Acura MSR Drivers Set for Inter-LMP2 Battle at Le Mans

Photo: Meyer Shank Racing

Acura Meyer Shank Racing drivers Nick Yelloly, Renger van der Zande, Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun are looking forward to the unique challenge of each being pitted up against competing LMP2 teams in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, in what Yelloly said will be “good fun.”

The four full-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers for the Ohio-based team are undertaking bids for LMP2 honors, as MSR nor Acura/Honda are represented in the French endurance classic this year.

Yelloly and van der Zande, fresh off a breakthrough victory in last weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic, are in Inter Euopol Competition and United Autosports Oreca 07 Gibson, respectively.

Yelloly is sharing the Polish-entered No. 43 entry with WeatherTech Championship LMP2 regulars Tom Dillmann and Kuba Smiechowski, while van der Zande is in the No. 22 United Oreca with Pietro Fittipaldi and David Heinemeier Hansson.

“I think it would be good fun,” said Yelloly. “Hopefully we’re not all at the track at the same time in the same few meters, because it could get a bit chaotic!

“It would be the only chance we could really race hard against each other’s let’s say.

“Obviously, they’re all quick boys. And yeah, I hope to go wheel-to-wheel with some of them for the win over that weekend it would be good fun.”

Van der Zande added: “I mean, if I get a suddenly a free slipstream somewhere, I’m sure it’s one of my teammates!”

“You know we get along very well and between the four drivers at Meyer Shank, we have a good understanding, have the bigger goal, big picture in mind.

“It’s going be fun to be racing against each other in Le Mans, where we all are in the LMP2 class, which is super competitive.”

Braun, in a Nielsen Oreca alongside Cem Bolukbası and Naveen Rao, will be the only of the four Acura MSR drivers racing in the Pro-Am subclass, which mandates a Bronze-rated driver.

He is a former LMP2 Pro-Am class winner with CrowdStrike Racing by APR in 2023.

“It’s going to be fun,” said Braun. “I’m looking forward to it, having, all four of us there will be neat.

“I think it’s kind of fun just to be all in different programs, different deals.

“Obviously, Nick and Tom are probably the most LMP2 experienced doing the full ELMS schedule where Renger and I are just jumping in for Le Mans.

“‘ll be fun to kind of see where it all shakes out and, obviously we’re there for a long time, so it’s nice to have some friendly faces around.”

Blomqvist suggested that the four drivers could perhaps help each other with tows in qualifying.

“It’s pretty cool that we’re all obviously going over there to compete, obviously,” he said. “It’s a shame we’re not yet able to do it in the top class, but nonetheless, it’s such a cool event.”

Blomqvist, along with Yelloly, are undertaking full season European Le Mans Series programs in parallel to their WeatherTech Championship commitments with Acura MSR.

“Luckily this year… the calendars align where I’m able to also compete in the ELMS,” he said. “So, the calendars align which is obviously very fortunate for me, so there’s always opportunity to look for drives there.

“Someone reached out to me and asked if I was interested in driving with him. Alex Malykhin, he’s kind of new to the whole LMP2 thing, to be honest. He’s learning a lot.

“He was a Bronze he won the WEC title (in LMGT3) as a Bronze and now he’s been upgraded to a Silver.

“It’s a big step for him, but he’s doing really, really well, like you know, considering he’s only been racing like four years, it’s pretty impressive really to come from no background and driving whatsoever.

“It’s me and Tristan Vautier, who’s obviously done a lot of stuff out here in the U.S. It’s a good little team, CLX Pure Rxcing, formerly known as obviously Cool Racing.

“They’ve had a quick car at Le Mans in the past, so I’m hoping that we again can have a strong car and let’s see.”

Blomqvist Hopes to Return to Le Mans in Honda Hypercar in Future

While MSR, which contested the race in LMP2 in 2016, nor Acura/Honda are represented on this year’s grid, Blomqvist said he’s still hopeful it could happen in the future, should the Japanese manufacturer green-light a FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar program.

A full-season WEC program is a prerequisite for any Hypercar manufacturer wanting to contest Le Mans.

“I hope so,” Blomqvist said. “But obviously that’s way above my sort of pay grade and where I’m at in the organization.

“That’s the decision that unfortunately I have no part in making, but you know, I’m sure the drivers would love that to happen, right?

“Let’s see, I don’t know. It’d be amazing. Fingers crossed.”

Tony DiZinno contributed to this report

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