Acura and Meyer Shank Racing have announced their driver lineup for the 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship season.
As has been rumored for a few weeks now, the new faces will be Nick Yelloly, who has just parted ways with BMW, and Renger Van Der Zande, who left Cadillac Racing and took victory last Saturday at Petit Le Mans.
The returning Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun will instead be the other two bearers of the brand new Acura MSR, the name with which the American team that will take care of the two ARX-06 LMDhs entered in next year’s GTP Class has been renamed, which will take to the track for the first time on the occasion of the collective tests at Daytona which will take place in a few weeks.
#60 Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06: Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves
Photo by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images
“We look forward to getting back to work in IMSA and are excited to expand our relationship with HRC and Acura to race two GTPs next year,” said Mike Shank, co-owner of Acura Meyer Shank Racing. Putting Tom and Colin back in the driver’s seat just made sense.”
“The two had an incredible season in 2023 and I believe this is just the beginning of what they can do together. Furthermore, with the addition of Renger and Nick, both have extensive prototype experience and have shown a lot of strength in the last seasons, so I think they will be a great asset to the team.”
David Salters, President of Honda Racing Corporation USA: “I am very excited about this new collaboration with Meyer Shank Racing and HRC and the four riders we have brought on board the program so far. Colin, Nick, Renger and Tom are able to work with our engineers to develop the racing car, as well as having great focus and heart in fighting for victory with the ARX-06.”
“Racing at the highest level of prototypes is a technical sport, but above all a team sport. Colin, Nick, Renger and Tom are world-class drivers who will take us forward as a team.”
“We are clear and humble in our goals, as we are racing at the pinnacle against world-class competitors who we respect enormously. We have a lot of work ahead of us and we will support each other and push hard together, remembering to have some fun! “
#60 Meyer Shank Racing W/Curb-Agajanian, Acura ARX-06, GTP: Colin Braun, Tom Blomqvist, Helio Castroneves #10: Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06, Acura ARX-06, GTP: Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Deletraz
Photo credit: Richard Dole / Motorsport Images
The new arrivals are already very excited, as Yelloly is quick to point out: “I’m really excited to join the Acura MSR/HRC project. From what I’ve seen in the paddock, the cars have been very competitive, so I can’t wait to see what it will be like “.
“MSR is naturally a great racing team. I saw their competitiveness when I raced against them in 2023. And it’s great to see that they are making great strides on the IndyCar side as well.”
Van Der Zande adds: “I’m excited to be joining a new team and a new brand. I want to thank Mike Shank, Jim Meyer and everyone at HRC for giving me this opportunity, but I also have to thank Cadillac for everything what he has done for me over the past seven years, Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing have become my family.”
“Although it was difficult for me to leave, the time has come to embark on a new chapter. For the past six years I have competed against Acura, who has always been a fierce rival. I am thrilled to now be alongside them and to be able to draw on their their resources to see what we can do together behind the wheel next season.”
Then there are the welcome returns, like Braun’s: “I can’t wait to reunite with Mike, Jim, Tom and the entire MSR team. Our 2023 season was incredible and I’m sure we’ll be back in good shape when we get going 2025. Getting back together with all the wonderful, hard-working people at Acura/HRC is inspiring.”
“They put their all into this program and have a positive impact on our performance, not to mention they’re fun to work with! It’s like putting the group back together and I can’t wait to pick up where we left off.”
Blomqvist comments: “I am happy to be able to return home to IMSA with MSR. This team is like a family to me and we have achieved a lot together with the prototypes. I believe that next year we will be stronger and better than 2023 and with Colin at my side we are a well-known reality and we expect to win races right from the start.”
“The team and HRC have put a monumental effort into the program and I’m really excited to get started. We have all the tools to succeed and we know that together we can do so much more.”
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