How MSR took Acura to the first win of sportscar racing's new era

By:

Gary Watkins

Jan 30, 2023, 5:59 PM

After much anticipation, the new dawn for sportscar racing got underway with a result that mirrored the pattern of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's previous DPi era. Here's how Acura once again took top honours in the Rolex 24 at Daytona with a 1-2 led by Meyer Shank Racing.

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A new era and new cars, yet the result was the same. Acura and Meyer Shank Racing reprised its 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona victory in the first race for the latest breed of LMDh prototypes. And just like 12 months ago, Shank took what on the stopwatch at least looked like a narrow triumph over marque stablemate Wayne Taylor Racing.

But unlike last year's IMSA series-opener, Shank had the fastest car throughout last weekend's 24 Hours, not just in the crucial laps as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship curtain-raiser drew to an end. The team's new ARX-06 had a clear edge over Cadillac, the other manufacturer to get through the duration without major technical issues, and also those that didn't: Porsche and BMW.

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Gary Watkins

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Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 32nd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 75 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Autoweek, Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.