Hartley Completes WTR’s Lineup for Petit Le Mans

Photo: Toyota

Brendon Hartley will complete Wayne Taylor Racing’s lineup for October’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans, it has been announced.

The ex-Formula 1 and current Toyota Gazoo Racing FIA World Endurance Championship star joins DPi points leaders Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque in the team’s Acura ARX-05 for the title showdown.

Will Stevens, who was announced as WTR’s driver for the Michelin Endurance Cup races, will stand down from the ten-hour enduro at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta but is understood to still be contracted to WTR in a test and development role on the new Acura ARX-06 LMDh car.

It will mark Hartley’s fourth Petit Le Mans outing and first since 2017 when he was a part of Extreme Speed Motorsports’ lineup in the first year of the DPi platform.

“I’m very pleased to be joining Wayne Taylor Racing for Petit Le Mans,” said Hartley. “I have competed against them many times in the past and it’s clear they know how to win races and championships.

“When Wayne called me a few weeks ago, I jumped at the opportunity, especially having Ricky and Filipe as teammates.

“I’ve done Petit a few times before and it’s a special event for me—the race in which I made my American endurance racing debut back in 2012. It’s a tough, old-school track that all of the drivers love.

“I’m well aware that WTR is in the middle of a championship fight, which adds a little pressure, and I am up for it.

“I have already started to communicate with the engineers and my new teammates who are giving me all the information needed to help me get up to speed quickly.”

Team owner Wayne Taylor added: “Brendon and I have been in touch for several years now, looking for the right opportunity to work together.

“He is massively talented and what he brings to our mission is exemplary. His track record at Le Mans, F1 and in the World Endurance Championship speaks for itself.

“Just as importantly, he will be a great teammate to Ricky and Filipe and an excellent fit for our team.”

Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor hold a narrow 19-point lead over fellow Acura drivers Tom Blomqvist and Oliver Jarvis of Meyer Shank Racing heading into the final race of the DPi era.

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