The recent decision by Acura to withdraw from the IMSA championship has left Nick Yelloly with a «bittersweet» feeling as he prepares to join Ford in the World Endurance Championship next year.
The British driver, who joined the factory Meyer Shank team at the beginning of the 2025 season, has had a brief but intense partnership with the Japanese brand, competing with the #93 Acura ARX-06. However, this chapter will come to an end at the conclusion of the 2026 competitions, when Acura announced that it would «pause» its GTP program.
With an uncertain future for some of his teammates, Yelloly has managed to secure a seat for 2027, having been selected by Ford as one of six drivers for its significant return to the world of endurance racing.
In a recent interview, Yelloly expressed his excitement about competing with Ford, but he also admitted that it will be hard to leave IMSA behind and a project that has recently started to work well. «I really enjoy what I do in IMSA. Not racing here next year will hurt me a bit,» he revealed.
The driver added that, while he has enjoyed his time with Acura, the new challenge ahead is exciting. He has driven on several tracks in the WEC calendar, although he has not completed a full season so far.
Additionally, Yelloly highlighted the good teamwork and operational efficiency he has found within the Acura program, which increases his sadness about this premature ending. «Everyone worked hard to establish a good operation, and I enjoyed that a lot,» he commented.
The new chapter with Ford represents a significant opportunity, as team members have worked closely with Oreca in the development of the new LMDh chassis, and Yelloly has mentioned his previous experience with Oreca vehicles as a guarantee of success for his adaptation.
Looking ahead, Yelloly is excited about what is to come, highlighting that this collaboration with Ford will not only keep the rivalry with Ferrari alive but also promises to make significant advances in the world of endurance racing.
Although Yelloly is under contract with Acura until the end of the year, he has obtained permission from Honda to begin testing Ford’s new LMDh vehicle, indicating his quick integration with the new team.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
