Alec Udell will return to DXDT Racing, and Turkish racer Salih Yoluc and Corvette Z06 GT3.R factory driver Charlie Eastwood once again team up as DXDT determines its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Michelin Endurance Cup lineup for 2025.
DXDT recently announced its expansion into the GTD class after years of success in Fanatec GT World Challenge America, and the slate of Udell, Yoluc and Eastwood will make up the driver rotation for the five endurance events. The lineup for the sprint races will be revealed later.
“We’re thrilled with our IMSA Endurance Cup driver lineup for the 2025 season,” said team owner David Askew. “Salih has a very impressive resume, and has found success around the world in different disciplines and series. I’m sure he’ll bring a lot to the team and we’re excited for him to join.
“Charlie has proven his ability, and he knows his way around the car better than almost anybody. Factory drivers bring so much to the table, and we’re sure Charlie is no different. With Alec, we already know we have a great driver who can make the difference for us down the stretch in these endurance races. He’s proven his speed, and he knows this car and team like the back of his hand. There’s no one better suited to join us in this next stage of DXDT Racing.”
Yoluc joins DXDT’s first IMSA lineup after making his IMSA GTD debut last season with Lone Star Racing. Yoluc has found success in a variety of sports car disciplines, including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTE Am class in 2020. Together with Eastwood, Yoluc won the 2019 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup championship in the Pro/Am category, the 2022 European Le Mans Series in LMP2 Pro-Am cup, and the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 championship with Racing Team Turkey.
“I was impressed with [DXDT’s] effort in GTWCA last season, and I think they have a great handle on this car as they move into IMSA,” said Yoluc. “Alec knows the team well and Charlie knows the car through his work in Europe. We’ve had some success together before, and I hope we can do the same in IMSA this year.”
Eastwood, who joined the Corvette factory driver ranks this year, joins DXDT alongside his duties in the TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The 2020 Le Mans champion joins Yoluc in IMSA for the first time, though their relationship spans back more than five seasons together. The Irishman is looking forward to his first full IMSA Endurance Cup season after three Rolex attempts and a partial LMP2 season in 2024.
“The team has had amazing success in GTWCA this year and I hope we can continue that success into 2025,” the Irishman said. “To have the opportunity to race a Corvette in America as a factory driver is an honor and I hope, alongside my WEC campaign, we can win some big races in the amazing Z06 GT3.R”
Udell shifts over to the IMSA side of the DXDT stable after a record-setting 2024 season in GT World Challenge America. After joining the championship for the fifth race of the season, he and co-driver Tommy Milner rattled off eight consecutive Pro class wins and narrowly missed the class championship. Udell’s familiarity with the car and team will only serve as a positive as he heads into his first full Endurance Cup season since 2023.
“I’m excited to be back with DXDT Racing for the IMSA Endurance Cup in the GTD class,” he said. “Joining Salih and Charlie for this program will be a treat – Salih has great experience competing in IMSA and around the world, and Charlie is a huge asset to any team he’s on. This, paired with the experience and personnel that David, Erin [General Manager Gahagan], and Bryan [Program Manager Sellers] have brought together, makes for an awesome program. We proved last season that the team has what it takes to put a Corvette in the front in the GT3 category, so we’re looking to continue on that path in the next year.”
The team and its three endurance drivers will be joining the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway this weekend. The fourth driver for Daytona is still to be determined.