Andretti Autosport Just Bought a Stake in Wayne Taylor Racing's IMSA Program
Two of the biggest North American racing teams have joined forces at the onset of IMSA’s move to hybridization in the new GTP class.
As part of its longstanding goal to make a return to the top tier of sports car endurance racing, Andretti Autosport has bought into Wayne Taylor Racing, forming a new super team in ‘Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport.’
The move reunites Andretti with Acura after representing the brand as a factory team in the American Le Mans Series from 2007-2008 and pairs the team with WTR, the 2013 Grand-Am Rolex Series DP and 2017 IMSA DPi champions who began representing Acura in 2021.
In the new partnership which will see WTR with AA run by WTR from its base near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Michael Andretti’s team gains an immediate presence in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTP category with WTR’s existing No. 10 Acura ARX-06 entry and in the GTD class with the No. 93 Acura NSX GT3. Andretti’s stake also brings its name to WTR’s IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo program, and in kind, Andretti’s No. 38 Ligier IMSA LMP3 effort for Jarett Andretti will fall under the WTR with AA banner.
“This is an exciting time for us,” Andretti said. “We’re proud to be returning to the IMSA paddock in this way and the opportunity to be part of the launch of the GTP program alongside Wayne Taylor Racing and our friends at Honda Performance Development. Re-entering IMSA full time, and at this level, has been a goal of mine. I wanted it to be the right opportunity and at the right time – and we’ve found that. I’m looking forward to working closer with the team at WTR and meeting all the team’s strong supporters. I want to personally thank Wayne (Taylor) and (WTR GM) Travis (Houge) for already being such great partners as we plan for a successful future.”
Spread across three of the WeatherTech Championship’s five classes and one of its most popular single-make series, the union of Taylor and Andretti has created IMSA’s most expansive team. It brings the tally of IndyCar teams who’ve become centrally involved in manufacturer-based GTP programs to five with Andretti joining BMW M Team RLL (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing), Cadillac Racing (Chip Ganassi Racing), Meyer Shank Racing (Acura), and Porsche Penske Motorsport (Team Penske).
Combined, half of IndyCar’s 10 full-time teams have made their way to IMSA for the launch of the new hybrid GTP formula which debuts January 28-29 at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
“There is no question that the Andretti name and the Taylor name have become synonymous with the ultimate in achievement in our sport,” IMSA president John Doonan said. “To have these two iconic names and their incredible records of success come together to further compete in IMSA is the kind of thing record and history books are all about. The chapter of endurance sports car racing we are about to officially open in January 2023 is going to create incredible memories for our fans, our partners, and all of our stakeholders.
“Having Andretti Autosport and Wayne Taylor racing announce their new partnership today is truly one of the best opening paragraphs one could write. On behalf of all of us in the IMSA Family, we welcome Andretti Autosport with open arms and look forward to seeing Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport continue to make their mark for years to come.”
With a 575,000-square-foot compound under construction adjacent to the Indianapolis airport, Andretti Autosport could house the WTR with AA IMSA program when its doors open in 2025. In another look to the future, the expansion to two ARX-06 GTP entries would not come as a surprise.
“It’s an honor to be partnering with a name like Andretti as we enter a new era of racing,” Taylor said. “I was approached by Michael a year ago and, as we all know, timing is everything, especially as our GTP and GTD programs continue to grow with Acura/HPD. Having worked with Michael on this for nearly a year, I’m very excited to see it come together. While our 2023 program won’t look much different, there is a lot that Andretti Autosport can offer to us as we continue to build and expand. I’m looking forward to working closer with Michael and the entire Andretti team.”
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