Connect with us

WeatherTech Championship

WTR Andretti Confirms Second Acura GTP Entry for 2024

WTR Andretti will expand GTP program to pair of Acura ARX-06s next season…

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport has announced that it will field a second Acura ARX-06 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year.

The organization’s additional entry into the GTP class will make its debut at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

WTR has historically concentrated on a single-car program in the highest class of the WeatherTech Championship but will double its involvement under its new alliance with Andretti which was forged at the end of last year.

The team on Tuesday confirmed that Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque will continue to share the No. 10 Acura, while the lineup of the sister car is set to be revealed at a later date.

“It has always been our plan to go to a two-car program,” said team owner Wayne Taylor.

“There are so many advantages in being a two-car team and now, going up against all the other factory-backed two-car efforts, it is vital. Honda Performance Development and ORECA have built an amazing race car.

“When you look back at the season so far, we’ve proved to be quickest almost wherever we go and I believe we now have the car to beat.

“With the combination of HPD, ORECA, Andretti Autosport and all our corporate partners, we have a really strong organization.”

Andretti Autosport chairman and CEO Michael Andretti added: “Expanding to a two-car program displays the progression and success of not only the WTR Andretti team, but our Acura and HPD relationship in the new GTP era.

“Our focus at Andretti Autosport, bringing our experience and reach, is to support WTR Andretti in finding the right people and providing the right resources to continue on our winning path.”

WTR switched from Cadillac to Acura ahead of the 2021 season and immediately won the Rolex 24 with the Acura ARX-05.

It twice finished second in the DPi drivers’ championship before the class morphed into GTP upon the arrival of LMDh machinery this year.

“The strength and depth of Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport, throughout their organization, has impressed us right from the start of our partnership in 2021,” said David Salters, HPD President and Technical Director.

“That has continued through the development of the new, hybrid Acura ARX-06 GTP car.

“This is a very complex car, yet everyone at WTR Andretti has risen to the challenge.

“Our partnership with them has been very rewarding and we look forward to their continuing as a works factory Acura effort with the addition of a second IMSA entry in 2024.”

Alongside its expanded GTP effort, WTR plans to continue running the No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 next year in the GTD class.

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

Click to comment
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More in WeatherTech Championship