Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has completed its driver lineups for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, naming 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button and 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner — and newly named Andretti Global NTT IndyCar Series driver — Marcus Ericsson as the additional drivers joining in the team’s pursuit of its sixth victory in the endurance classic.
Ericsson will drive the No. 10 WTRAndretti Acura ARX-06 GTP alongside Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Brendon Hartley, while Button joins Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz and Colton Herta in the No. 40.
“Marcus is absolutely the perfect guy for our team because of the way he goes about racing,” said team principal Wayne Taylor. “He’s finished in the top 10 something like 30 times in IndyCar, he’s won the Indy 500. He has really shown loads of interest by meeting with the team already and he is very dedicated and focused. I’m happy to have him, and of course, as he is part of Andretti Global program, so we are lucky to have him.
“Jenson and I have spoken for quite a few years. We’ve just never been able to make it happen, but this round we got it to happen. He drove for JDC at Petit Le Mans and the relationship that he’s built with Jordan from the Garage 56 program closes the loop on our driver lineups as Jenson will take the last driver slot that’s open.
“The guy is really fast. I mean he is a Formula 1 world champion. He’s very motivated, my team is very motivated, HPD and Acura are motivated with having him as well as all our sponsors. We look forward to working with him. He obviously is coming from a different background, but we’ve had Formula 1 drivers before and they’ve all done really well. I have no question about his ability to do well for us and for himself. I’m really excited after three years to finally get Jenson to sign up with us.”
It will be Ericsson’s second attempt at the Rolex 24, the Swede’s first coming in 2022 with Chip Ganassi Racing.
“I’m very excited and proud to join the WTRAndretti team for the Daytona 24-hour,” Ericsson said. “After getting a taste of the race in 2022, I have been eager to get back on the grid for this legendary race. It feels fantastic to be racing with one of the best and most successful teams in the sport. It is extra special for me to be racing with Acura, HPD and HRC which I know very well from racing my entire IndyCar career with them.”
Button made his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and GTP debut at Petit Le Mans last month. Although it will be the Rolex 24 debut for the British driver, he has raced twice in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including this year with the NASCAR Garage 56 project.
“I am very happy to announce that I’ll be racing with Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the No. 40 Acura ARX-06 with one of my Le Mans teammates and good pal Jordan Taylor, super speedy Louis Deletraz and Colton Herta, whose career in IndyCar I’ve watched with great interest,” declared Button. “I had my first taste of IMSA last month at Petit Le Mans and loved it. I couldn’t be happier to race at Daytona with such a prestigious team that has achieved so much in endurance racing and especially at Daytona.”
WTRAndretti is embarking on its first season as a two-car GTP team in the WeatherTech Championship. The team’s quest for its third IMSA title after finishing second in the championship the last four years begins in January with the Rolex 24 At Daytona.