‘Nothing locked down yet’ but Braun keen to remain on IMSA grid in 2027

While his Acura Meyer Shank Racing teammates have their futures secured for 2027, Colin Braun wants nothing more than to be on the grid in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year – no matter what class it’s in.

The 37-year-old said to RACER on Friday, “I mean, certainly, there’s nothing locked down yet. I’ve had some good discussions with some teams. But I love racing in IMSA. I’ve raced here for a long time, I really enjoy it, so I’m definitely focused on trying to put something together on that side. For me, I’m just looking and talking to everyone, and seeing where I want to go.”

Braun has spent three of the last four years driving for Meyer Shank Racing in the No. 60 Acura ARX-06 alongside Tom Blomqvist. In 2024, during MSR’s hiatus from IMSA, Braun spent the year primarily driving for CrowdStrike Racing by APR in the LMP2 class.

Following Acura’s decision to withdraw its factory GTP program at the end of 2026, MSR drivers Blomqvist and Nick Yelloly have already joined Ford Racing for its 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship debut. But like Renger van der Zande, it’s unclear where Braun, the three-time IMSA series champion and 2023 Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner, will land next year.

“I’m open to anything and everything at this point, at least from a conversation side,” Braun said. “I want to win races. I think I’ve won 25 IMSA races, and I want to continue winning races in IMSA.

“And for me, class-specifics, that’s one of the fortunate things about myself: I’ve been raced in all the classes, won in all the classes, and I just enjoy racing and having a chance to win.”

Braun’s 2023 season with MSR, though clouded by the controversy of the post-Daytona penalties for significant technical breaches, is still a memory that Braun looks back upon fondly as he recalled his three years with the team.

“Obviously, 2023 was a high water mark in many ways for the series, certainly for the class in the last many years,” he said. “I mean, what a cool time to be a part of it. I’m fortunate for the success we’ve had along the way, very good memories. Obviously, ’23 was a lot of success. ’25 was strong in many ways. And then this year is interesting. Internally, I feel like we’ve operated very well.

“We’ve just had a bit of bad luck here and there, and haven’t put as many good results together.” Braun admitted, as he and Blomqvist are mired in a slump this season.

While Yelloly and van der Zande have won already at Long Beach and sit third in the GTP standings, Braun and Blomqvist haven’t yet finished on the podium in their No. 60 Acura, and are languishing in ninth in the standings.

“I think if results weren’t a thing, I think we’ve operated maybe the best we have out of all the seasons we’ve done," he said. "So I’d love to get that right, to get some good results to close it out for everybody.

“Obviously, we’re just trying to win races at this point. We’ve got no championship concerns on our car. We’re trying to make sure we maximize the points we can for Acura and HRC in the manufacturers’ championship side, and do what we can there. We’re trying to put our best foot forward and close this thing in the best way we can.”