Hartley, Herta Join WTR Andretti for Endurance Cup Rounds

Recently-crowned FIA Hypercar World Endurance champion Brendon Hartley and NTT IndyCar Series race winner Colton Herta have joined Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport as its IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup drivers for next year.

Four-time WEC champion Hartley will share the No. 10 Acura ARX-06 with full-season drivers Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque, while Herta steps into the new No. 40 Acura entry alongside Jordan Taylor and Louis Deletraz.

Toyota Hypercar ace Hartley is familiar with the WTR Andretti organization, having been part of its crew that finished second in this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The New Zealander, who made his debut with the team at the 2022 Motul Petit Le Mans, has made occasional WeatherTech Championship appearances in recent years.

He won the 10-hour enduro at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with Extreme Speed Motorsports in 2017 and is set to return to the event next season.

Herta, meanwhile, is new to WTR but currently drives for its partner organization Andretti Global in IndyCar.

He competed at Daytona this year with BMW M Team RLL as part of a factory role with the German marque and recently tested the BMW M Hybrid V8 at Indianapolis.

“It’s exciting that we’ve managed to get the services of Brendon Hartley again and Colton Herta as our third drivers who will be doing the [Endurance Cup],” said WTR Andretti team principal Wayne Taylor.

“Brendon has driven for us before, and we’ve got to know him really well. Obviously, Colton is a part of the Andretti Global group which opened the door for us with him.

“He’s won Daytona in a GT car and drove an LMDh car last [season] and did a really good job. I’m really excited about having both Brendon and Colton on board.”

WTR Andretti has described Hartley and Herta as “full season” Endurance Cup drivers, however there is a date clash for Herta between the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and the IndyCar round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

It is understood that the team will confirm its approach to that weekend at a later date, while fourth drivers for January’s Rolex 24 season-opener are yet to be announced.

“The addition of Colton and Brendon as endurance drivers for next season will be a major boost to our already very talented IMSA driver lineup,” said Andretti Global chairman and CEO Michael Andretti.

“They both have quite a bit of experience competing in endurance events and have built such strong on-track resumes across multiple series, so we’re excited to watch what they can do in 2024.”