Nick Yelloly has expressed his “bittersweet” feelings regarding the announcement of Acura’s withdrawal from the IMSA championship. The British driver is preparing for new experiences with Ford in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) starting next year.
Yelloly, who joined the technical team Meyer Shank Racing at the beginning of 2025 after two seasons with BMW, has experienced a significant change with Acura’s absence. The Japanese manufacturer announced that it would pause its successful GTP program at the end of the 2026 season.
Despite his teammates facing an uncertain future, Yelloly has secured a spot with Ford, one of six drivers chosen for their return to top-level competition in sports car racing.
When considering his adventure with Ford in the WEC, Yelloly shared his nostalgia for the IMSA championship and the environment he was building with his teammates: “I enjoy my time in IMSA a lot, so not racing here next year will be a bit painful.” He adds that he felt connected with the team, which was starting to work in harmony.
For the 35-year-old driver, the transition to Ford was the best option after promising conversations with the Ford Racing department. This is the first time Ford has presented a factory initiative in the top category of the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the failed C100 Group C in 1982.
Yelloly explained that his knowledge of the Acura chassis, developed by Oreca, will facilitate his adaptation to Ford’s new program. His experience as a driver in IMSA is complemented by his prior knowledge of endurance racing, especially after multiple victories in the LMP2 championship with Oreca.
With Honda’s agreement, both he and his teammate Tom Blomqvist have received permission to participate in tests of Ford’s new LMDh car, while simultaneously continuing with the program in the European Le Mans Series with Inter Europol.
Currently, Yelloly and van der Zande sit in third place in the GTP championship, with 245 points behind Action Express Racing, with only three races left.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
