LMP2 Success Put Deletraz “On the Map” in IMSA

Louis Deletraz has credited his success in LMP2 racing as a big factor in securing a full-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship seat, saying that it ‘put him on the map’ after transitioning away from single seaters.

The Swiss driver is set to step up to a full season role in the WeatherTech Championship’s GTP class, teaming with Jordan Taylor as part of an expanded, two-car effort from Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport.

Deletraz spent the current season as the third driver for the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, teaming with Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque aboard the No. 10 Acura ARX-06.

While he made sporadic GT3 appearances earlier in his career, most notably with BMW in ADAC GT Masters and Porsche in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup, Deletraz didn’t fully embrace sports car racing until 2021.

After making his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut with Rebellion Racing the previous year, he embarked on a successful and ongoing stint in LMP2 competition.

Deletraz secured back-to-back European Le Mans Series titles with Team WRT and Prema and currently leads the LMP2 standings in the FIA World Endurance Championship with one round remaining.

In the WeatherTech Championship, meanwhile, he helped Tower Motorsports’ John Farano pick up the LMP2 title and took a class victory at Motul Petit Le Mans last year.

“I think it hundred percent put me on the map,” Deletraz told Sportscar365 about his LMP2 success.

“After Formula 2, yes I had a super license in Formula 1, and I tested [there], but my chance to go to F1 was so small.

“Still I joined LMP2 and no one really knows you. [People] know your name, but don’t know what you can do. And the last three years have shown that we’ve been competitive.

“Obviously I did all this with Robert Kubica and people started to know my name more and more, and every time you win you write one more line of your own history.

“I think it definitely helped. Also having Filipe Albuquerque here, he knew me from Europe, helped. He was a big help for me in America because he kind of taught me a lot.

“I would say he was a good mentor in America and probably someone I also have to thank for being here.”

Deletraz added that his promotion to a full season drive with WTR Andretti is the fulfilment of a long-held ambition.

“It’s pretty amazing,” he said. “Obviously when I came to America and got this role as a third driver, it was always my goal to get a full time drive in GTP or Hypercar.

“I think things have been going well and I think Acura, Wayne Taylor Racing, the whole combination is very strong and it’s one of the best seats to be in to win overall.

“So I’m really looking forward to next year. Jordan has so much experience. Also, I think we’re already close friends. We get along well so far, so I’m looking forward to that.”

The Swiss driver also credited his experience in the Endurance Cup rounds in helping him to get to grips with the Acura GTP platform, which he says will be beneficial for next season.

“I think it’s a huge help,” he said.

“In general, I’ve been jumping from car to car for many years and I didn’t struggle to adapt. But still, those cars with hybrid [systems] are very complicated.

“Every weekend the procedure changes, the car evolves. So, to have been able to test with the team and already to do four tracks, [counting] Petit Le Mans, is a big help for next year.

“Also, it means that on our car, with Jordan and me, I know the car a little bit and we can work on that. We [get] some extra experience, as Ricky and Filipe will be together.

“So it was definitely important. It made sense for me to continue with Acura and Wayne Taylor Racing to stay in the same car, same procedure, same team.”

John Dagys contributed to this report