Van der Zande, Yelloly Join MSR; Braun, Blomqvist Return

Photo: IMSA/BMW

Acura Meyer Shank Racing has confirmed the full-season driver lineup for its return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year as a two-car factory Acura ARX-06 squad, with GTP stars Reneger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly joining the squad for the first time.

Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist, meanwhile, rejoin the Ohio-based squad after last competing together in MSR Acura machinery in 2023.

Van der Zande, who moves over from the now-defunct Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac program, will team up with former BMW M Team RLL driver Yelloly in the No. 93 Acura, which will be engineered by Honda Racing Corporation USA staff.

Braun and Blomqvist will reunite in the No. 60 Acura after teaming up for three GTP wins last year.

The lineups, announced on Tuesday, follows month of speculation linking both Braun and Blomqvist to seats with the team, which took a hiatus from sports car racing competition in 2024, amid its expanded NTT IndyCar Series program that Blomqvist was a part of in the first half of the season.

Additionally, Blomqvist served as Action Express Racing’s Michelin Endurance Cup driver this year.

Braun, meanwhile, took part in the first half of the WeatherTech Championship LMP2 season with CrowdStrike by APR prior to the team’s withdrawal in the wake of CrowdStrike’s global outage event in July.

“Putting Tom and Colin back in the drivers seat just made sense,” said team co-owner Mike Shank. “The two of them had an incredible season in 2023 and I think that’s just cracking the surface on what they can accomplish together.

“And then with the addition of Renger and Nick, they both have extensive prototype experience and have shown a lot of strength the last few seasons, so I think they will be a big asset to the team.”

Braun added: “Our 2023 season was incredible and I am confident we will be right back to form when we kick off the season. Coming back together with all of the wonderful and hardworking people at Acura/HRC is motivating.

“They pour everything they have into this program and have such a positive impact on our performance, not to mention they are just fun to work with! It’s like getting the band back together, and I can’t wait to pick up where we left off.”

“I’m pleased I’m able to return home to IMSA with MSR,” said Blomqvist.

“This team is like family to me and we’ve achieved a whole lot together in sports cars. I believe next year we’re going to be stronger and better than 2023, and with Colin alongside me, we are a known quantity and we expect to win races from the start.”

Van der Zande moves to MSR and Acura after a seven-year stint with Cadillac, initially with Wayne Taylor Racing before joining CGR in 2021 and numerous wins in both DPi and GTP machinery.

“I’m super excited to be joining a new team and a new brand,” he said. “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 they have done for me the last seven years.

“Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing have become my racing family.

“Although it’s hard for me to leave, it’s time for a new chapter that I am really looking forward to.

“I’ve been racing against Acura for the last seven years and they’ve always been a fierce competitor. I’m excited to now be on their side and tap into their resources and see what we can do behind the wheel together next season.”

Yelloly made his prototype debut with BMW last year, inheriting victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and helping deliver a 1-2 for the German manufacturer in last month’s Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Acura MSR/HRC project,” said Yelloly. “From watching in the paddock, the cars have been very competitive, so I am looking forward to see what that is like.

“MSR is naturally a great racing team. I was able to see how competitive they were when I competed against them in 2023. And it’s awesome to see them taking big leaps and strides on the IndyCar side as well.”

The team has yet to announce additional drivers for the Michelin Endurance Cup races.

“Colin, Nick, Renger and Tom all bring supreme skill to work with our engineers to develop the race car, plus a clear focus and big hearts to fight for victory in our electrified ARX-06,” said HRC US President David Salters.

“Whilst racing at the highest level in prototype sports cars is a technical sport, more importantly it is a team sport.”

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