Wayne Taylor Racing will be “stronger” with second Acura GTP car in IMSA 2024

Having joined forces with Andretti World originally of the 12 months, the Indianapolis-based staff will increase to a second Acura ARX-06 in IMSA’s GTP class in 2024, successfully taking up the entry of the departing Meyer Shank Racing outfit.

It can imply Acura will function through a single manufacturing unit staff subsequent 12 months, just like how Porsche and BMW run their GTP programmes with Penske and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing respectively.

Albuquerque, who joined WTR upon its swap to the Acura fold in 2021, believes the staff will get pleasure from considerably improved prospects subsequent 12 months now that it has two vehicles that may run in collaboration with one another.

“The staff goes to be very, very robust,” the Portuguese driver advised Motorsport.com. “We [Acura] have been with two vehicles in several groups. We have been sharing information however probably not placing a programme collectively on what ‘you do this, I do this’. 

“We have been form of impartial which HPD [Honda Performance Development] allowed us to be and compete with one another. [Meyer Shank Racing] have been fearless opponents, they have been actually good. 

“I believe subsequent 12 months shall be stronger as a result of the conferences shall be collectively and be extra united as a result of we’re below the identical trailer and be extra open.

“I believe we will plan the weekends, what we’re evolving in, the place we’re considering we’re going as a substitute of simply having one automobile. I believe we shall be stronger.”

Photograph by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Photographs

#60 Meyer Shank Racing W/Curb-Agajanian, Acura ARX-06, GTP: Colin Braun, Tom Blomqvist, Helio Castroneves #10: Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06, Acura ARX-06, GTP: Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Deletraz

Acura misplaced the IMSA title for the primary time since 2019 this 12 months, with WTR/Andretti and MSR groups ending simply behind the championship-winning Motion Specific Racing Cadillac squad – which is mockingly a single car-team.

Albuquerque says having two vehicles in a single staff will give WTR/Andretti extra technique choices as effectively, which can additional enhance the probabilities of Acura because it units out to reclaim the IMSA title in 2024.

“One thing my engineer all the time needed to have was two-car groups,” the 38-year-old defined.

“Many instances throughout the IMSA races you get to some extent the place what ought to I do, which technique ought to I’m going for, ought to I brief gasoline now or not. 

“So with two vehicles in the identical staff one goes to 1 technique, the opposite to the opposite one. So you’ll be able to cowl each methods. 

“With one automobile every staff you do not suppose collectively, you do not know what the opposite one is doing, so you do not cowl one another and I believe that is the hyper level of getting two vehicles below the identical technique speaking. 

“And that is why I believe it is going to make Acura stronger when it comes to securing a consequence as a result of it’s not possible to cowl all of the methods. 

“And I bear in mind very effectively one time we have been beginning fairly effectively and the engineer went, okay ‘we have now 12 potential methods. 

“’I do know what I might do if I might be within the again, however we can not cowl everyone as a result of there are such a lot of situations that may occur’. 

“However when you have a second automobile you’ll be able to cowl half of that which is nice. For the entire group it is only a win, win. So one among them will probably win.”

Albuquerque will once more be joined by Ricky Taylor within the #10 Acura subsequent 12 months, with the staff’s further automobile to be pushed by Louis Deletraz and Jordan Taylor.

Deletraz, who received the LMP2 title within the World Endurance Championship with WRT this 12 months, was uncertain if the rejig in Acura’s GTP line-up will assist the Honda model, however mentioned the addition of a second automobile will most undoubtedly be a lift for WTR/Andretti.

“I can not reply this, I actually do not know,” the Swiss advised Motorsport.com “I do know the Meyer Shank staff however I’ve by no means been working with them. 

“They have been tremendous aggressive, they did some good outcomes and for positive there was competitors between the 2 groups. 

“I am actually completely satisfied we have now two vehicles subsequent 12 months. 

“Having two vehicles for us is nice and can enable us to check alternative ways, to share set-up and work collectively. “