2019: Championship Hopes Become Reality
After coming so close to the championship title in 2018, Meyer Shank Racing returned in 2019 ready for redemption. Both previously running as endurance drivers for MSR, Hindman and Farnbacher were promoted to full-season teammates for the 2019 season.
The season also saw the first all-female lineup which saw rotating drivers, Legge, Nielsen, Bia Figueiredo, Alice Powell and Simona De Silvestro in the No. 57 Acura NSX GT3.
Not only a new lineup of drivers entered the season with MSR, but an all-new Acura NSX was also brought into the picture with the upgraded ‘Evo.’ A completely upgraded aero package saw changes in the splitter, rear bumper and diffuser which boasted more cooling but limited drag, thus increasing the powerful platform’s top speed.
The run to Meyer Shank Racing’s first-ever IMSA GTD championship wasn’t easy, but Hindman and Farnbacher made it look that way. Four podium finishes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Lime Rock Park and Virginia International Raceway were all factors towards the championship. But it was a second career win for MSR at Watkins Glen that put Hindman and Farnbacher on the map to claim the championship.
The final Motul Petit Le Mans saw Farnbacher and Hindman come into the race with a substantial 32 point lead in the points standings. In order to claim the GTD Team championship the No. 86 Acura just needed to take the green flag. For the Driver championship to be secured, both Hindman and Farnbacher needed to complete the minimum drive time of two hours and 30-minutes.
Despite sustaining damage and retiring early, Farnbacher and Hindman were able to capture both the Team and Driver championships for Meyer Shank Racing. The championship title was also the first for the Acura NSX GT3.
2020: Closing Out Four Year Run With Second Championship
A crazy 2020 season saw a pandemic sideline teams and drivers before returning to racing mid-summer. A ten race season stood between Meyer Shank Racing and a second consecutive GTD championship title.
Claiming four podium finishes and two victories in the 2020 season, Farnbacher and McMurry made an incredible drive to secure the IMSA Team, Driver and Manufacturer titles in 2020. But that feat wasn’t easy as the rough and tumble nature of IMSA racing saw the pair go from leading the championship, and leading the race, at Mid-Ohio to suffering contact in three consecutive races which took the pair our of contention and put them as low as fourth in the championship standings.
Fighting back tooth and nail, Farnbacher and McMurry once again raced to lead the GTD championship following a standout victory at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Claiming his first-ever IMSA GTD pole position, McMurry started from the front row and never looked backed. The victory was backed up by the team’s sister car finishing third.
Heading into the final IMSA round at Sebring International Raceway, Farnbacher and McMurry held just a seven point advantage in the championship. To secure another championship title, Farnbacher and McMurry needed to finish fourth or higher, irrespective of where the second and third place championship cars finished.
A grueling race that tests both driver and car, closed out with the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 finishing on the podium in third, and once again claiming the Team and Driver championships. The result also gave Acura its first GTD Manufacturer championship title.