WTR Building LMDh Test Team; Targeting Second Acura in 2024

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Wayne Taylor Racing is assembling a dedicated test team for the development of the Acura LMDh project, which could transform into a second IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race entry in 2024 according to team owner Wayne Taylor.

The DPi points-leading squad is preparing for the start of on-track testing with the Acura ARX-06 prototype, which is currently scheduled to begin this summer.

“With [Daytona] 2023 being first race for the LMDh cars, what’s happening is that everything is running late given what’s going on around the world,” Taylor told Sportscar365.

“There’s a shortage of carbon, there’s a shortage of these battery packs I understand, cars’ deliveries are getting later and later. 

“What we’ve had to do is building up a second group of guys. We’re slowly building that team up and that team, hopefully, will be with us in 2024 when we try to run a second car.

“This year we’re building up people to [train] them. Then they can do a lot of the testing while we’re racing somewhere. 

“We’re getting ourselves prepared for 2024 in case it happens.”

Will Stevens, who is the team’s Michelin Endurance Cup driver, is also under contract to undertake testing duties of the LMDh car when primary drivers Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque are unavailable or at a race weekend.

“Ricky and Filipe will still be doing the majority of the testing,” Wayne said. “Ricky told me the other day he will be away for seven weeks [in his development role].

“We’ll be testing as soon as the car comes… [in] June/July/August.”

Taylor confirmed the team will retain the same driver lineup next year, including Stevens, who is “definitely” a top choice for the proposed second car in 2024 should it materialize.

He declined to put a percentage number on the chances of the second Acura GTP entry materializing.

“Honestly at the moment all I’m focused on is getting the testing done, trying to win the championship [this year] and trying to be ready for Daytona next year,” he said.

“My ultimate goal would be yes, I want to badly run a second car.”

Continuity to Jumpstart Acura LMDh Development

Taylor believes continuity within the Acura camp in retaining all of its existing DPi technical partners for the LMDh project will pay dividends especially after getting a later-than-expected start with on-track testing due to industry-wide supply chain issues.

“One of the things that’s really great and what I love about this program is that we have this partnership with HPD and it’s full of really smart guys,” Taylor said.

“I did a tour of HPD and from the engine and drivetrain stuff to the hybrid, I’m confident in it. It’s exactly the same vendors that we’re using now. 

“I feel like everybody is panicking because things have been coming late.

“But my view is if you do your homework before you actually hit the track and you get all of that right, then you should be able to get on the track and not have too much development work.

“I’m very excited. I can’t wait to see the real car because I still can’t see it!”

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