Acura evaluating future of GTP program

After nine combined seasons of factory racing in IMSA’s DPi and GTP classes, Acura is exploring whether its 10th season will be the last in the headlining category.

Rumors have circulated for weeks regarding a possible change of direction of the works ARX-06 program activated by Honda Racing Corporation US and serviced by Meyer Shank Racing, with the state of the global auto sales and the costly shuttering of multiple EVs in the production pipeline cited as the reasons for the re-evaluation.

Although some have positioned the GTP program as being headed towards a definite pause, RACER understands a possible scenario involves shifting the IMSA effort to a different team that would play an increased role in underwriting the campaign in 2027 and beyond.

“We’ve made no decisions about our 2027 program,” a brand representative told RACER on Thursday at Long Beach. “Once a decision is made, it will be shared.”

During its most recent engagement with IMSA, which stands as Acura’s longest duration in the top prototype class, the brand hired Team Penske, Wayne Taylor Racing, and Meyer Shank Racing to field its campaigns and won three championships – two with Penske and one with MSR – and HRC US has increased its relationship with the Ohio-based team owned by Mike Shank and Jim Meyer.

MSR’s two-car Honda-powered IndyCar Series program will soon grow to three, as the team was chosen by HRC US to add and run its factory IndyCar entry as part of the series’ upcoming allowed of manufacturer-owned charters. Targeted for 2028, the MSR-run Honda car will follow the same structure HRC US has created in IMSA GTP, where MSR prepares the No. 93 ARX-06, but HRC engineers and strategists lead the performance side of operating the car at the events.

In the ramping up to run Honda’s new factory IndyCar entry, MSR will be tasked with building out a new team to prepare the car and continue its blended operational structure with HRC.