Nick Yelloly admitted that the upcoming departure of Acura from the IMSA SportsCar Championship leaves him with a “bittersweet” feeling, as he prepares to hitch Ford within the World Endurance Championship subsequent 12 months.
The Briton joined the manufacturing unit Meyer Shank staff firstly of the 2025 IMSA season after two years with BMW, teaming up with veteran Renger van der Zande within the #93 Acura ARX-06 immediately engineered by HRC US.
However his affiliation with the Honda model will finish after simply two seasons, with the North American arm of the Japanese marque saying in April that it’s going to “pause” its extremely profitable GTP effort on the finish of 2026.
Whereas a few of his team-mates are nonetheless dealing with unsure futures, Yelloly has already secured a seat for 2027, with Ford signing him as one of many six drivers for its high-profile return to the highest echelon of sportscar racing.
Whereas enthusiastic about competing with Ford within the WEC, the 35-year-old admitted that it will be powerful to go away IMSA and a programme that was solely simply coming collectively for the #93 crew.
“I actually take pleasure in my time in IMSA as nicely, so to not be racing right here subsequent 12 months, it should harm slightly bit,” Yelloly informed Motorsport.com.
“I benefit from the racing, I benefit from the circuits, however a brand new problem goes to come back round. I’ve pushed plenty of the circuits on the WEC calendar, however have not achieved the total season.
“I might say it is bittersweet as a result of we’re actually beginning to get on a roll operationally inside the programme. I really feel just like the engineering crew and the workers are working rather well collectively.
“So, for it to come back to, not an abrupt finish, however an finish sooner than we might have thought is gloomy, however that is motorsport. It is simply the best way of the world, sadly.
“Clearly, I left BMW to come back and discover new pastures, go and race for a unique producer.
“I feel everybody labored their butts off so as to get an excellent operation on the market and go and win races, and that is what I actually loved. I actually cannot stress sufficient how a lot I loved it, and I am certain our paths will cross once more sooner or later.”
Nick Yelloly, Ford Racing
Picture by: Ford
Ford’s upcoming hypercar programme marks its first manufacturing unit effort within the high class on the Le Mans 24 Hours because the ill-fated C100 Group C automobile in 1982.
Yelloly stated he was shortly satisfied after early talks with Ford Racing’s administration left him with a really optimistic impression of its LMDh challenge.
“There have been conversations up and down the paddock, as I am certain Ford was having conversations with different drivers as nicely,” he stated.
“However as soon as I might been capable of sit down with [Ford LMDh chief] Dan Sayers and perceive how a lot effort goes into the programme, how critical they’re taking it and the combat that they are coming with it, it was clear that I wished to be concerned. And all of it developed actually, actually fairly quick.
“After which, I met Mark Rushbrook after I spoke with Dan initially. After that, it was clear.”
Ford has partnered with Oreca for the event of its LMDh chassis, the identical constructor with Acura has loved an extended relationship by way of IMSA’s DPi and LMDh eras.
Present Acura driver Tom Blomqvist, who can be becoming a member of Ford subsequent 12 months, had already described his expertise with an Oreca chassis as essential in serving to the Blue Oval pace up the event of the automobile.
Yelloly stated his intensive data of the Acura ARX-06 in IMSA would make the transition to Ford simpler.
“Clearly, I’ve labored with Oreca earlier than. I drive right here with the ARX, and that is an Oreca chassis, after which additionally within the LMP2 class,” stated the 35-year-old, who has additionally claimed back-to-back LMP2 wins at Le Mans with Inter Europol’s Oreca 07.
“So, I do know rather a lot in regards to the chassis and how one can develop the automobile; what we do and do not want, each from the system facet and in addition from the chassis facet.
“So, it was clear to me that Ford was the best way to go. And to proceed the Ford-Ferrari story, ultimately, once we go to Le Mans, shall be fairly thrilling.”
Regardless of being contracted to Acura till the top of the calendar 12 months, each Yelloly and Blomqvist have obtained particular dispensation from Honda to check Ford’s new LMDh challenger and combine themselves within the staff.
Yelloly will successfully be managing three completely different programmes within the coming months, as he additionally continues to race within the European Le Mans Collection with Inter Europol.
In IMSA, Yelloly and van der Zande sit third within the GTP standings, 245 factors behind Motion Specific Racing driver Jack Aitken, with simply three rounds nonetheless to run.
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