Official: Acura puts its Endurance program on hold

As reported by several media outlets, including AUTOhebdo, in recent days, Acura has officially announced the end of its program Endurance at the end of the 2026 season of theIMSAIn a press release issued Wednesday evening, April 22, the Japanese manufacturer indicated that it will suspend its IMSA GTP program after the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. This confirmation comes just four days after the victory of the No. 93 ARX-06 of Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly at the aptly named Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the third round of the North American championship.

This announcement comes in the context of an arrival in IndyCar for Honda's premium division. Thus, the Acura name will be featured at the start of the 2026 Indianapolis 500. car of Marcus Armstrong. Acura's IndyCar debut took place on Sunday at the Long Beach race, won by Álex Palou, as Felix Rosenqvist's No. 60 car sported the brand's colors for the first time. The Swede secured pole position before finishing second at the checkered flag.

« We are thrilled about Acura's arrival in IndyCar and can't wait to see our Acura livery at the Indy 500.said Hundy Liu, Acura brand marketing manager. Felix Rosenqvist's MSR (Meyer Shank Racing. Ed.) car livery generated a lot of interest last week at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and I know it will be even more exciting to see the Acura brand on Marcus Armstrong's car at Indianapolis. »

« The IndyCar championship has seen incredible growth over the past 18 months and we see a tremendous opportunity to increase awareness of our Acura brand, especially on a stage where Honda-powered teams and drivers have recently achieved such success. We are eager to begin this new chapter for Acura in motorsport. »

This decision therefore spells the end of the Endurance program, as the Japanese firm had until now fielded two Oreca-chassis prototypes: the No. 93, and also the No. 60 driven by Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist for the entire 2026 season. So many good drivers now find themselves on the market.

« We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished during this era of Acura prototype racing, which began in 2018 with the introduction of the Acura ARX-05, and we are committed to competing for the IMSA GTP championship through 2026 with the Acura ARX-06 Hybrid competing in the IMSA GTP class. " said David Salters, president of Honda Racing Corporation USA.

« We achieved 25 wins, 34 pole positions, and 10 championships during this period, and we look forward to finishing 2026 strong. I want to acknowledge the hard work of all the talented women and men at HRC US, Acura, Meyer Shank Racing, and Oreca who have enabled us to reach our current level in this highly competitive GTP championship. "Salters added. From what we've learned, the disappointing results of the 2025 program, as well as the fiasco of the Honda and Honda partnership, Aston Martin en Formula 1 also motivated this decision. 

Acura's departure could be followed by that of Porsche, because rumors also suggest the end of the German program at the end of the 2026 season, a year after its withdrawal from the World Endurance Championship.

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