FIA ETCR eTouring Car World Cup competitor Tom Blomqvist got his 2023 racing season off to a splendid start with pole position and the race win in the 61st running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
Blomqvist, racing for Meyer Shank Racing, took a sensational pole with a final lap of 1m 34.031s in the #60 MSR Acura ARX-06 LMDh which he shared for the race with team-mates Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud and Colin Braun.
The British-Swedish driver, who raced for CUPRA EKS and finished third in the standings in the inaugural FIA ETCR eTouring Car World Cup in 2022, went on to take the chequered flag at Daytona for the win on Sunday by a margin of just 4.19secs after 24 hours of running.
“My life was made easier with the car that I had under me today and all week,” Blomqvist said afterwards.
“The first time we hit the ground running with this car for the very first time, it was, ‘Wow, I think we’ve got something here.’ Every time we drove we were like, ‘We’re quick.’
“We obviously thought everyone was playing huge games because we were always quick, but I think it proves just how good our car is. And that’s just such a congratulations really to everyone who’s been a part of this project.”
Blomqvist and the Shark Meyer Racing squad are the reigning IMSA champions. For 2023, as well as racing in IMSA, Blomqvist will be contesting the FIA World Endurance Championship for United Autosports USA as well as other racing activities.
