According to a report from Sportscar365, Pipo Derani has decided to part ways with Action Express Racing at the end of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. After a six-year partnership, the two-time IMSA champion will not be returning to the team next year. The season will conclude on October 12th at Road Atlanta.
During their time together, Derani and the team achieved great success. They won the DPi championship in 2021 and the GTP championship in 2023, along with two Endurance Cup titles, all while driving Cadillac cars. Derani also secured three consecutive pole positions this year at the Roar Before the 24, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
In collaboration with his Action Express Racing teammates Jack Aitken and Endurance Cup driver Tom Blomqvist, Derani piloted the #31 Cadillac V-Series.R to two second-place finishes at Daytona and Long Beach. Unfortunately, his race at Sebring ended prematurely due to an incident that left him upside down and out of contention.
Recently, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Derani faced another setback when he collided with the tire barrier at the Indianapolis corner. Despite the impact, he managed to bring his #311 AXR Cadillac back to the pits. Currently, Derani sits in fourth place in the driver’s standings alongside his teammate Aitken.
This decision to part ways with Action Express Racing is just the beginning of several expected changes before the 2025 season and the GTP category. Chip Ganassi Racing has already announced their separation from Cadillac earlier this year.
Derani joined the Action Express Racing team in 2019 after a successful three-year stint with Extreme Speed Motorsports. During that time, he secured his first victory at Daytona in his IMSA debut and claimed four wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Ao longo de sua passagem pela AXR, Derani alcançou um impressionante recorde com 28 pódios, incluindo sete vitórias, duas das quais nas 12 Horas de Sebring e uma em Petit Le Mans.
Olhando para frente, os GTPs continuarão sua temporada com corridas em Road America, no Indianapolis Motor Speedway e a final da temporada em Road Atlanta, após as Seis Horas de Glen em 30 de junho.
