Braun: Acura’s Impending Exit ‘Doesn’t Change’ Approach

Photo: Brandon Badraoui/IMSA

Colin Braun says the confirmation of Acura’s exit from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the end of the year will not change his or Meyer Shank Racing’s approach for the final six GTP races of their campaign.

Officially announced last week, the Honda-owned luxury automaker “paused” its GTP program, in what’s largely believed to be budget-related amid a projected $15.7 billion loss for the company due to a downturn in the North American EV market.

While Acura’s withdrawal has sent shockwaves through the paddock, Braun said he’s determined as ever to end the program on a high note, beginning with this weekend’s StubHub Monterey Sports Car Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“I don’t think it changes too much,” he told Sportscar365. “Obviously we’re just focused on trying to make the most out of the rest of the races we have.

“That whole program has been fantastic and great to be a part of.

“I feel like we have a good opportunity to go and really contend in these last six races of the season.

“We’re looking to end on as much of a high note as we can.”

Braun and co-driver Tom Blomqvist are the two longest-standing drivers within the Acura MSR GTP program, which began as a single-car operation in 2023 before taking a one-year hiatus and returning in 2025 as a two-car squad with the addition of a Honda Racing Corporation USA-engineered Acura ARX-06 for Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly.

“It’s been great,” said Braun. “In 2023, it was in many ways, a one-car team at MSR. But the program came back in 2025 and it grew to two and that expansion was great.

“Obviously working with all of the smart folks at HRC, it just brought a lot of resources to the whole program.

“It was neat to see that blend together and build.

“I feel like this year has been our strongest year in terms of working together and executing well and having a good path going forward.

“Of course when it comes together in Year One, there’s always going to be some growing pains and understanding and figuring out how to maximize the two cars.

“But I feel like everyone’s done a great job at maximizing what we can on the two cars.

“We’ve had a bit of bad luck on the 60 side but I feel like we’ve got six good races ahead of us to go get after.”

All four full season drivers, who were reportedly informed of the decision several weeks before the announcement, are now on the driver market, in what’s shaping up to be one of the most complex in recent years.

While McLaren and Ford are entering the top class with LMDh programs, most of their drivers are already signed, and both are set to, at least initially be, only contest the FIA World Endurance Championship.

At the same time, Alpine will pull the plug on its WEC Hypercar effort at seasons’ end, potentially making even more top-level drivers available.

Braun has faced  similar positions before, following the end of the CORE autosport program, and the one-year gap in MSR’s Acura GTP effort, where he pivoted to LMP2 competition with longtime co-driver George Kurtz.

“Everyone is in a position to try and figure out what’s next and what to do,” said Braun. “But it’s part of this job, I’d say.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John