Velo3D partners with Andretti Performance for 2026 IMSA races featuring 3D-printed aluminum Porsche part

Velo3D (NASDAQ: VELO) has entered a technical partnership with Andretti Performance to serve as the official additive manufacturing technology provider for two 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge events. The collaboration will feature Velo3D branding on the No. 43 Porsche racing vehicle during the Laguna Seca and Indianapolis race weekends. A central component of this deployment is a generative design radio controls mounting bracket, which is produced using the Constellium Aheadd CP1 aluminum alloy via Velo3D's laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology.

This partnership allows Velo3D to demonstrate the performance capabilities of its metal AM systems in high-vibration, high-stress motorsport environments. By utilizing generative design and advanced aluminum alloys like CP1, the company is targeting the lightweighting requirements essential to professional racing, a sector that demands high strength-to-weight ratios. This move positions Velo3D within the high-performance automotive value chain, competing for application relevance against established metal AM players like EOS and SLM Solutions in specialized end-use part production.

For Velo3D, the success of this deployment depends on the long-term durability of the CP1 aluminum bracket under racing conditions. The company must leverage this high-visibility motorsport application to validate its software-driven build processes for complex, topology-optimized geometries. Future adoption in the broader automotive aftermarket or performance tuning sectors will require consistent part repeatability and cost-effective production cycles for these specialized alloy components.