Derani to Part Ways With Action Express at End of Season

Photo: Jose Mario Dias

Pipo Derani will not return with Action Express Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year, Sportscar365 has learned, with the championship-winning Brazilian driver and the Cadillac GTP squad having agreed to part ways at seasons’ end.

Derani, who joined Action Express in 2019 on the back of the ceasing of operations of Extreme Speed Motorsports, has earned numerous accolades with the Gary Nelson-led organization through an ultra-successful six-year stint, including the 2021 and 2023 top-class prototype drivers’ titles, numerous wins and poles as well as two Michelin Endurance Cups.

He currently sits fourth in the GTP drivers’ standings alongside season-long co-driver Jack Aitken heading into Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, where the duo will share the No. 31 Whelen-sponsored Cadillac V-Series.R with Tom Blomqvist.

“We have mutually agreed not to go forward together past this year,” Derani said. “We’ve had a fantastic time together with two championships, two endurance championships and many race wins and pole positions.

“I truly have enjoyed my time with this team and with Cadillac.

“I appreciate everything they’ve given me, what they’ve done for my career and all the good times we’ve had together will forever be in my memory.

“It’s time to go win a third championship this year together before both of us move different ways.”

Derani’s departure is the first of a significant driver shakeup in the GTP class for 2025, triggered by Chip Ganassi Racing not returning with Cadillac that was revealed in March.

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti is understood to be in the final stages of a return to Cadillac machinery next year, with Meyer Shank Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing having emerged as possible operators of the Acura ARX-06 in 2025.

It means further driver changes are in store for the GTP class, particularly at WTRAndretti, which currently fields Acura-contracted pilots Ricky and Jordan Taylor.

Nelson, who oversees the Action Express program, declined to comment about his team’s drivers for next year, in what is expected to be a continuation of a single-car Cadillac effort.

“When Action Express is ready to announce our driver lineup, we’ll announce our driver lineup,” he told Sportscar365.

Jamie Klein 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