Meyer Shank Racing is not one of many present collection heavyweights, however along with his expertise with the crew and hybrid racing in GTP, and the experience of a former rival-turned-team-mate, the Briton is raring to get going
The trail to the IndyCar Collection for Blomqvist is just not a lot in regards to the street much less travelled, however fairly one paved in perseverance: Born in Britain, raised in New Zealand, he’s constructed up a various background that contains a promising junior components profession that veered into DTM and Components E, amongst others, earlier than changing into a drive within the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Following an introductory three races in North America’s premier open-wheel championship final 12 months, he now finds himself again in single-seaters and bracing for a full-time rookie marketing campaign, driving the Honda-powered No. 66 entry for Meyer Shank Racing.
“That is the primary time shortly the place I’ve bought this anxious power about getting began as a result of it’s so new,” enthuses the 30-year-old. “Clearly, I’ve been doing one thing so acquainted for the previous eight, 9 years, and leaping throughout to IndyCar is so totally different. However I’m actually excited to get going. It’s a very new problem. Though it’s, I’d say, a carry-on, a pure development from my junior profession I sort of sidestepped since 2015.”
Blomqvist’s 12 months has already began fairly nicely, with an in depth second within the Daytona 24 Hours in Motion Specific Racing’s Cadillac, following wins on the similar occasion with MSR Acuras in 2022 and 2023. However his single-seater return is now the main target.
“I’m actually excited to only get rolling once more, and it’ll be good to get out in an IndyCar,” provides the son of 1984 World Rally champion Stig. “I haven’t pushed since principally the race in Laguna Seca [in September]. So, thank goodness I did get a few of that mileage underneath my belt the again finish of final season, which has mentally ready me for a few of the challenges that will lie forward. I’m simply eager to get out on observe on the finish of the month, which goes to be good, going to be enjoyable.
“There’s going to be rather a lot occurring behind the scenes – it undoubtedly opened my eyes on the again finish of final 12 months getting these occasions underneath my belt and seeing the areas that I personally have to work on. Now I’ve bought a complete season to work at it, so I’m eager to get issues going.”
Blomqvist made his IndyCar debut final season deputising for Pagenaud, and can take over the seat full-time in 2024
Picture by: IndyCar Collection
After Blomqvist examined an IndyCar for MSR in October of 2022, there was already the notion that it was a matter of when not if he can be a part of the championship. That idea accelerated after Simon Pagenaud’s vicious follow crash on the Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automotive Course final July, during which the 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner somersaulted a number of occasions earlier than settling in a plume of mud within the gravel entice.
The Frenchman was compelled out for the rest of the season, which prompted MSR to place Blomqvist in for chosen rounds. The debut on the streets of Toronto, considered one of many hardest circuits on the schedule resulting from its unforgiving and tight 11-turn, 1.786-mile format, supplied one of the best begin to date in twentieth.
The most effective end was a twenty fourth at Portland Worldwide Raceway. However one of the best efficiency was undoubtedly within the season finale at Laguna Seca, the place Blomqvist managed to dart by way of the sector in an incident-filled race and break into the highest 10, working as excessive as sixth, earlier than falling into the clutches of chaos after 61 of 95 laps.
“Tom can deal with going quick and managing all of the controls that now we have, and that’s going to be a brand new component to IndyCar. Tom has that mind capability” Michael Shank
“It helps tremendously, extra so in simply making ready for the way in which the occasion runs,” says Blomqvist of his 2023 expertise. “Whether or not that be the construction of the follow session, the qualifying session, or the little intricacies that folks from the surface possibly don’t perceive that aids a driver in getting probably the most out of a weekend.
“As a result of while you’re so new to that, your mind is continually underneath stress while you’re doing them for the primary time. You are feeling such as you’re at 100mph in each space. So, while you’ve performed that, you already know and your physique is ready for it, your thoughts is ready for it. It’s a lot simpler.”
It received’t be a traditional 12 months by any stretch, both: Blomqvist may also should adapt to the incoming hybrid engine, which is anticipated to be on the grid someday after the 108th working of the Indy 500 on 26 Might.
Earlier this low season, MSR co-owner Mike Shank shared that IndyCar’s transfer to a hybrid period is without doubt one of the motivations for bringing over Blomqvist, who adjusted accordingly in IMSA’s adaptation of hybrid energy in 2023 with LMDh machines within the GTP class. Though Shank’s IMSA program has since ceased operations following the conclusion of final 12 months regardless of ending third within the championship with three wins – together with its controversial Daytona 24 Hours success – there may be perception that Blomqvist’s expertise ought to add worth regardless of a scarcity of time in IndyCar.
Expertise with hybrid Acura in IMSA satisfied Shank that Blomqvist had capability to shine in IndyCar
Picture by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photos
“In my view, there are lots of, many quick racing drivers on the market and a few of these guys require ten-tenths of their mind energy simply to place in that quick lap,” says Shank. “The really nice drivers have one other gear or one other step that they will handle extra inputs. GTP is a superb instance of that. Tom can deal with going quick and managing all of the controls that now we have, and that’s going to be a brand new component to IndyCar. Tom has that mind capability.
