Colin Braun will race full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship – not in GTP, but in the LMP2 class for CrowdStrike Racing by APR alongside George Kurtz.
It’s the continuation of a partnership that began in 2013, when Braun began coaching Kurtz early on in his racing career. Ten years later, this pair won the LMP2 Pro-Am class at the Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am championship.
Braun had already been confirmed to race alongside Kurtz in the 2023-24 Asian Le Mans Series, and by then, a union in IMSA’s growing LMP2 class seemed inevitable.
“I can’t wait to get going with CrowdStrike Racing by APR in 2024 and make a run at the LMP2 championship alongside George,” Braun said. “The dedication and professionalism of CrowdStrike Racing is unmatched and I’m honored to share a seat with George, who did such a fantastic job in 2023.
“It sure looks like LMP2 is going to be stacked with tough competitors, but we are ready for the challenge. IMSA racing is really special, and I look forward to another season!”
Braun is coming off a 2023 season in the GTP class with Meyer Shank Racing, bookended with victories at the Daytona 24 Hours and Petit Le Mans – plus a win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – and second place in the season championship.
His immediate post-MSR future will be back in the pro-am prototype ranks, with his friend and pupil Kurtz – who has already made his claim as one of North America’s top gentleman drivers in GTs or prototypes.
In CrowdStrike by APR’s first season of LMP2 racing, Kurtz won the Michelin Endurance Cup and Jim Trueman Award, the latter of which has secured him an automatic entry into the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“After the success of our first season together, the expectations are high for CrowdStrike Racing by APR in the IMSA LMP2 championship. It will be good to enter the new season with the experience and knowledge of having worked with the team in IMSA and at Le Mans,” Kurtz added.
“I’m excited about Colin joining the team. His experience with prototypes and our history and success together make him a natural fit. I can’t wait to get the season started at Daytona.”
Algarve Pro Racing (APR) team principal Stewart Cox added: “As a team, we’re pleased with how CrowdStrike Racing by APR’s 2023 campaign went, but we’re already pushing on with the intention for next season being to win the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 titles.
“We missed out on this year’s by only a few points and we know exactly why, so we will come back with a slightly amended approach that all the math and data say will put us in the best possible position to win the overall championship, and also defend the Michelin Endurance Cup.”
Feature image © IMSA
