Albuquerque has confirmed he will depart Acura after a four-year tenure driving for the brand in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The Portuguese driver announced via a post on social media on Wednesday that last weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans was his last for the manufacturer.

Albuquerque was not part of the full-season Meyer Shank Racing GTP lineup that was announced Tuesday and is instead expected to rejoin Cadillac, a brand he previously drove for between 2017 and 2020.

“And just like this, we ended a chapter,” Albuquerque wrote.

“My journey with you was amazing, looking at the numbers is actually pretty impressive and we know it could have been so much more.

“I had a lot of fun, I learned a lot and it was a true pleasure to build this Acura ARX-06 GTP machine together.

“From now, the work is done, all the setups, all the fine-tuning. You just need to polish the car and it’s ready to fly.

“We will meet again somewhere. For now, I just want to say thank you.”

Albuquerque first joined Acura when WTR switched manufacturers in 2021 and immediately won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in a lineup also featuring Ricky Taylor, Helio Castroneves and Alexander Rossi.

Further wins followed, including at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen in 2022, and Albuquerque would go on to finish runner-up in the drivers’ championship three years in a row between 2021 and 2023.

His Acura tenure ended in retirement, caused when co-driver Taylor made contact with Corey Lewis’ stationary Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 in the final hour of the race.