Acura MSR's 2025 driver lineup 'the right mix of speed and experience' - Shank

If the fact that Honda Racing Corporation reunited with Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian to run its two car Acura ARX-06 program wasn't enough of a surprise, here comes the driver announcement.

Not Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist in the No. 60… that was not only a no-brainer after their performance as a duo in 2023, but also fully expected by those in the paddock. Pairing Nick Yelloly and Renger van der Zande? That one was a little more out of left field.

“We did have some options,” said Acura MSR team principal Mike Shank. “I just felt [Braun and Blomqvist] deserved it. We deserved it as a team. We were already kicked in and going. There's nothing to learn there. They know the goods and the bads about us, and they can hit the ground running.

“I think the other car was really an interesting experiment on who can we get and what do we want to do? Talked to a lot to a lot of drivers, worked lockstop with David Salters at HRC on this, and we came up with these two guys with the right mix of speed and experience.

“I've known both of them for a while now, especially Renger. It's just people that I think will fit into our way of life, which is different than some teams. I think those two boys are going to get to experience that, but I look forward to it, and think we can hit the ground and be on the podium with both cars.”

Shank related that this isn't the first time he's tried to hire van der Zande, but things didn't align in those previous attempts. But he's been watching him and noting his style for a while.

“I always thought he'd be good on the team, just watching him. He's got that inherent need to do well. And you feel he puts his own pressure on – we don't need to. I think his personality will fit in with us. Nick … Nick is a little different. Don't know him super well, but certainly know his stats, and know a lot of people that work with him, and felt that he was a good fit for what we had.”

Blomqvist and Braun had a stellar performance in 2023, coming back from the penalty at Daytona to take two more victories, including Motul Petit Le Mans and nearly claiming the championship despite the 200-point loss the team received for manipulating tire pressure data at Daytona. With Yelloly and van der Zande in the sister car, Acura MSR has a wide range of experience available to it in 2025