Daytona Beach, Fla.\u00a0(22\u00a0January 2025) \u2014 Acura Meyer Shank Racing (“Acura MSR”) is back and ready to kick off the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Acura MSR is set to field a pair of Acura ARX-06’s for the annual twice around the clock event set for a green flag start on Saturday (1:30pm ET, NBC, Peacock).<\/p>\n
As the marquee event for sports car racing in America, the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona tests both driver and machine. And at the \u201cRoar Before the 24\u201d this past weekend, Acura Michael Shank Racing hit the track with its two-car GTP lineup, logging laps in six of the practice sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are super happy coming out of the Roar,\u201d said team co-owner Michael Shank. \u201cThe team continues to gel and perfect processes. All eight drivers cycled through our test plan and are very comfortable at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur biggest challenge has actually been getting procedures perfected,\u201d continued Shank. \u201cWe believe that\u2019s what will win\u00a0this race, as we know the car and drivers are great. We\u2019ll continue to work on those as we roll into qualifying. But I’m exceptionally proud of all the folks to come together in eight\u00a0weeks and to be as prepared as we are! It’s very, very difficult to win this race, but we have done everything possible to be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In partnership with Honda Racing Corporation US, the drivers of the No. 93 Acura MSR w\/ Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-06 include full-time drivers Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly, alongside Honda factory driver Kakunoshin Ohta and three-time INDYCAR Champion, Alex Palou who both join for the Daytona endurance event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re getting ready for the big one and it\u2019s our biggest race of the year,\u201d said van der Zande. \u201cWe have a lot of new team members plus new drivers, so we’re just really trying to find the right balance of how we work together and make it smooth. But the car runs really nice! Unfortunately, the weather is going to be pretty terrible this week, so there won\u2019t be a lot of track time in the dry before the actual race. It will be an interesting weekend for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
The No. 60 Acura MSR w\/ Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-06 boasts\u00a0MSR IMSA veterans\u00a0Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun. The pair will be joined by MSR INDYCAR driver, Felix Rosenqvist and six-time INDYCAR Champion, Scott Dixon.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBeing back at Daytona, and with MSR in IMSA, feels like a homecoming for me,\u201d said\u00a0Blomqvist. \u201cI love this event and the car is solid. We\u2019re feeling ready and the Roar was good. We got through a load of procedures, as there are a number of new people on the team and everyone\u2019s role is important in endurance racing. Acura and HRC have done a fantastic job as usual, and we expect to be fighting for victory on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n