“Many drivers, while you ask them to begin managing the chassis with all of the controls now we have, it will get all tousled. Tom has the capability to handle extra programs and that’s one more reason I selected him, as a result of I feel we’ll have a bit extra of that.”
And in some ways, maintaining with the instruments inside an IndyCar is simpler than GTP. Blomqvist believes his means to do that stems from that various background: “Even leaping within the GTP, it was simple for me as a result of I used to be used to a way more complicated system by way of Components E, and having expertise there ready me for what to anticipate, how one can get probably the most out of a few of the programs.
“To be trustworthy, the IndyCar system is much more easy in a approach than that. I’m not too frightened about it. I feel we have to work out precisely the way it’s going for use.
“The largest factor is the way you cost it up and the way that’s applied by way of not affecting the drivability of the automobile, so by way of braking; there’s probably the most environment friendly methods of producing lap time from a race automobile the place it’s important to cost and discharge, and it’s the way you as a driver can adapt to that. Not solely adapt by way of driving, however use it in an virtually driver-friendly approach, and work together with your engineering crew to make it as environment friendly as potential to deploy and to not have an effect on the driving in a unfavourable approach.”
Though competing in IndyCar full-time shall be a brand new expertise for Blomqvist, there shall be a big quantity of familiarity. With MSR’s IMSA program closing its doorways – for now, not less than – the personnel from that strikes over to the IndyCar aspect of the operation, with Blomqvist retaining his primary mechanic.
The addition of Felix Rosenqvist, who joins MSR after spells at Chip Ganassi Racing (2019-20) and Arrow McLaren (2021-23), as a team-mate additionally offers familiarity. The 2 raced one another for the 2009 Components Renault title in Sweden, which Rosenqvist claimed whereas Blomqvist completed third.
Additionally they battled for the Components 3 European Championship in 2014, the place Blomqvist completed runner-up to Esteban Ocon and straight forward of present reigning three-time Components 1 champion Max Verstappen. Rosenqvist ended up eighth within the standings, earlier than profitable it in 2015.
Blomqvist and Rosenqvist duelled on their approach up the single-seater ladder in F3, and now shall be reunited at Meyer-Shank in IndyCar
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
“As one of many smaller groups, I feel we in all probability have many benefits,” gives Rosenqvist. “We have now clearly Honda, who’re deeply concerned in hybrid tech in F1. We have now Meyer Shank Racing, who competed very competitively in IMSA with a hybrid. We have now Tom, who’s been in Components E, and might be the strongest driver in current occasions in IMSA with a hybrid.
“After which you might have myself, who drove in Components E for 2 and a half years. I feel all of us have some expertise, and that makes a giant distinction. For some individuals working in IndyCar, that is all brand-new stuff, and for us it’s not. I feel for those who have a look at the direct competitors, we undoubtedly have a bonus.”
4-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves may also be somebody to study from. The 48-year-old Brazilian has taken a step again from racing full-time and leaned into an possession position inside MSR, however will nonetheless contest a one-off in ‘The Biggest Spectacle in Racing’ at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Might traditional.
“If I can get to a spot – which I strongly imagine I can in any other case I wouldn’t be right here – the place I’m happy with my very own performances and getting the outcomes for the crew, that’s sensible” Tom Blomqvist
“I’m very lucky that Felix is, let’s say not a veteran within the collection, however he’s now been right here 5 years, so he’s bought plenty of data and he’s been by way of a few of the issues that I’ve,” says Blomqvist. “We sort of grew up collectively racing in opposition to each other, and I feel his complete studying course of when he got here into the collection, he got here on this fashionable period so I can study rather a lot from him, so I’m excited for that.
“Helio is a one-of-a-kind. I’ve recognized him for some time now. We’ve been team-mates within the automobile, within the sportscar stuff for the previous couple of years, so I understand how he works, and I understand how he operates. I feel it’s extra about seeing how he will get by way of that complete month of Might and the way he constructions his follow periods, what he focuses on in a session to the place he’s driving the course of the automobile and all these little issues. I’ve bought a very good bunch of men there to lean on within the numerous occasions we go to. I have to maximise that.”
In the long run, the primary objectives Blomqvist goals to attain aren’t based mostly as a lot on outcomes as maximizing his efficiency on a case-by-case foundation whereas he develops: “The largest factor is extra a satisfaction stage with my very own efficiency. I’m used to every little thing I’ve performed in years passed by; I’m dissatisfied if I’m not profitable and on the rostrum, or preventing for victories, and I’m underneath no phantasm that it’s not what I’m going to expect once I first roll out.
“But when I can get to a spot – which I strongly imagine I can in any other case I wouldn’t be right here – the place I’m happy with my very own performances and getting the outcomes for the crew, that’s sensible. Possibly a top-15 in St Pete [the season opener in March]. I feel that’s an inexpensive goal for me to go for. However the objective is to be right here long run, and meaning being aggressive, race in, race out.”
Blomqvist has set comparatively modest objectives for his first season in IndyCar as he seeks to study from these round him
Picture by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photos
