Albuquerque Not Giving Up on Honda Le Mans Hopes

Filipe Albuquerque said he’s not giving up hope that Honda will eventually green-light an assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Acura ARX-06 that races in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

While nothing has ever been explicitly ruled out by Honda, the Japanese manufacturer has so far yet to give its blessing for the ARX-06, now operated solely by Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti, to race outside of the WeatherTech Championship.

Team co-owners Wayne Taylor and Michael Andretti have made no secret of their ambitions to take on the FIA World Endurance Championship and its showpiece event.

BMW’s entry into the WEC this year means Acura is now the only LMDh manufacturer that does not have a presence in the series.

Last year’s rebranding of Honda’s American motorsport division, formerly Honda Performance Development, to HRC USA raised hopes that an entry into the WEC could be approved by the Japanese marque sooner rather than later.

However, last month HRC President Koji Watanabe downplayed the prospect of a 2025 entry as it focuses on preparations for its return to Formula 1 as a full works engine supplier in 2026, something that HRC USA will also assist with.

Asked for his reaction to Watanabe’s remarks, Albuquerque, who has been a major advocate of a Honda entry at Le Mans since the ARX-06 project’s inception, told Sportscar365 he is still hopeful that Honda can be convinced.

“I read the comments,” said Albuquerque. “I think me and the other drivers need to take Mr. Watanabe out for a nice dinner here in America and just make him realise how passionate we are and how much we want to go to Le Mans!

“We are more than ready to go there, it makes complete sense to take this car to Europe. I think it would do great. It wouldn’t be easy, but we will have to wait and see how it goes this year. I don’t know what the deadline would be to build a team.

“I’m a race car driver, I’m always optimistic, and I’m still optimistic that next year we’re going. But this is so many levels above my pay grade. First we need to make sure we do well this year and win this championship.

“I believe that [the change to] HRC USA brings us a step closer to it. But time will tell. The big bosses are the ones in charge, I’m just a passionate guy.”

Albuquerque’s most recent top-class start at Le Mans came back in 2015 with Audi, and since then he has been on the grid in the LMP2 class every year since, winning the category in 2020 for United Autosports alongside Phil Hanson and Paul di Resta.

The Portuguese driver stopped shy of saying Honda’s decision-making regarding a future WEC effort would have a bearing on his future career choices, despite his strong desire to fight for overall honors at La Sarthe.

“It’s just funny that I started my career at Le Mans in an Audi LMP1,” reflected Albuquerque. “I did two years like that and since then there was never an opportunity in the top class. I’ve been it doing all the years since [in LMP2], but you need a seat.

“I  think one of the reasons for the success of LMDh is that you can do Daytona and Le Mans together. But so far I’m super happy to be driving the Acura for WTRAndretti, to be fighting for wins in practically every race. That’s all a driver can ask for.

“But you can always ask for more, and my next ask would be to take the car to Le Mans!”