IMSA 2023: ROLEX 24 Acura triumph

IMSA

Jan 30

Acura has now won the last three consecutive Rolex 24s at Daytona, and Meyer Shank Racing successfully defended its race win from 2022.
Meyer Shank Racing successfully defended its title with a repeat win today. In last year’s final race of the Daytona Prototype Interntional (DPi) era, the winning MSR Acura ARX-05 was driven by Tom Blomqvist, Oliver Jarvis, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud.
The Wayne Taylor Racing lineup of Filipe Albuquerque, Ricky Taylor, Helio Castroneves and Alexander Rossi claimed the win in 2021’s twice-around-the-clock contest, 20 years after Acura’s first Daytona class win in 1991.
This was Acura’s ninth Rolex 24 as a prototype manufacturer (1991-93, 2018-23). In addition to the overall wins in 2021 and 2022 – and in 2016 under the HPD/Honda banner – Acura won the Camel Lights class at Daytona in 1991 and again in 1992.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. #60 Meyer Shank Racing **Acura ARX-06** at ROLEX 24 2023.

Meyer Shank Racing second consecutive Rolex 24 victory

Defending Rolex 24 at Daytona and series champions – Acura and Meyer Shank Racing – combined to score their second consecutive Rolex 24 victory today at Daytona International Speedway, in the start of the GTP hybrid racing era in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.

The event marked the successful racing debut for the electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype sports car, the second successive win at Daytona for the Meyer Shank Racing team, and the third consecutive Rolex 24 win for Acura in the North American crown jewel of endurance sports car racing.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. Lap 2 of ROLEX 24 2023.

Starting from the pole, the MSR Acura driver lineup of Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud led the opening hour, and dominated early portions of the twice-around-the-clock contest; until a series of caution flags closed up the field for the final eight hours of the race.

The Acura boys were the fastest on track and could also benefit from a better energy utilisation as they could run 31 laps stints versus 30 for the Cadillacs.

Tom Blomqvist (#60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06): Rolex 24 Race Winner, 2nd consecutive Rolex victory for Meyer Shank Racig and third in a row for Acura: “It’s a team effort. What’s amazing here at MSR is that everyone is able to achieve and reach their potential and that’s really important. What Mike [Shank] and Jim [Meyer] have done to create a good atmosphere within the team, it’s such an open book and I think that allows everyone to work to the best of their abilities. Especially for me, I’m confident because they put a lot of trust and faith in me and I am so grateful for that. Last year I was on the stand watching at the end and this year I felt a lot better about being in the car because I was in control of our own destiny. The feeling I had when I exited the Le Mans Chicane on the last lap and of course seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces is incredible.”

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport’s

The 1-2 finish for Acura marks Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport’s (WTRAndretti) fifth-consecutive podium and ninth top two since 2013. Despite falling three laps down in the night, WTRAndretti drivers Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Delétraz and Brendon Hartley fought back to the front of the GTP field in the final hour, contending for the win.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. #10 Wayne Taylor Racing **Acura ARX-06** at ROLEX 24 2023.

In the debut of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP hybrid powertrain regulations, the #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team fought hard to earn a second-place finish at the 2023 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA. The 1-2 finish for Acura marks Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport’s (WTRAndretti) fifth-consecutive podium and ninth top two since 2013. Despite falling three laps down in the night, WTRAndretti drivers Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Delétraz and Brendon Hartley fought back to the front of the GTP field in the final hour, contending for the win.

Ricky Taylor took the green flag for the 61st Running of the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA, and got a great start before passing off to Louis Deletraz. The Swiss driver quadruple stinted and passed for the lead on track in his first top-class IMSA race experience.

During a scheduled oil change through the late hours of the night, the crew encountered a mechanical issue that resulted in the blue and black entry falling three laps down. As the sun rose over Daytona International Speedway, Taylor and Deletraz piloted the #10 Acura to close the deficit. Albuquerque returned to the driver’s seat and through some luck with cautions, the #10 crew was back on the lead lap with just over an hour remaining. Albuquerque made some characteristic rapid starts, making passes on-track on the way to the podium.

“I’m very proud of Acura, HPD and our partnerships with Konica Minolta and Harrison Contracting,” said No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team owner Wayne Taylor. “Without them this wouldn’t happen. We have such a great team of people. From media, to mechanics or engineers, we have such great people and fantastic drivers. Their support is what keeps me doing this. Honestly, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be doing this. It’s also nice being an underdog against people like Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi and beating them—it’s just great!”

“First of all, it was an amazing job by Acura and HPD for giving us two cars to fight for the win,” said two-time IMSA Champion Ricky Taylor. “I don’t think it can be overstated how amazing that accomplishment is when considering the likes of Porsche and BMW and the struggles they had. Our cars ran flawlessly. To our No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team, this accomplishment of consecutive top-two finishes is really unprecedented, especially considering it persists through different car manufacturers and specifications. This is our ninth top two since 2013, and I don’t think any other team in the world has that type of consistency in 24-hour races. Lastly, my teammates all drove like champions. It was inspiring to watch Filipe at the end, charging through the field like that. He always gives everything and leaves nothing on the table. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the pace for the win and ended up second.”

“It was a great comeback from the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team,” said Filipe Albuquerque. “To be three laps down to the very end and still come back. We took all the chances, all the opportunities to overtake everyone. I’m proud of the team and I gave all my best. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough for P1. But again, we will keep learning about the car. An amazing job from Acura to do 1-2 and no issues at all on the car. Again, we should be proud.”

“It was an incredible race,” said Louis Deletraz. “Obviously with second, happy and disappointed at the same time because everyone wants to win Daytona. I think it’s wonderful for Acura and the whole No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team has been working so hard. It’s a fantastic result. I’m super proud of my three teammates. We’ve achieved so much and it’s an honor for me to share the car with them. The whole team and crew had no mistakes the whole 24 hours and that really brought us back from three laps down with a few hours to go. We were fighting for the win and Filipe gave it everything at the end. It was a very nice way to start my first race with this team and in GTP.”

“It's bittersweet to finish second, but massive congratulations to everyone here at WTRAndretti and Acura,” said Brendon Hartley. “I enjoyed working with Filipe, Ricky, Louis and the whole No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team so much. We really did give it our all, and I’m extremely proud of the effort that went into this result. I’m only signed up for the one event, but I really hope I can join this team again in the future.”