Magnus Switches to Acura for GTD Program with Archangel

Magnus Racing has switched from Lamborghini to Acura machinery for next year’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and has joined forces with Archangel Motorsports.

Magnus regulars Andy Lally and John Potter will be the full-season pairing in the No. 44 Acura NSX GT3 Evo which is being entered under the Magnus with Archangel banner.

It is set to mark the fourth different GTD constructor for the Magnus organization which ran with Porsche from 2014-15, Audi from 2016-18 and Lamborghini from 2019-20.

This year its Lamborghini program was run by GRT Grasser Racing which announced in October that it would only be contesting the four Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.

Magnus has now ensured it remains on the full-season trail through its new partnership with Archangel, which returned to competition in GT4 this year after a lengthy hiatus.

“I have known Mike [Johnson, Archangel team principal] for over 10 years and am excited to be teaming up with him for this next year,” said Potter.

“He and I have had a lot of separate success and I hope that together we can have more.

“I am excited to join the Acura and HPD family and am looking forward to driving the Acura NSX GT3 Evo. The car has had great success for the last few years and we hope to continue that.”

The partnership will see Magnus shift its operations to Archangel’s facility in St. Louis, Missouri.

Archangel has a history with Lally, who contributed to the team’s SRP II class-winning performance in the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona with a Lola-Nissan prototype.

Lally also prior experience in the Acura NSX GT3 version having driven a Michael Shank Racing-entered car to a pair of victories in the 2017 IMSA season.

Archangel is also contesting next year’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series with an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 after switching from Porsche machinery in the off-season.

“I can’t believe our first race as Magnus with Archangel will be twenty years after Archangel won the Rolex 24 with Andy Lally behind the wheel,” said Johnson.

“We have had a long history together that goes back to the SCCA and F2000 racing, through Archangel, driving together in ST, a stint at Stevenson and now this.

“John and Andy have been a solid team in IMSA for over 10 years, and their history of winning major races is pretty strong. I look forward to this next chapter for all of us, and the Acura NSX GT3 Evo is going to be a great vehicle to get us all back in victory lane.”

Acura has been scouting for new GTD customers since its primary team, Meyer Shank Racing, announced its graduation to the DPi class with an Acura ARX-05 for 2021.

MSR was the manufacturer’s only full-season entrant in the GTD class this year, while Gradient Racing contested a Sprint Cup-only campaign with its NSX Evo.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome the Magnus with Archangel team to the Acura Motorsports family, and welcome back Andy Lally,” said Acura GT3 program manager Lee Niffenegger.

“The Magnus and Archangel organizations have combined for three Rolex 24 wins and multiple sports car racing championships.

“When he drove an Acura in 2017, Andy scored our first two wins globally for the Acura NSX GT3, and contributed to the development of our successful current NSX GT3 Evo.”