Action Express Racing has made a strategic decision to withdraw from the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, prioritizing its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program. According to team manager Gary Nelson, this move is aimed at enhancing their performance in the US-based GTP series. The team, known for its five WeatherTech Championship titles, has been participating in the iconic French endurance race since 2023, but Nelson believes that these commitments have impacted their performance in the IMSA championship.
Action Express Racing's recent performance in the IMSA GTP championship has been less than stellar, with a winless 2024 season. However, they managed to secure a victory in the Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September, followed by a win in the season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans. Nelson attributes these wins to a renewed focus on the IMSA program.
The team's decision to withdraw from Le Mans is also influenced by the logistical challenges of managing a single-car team. With a busy June schedule, including two WeatherTech Championship races, the team found it challenging to balance the demands of Le Mans and the IMSA series. Nelson explains, "To race Detroit, jump on a plane, ship our spare parts with overnight freight, and spend more than two weeks in Le Mans, then fly to Watkins Glen and bring all our spares back to the U.S., was quite a distraction for us."
Despite this withdrawal, Nelson hints at a potential return to Le Mans in the future. He states, "We’re definitely looking at 2026, checking all the boxes on preparation, speed, and logistics, all focused on IMSA, and making sure we’ve got that one. Then we’ll start looking at Le Mans. We’re definitely not ruling it out. We’d like to do it again in 2027."
The team's drivers, Jack Aitken and Earl Bamber, are now part of Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA for Le Mans, leaving Action Express Racing with only Fred Vesti available to race this year. Nelson clarifies that Bamber is on loan to AXR for the non-conflicting WeatherTech Championship races, while Aitken is a full-time Action Express driver on loan to the British squad. Aitken will contest the full WeatherTech Championship season in the team's No. 31 Whelen-sponsored Cadillac V-Series.R, with Vesti filling in for Bamber at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the only conflicting GTP round with the WEC this year.
