The path to the IndyCar Series for Tom Blomqvist is not so much about the road less travelled, but rather one paved in perseverance. Born in Britain, raised in New Zealand, he’s built up a diverse background that features a promising junior formula career that veered into DTM and Formula E, among others, before becoming a force in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Following an introductory three races in North America’s premier open-wheel championship last year, he now finds himself back in single-seaters and bracing for a full-time rookie campaign, driving the Honda-powered #66 entry for Meyer Shank Racing.
“This is the first time in a while where I’ve got this anxious energy about getting started because it’s so new,” enthuses the 30-year-old. “Obviously, I’ve been doing something so familiar for the past eight, nine years, and jumping across to IndyCar is so different. But I’m really excited to get going. It’s a completely new challenge. Although it is, I would say, a carry-on, a natural progression from my junior career I kind of sidestepped since 2015.”
Blomqvist’s year has already started pretty well, with a close second in the Daytona 24 Hours in Action Express Racing’s Cadillac, following wins at the same event with MSR Acuras in 2022 and 2023. But his single-seater return is now the focus.
“I’m really excited to just get rolling again, and it’ll be nice to get out in an IndyCar,” adds the son of 1984 World Rally champion Stig. “I haven’t driven since basically the race in Laguna Seca [in September]. So, thank goodness I did get some of that mileage under my belt the back end of last season, which has mentally prepared me for some of the challenges that may lie ahead. I’m just keen to get out on track at the end of the month, which is going to be good, going to be fun.
“There’s going to be a lot going on behind the scenes – it definitely opened my eyes at the back end of last year getting those events under my belt and seeing the areas that I personally need to work on. Now I’ve got a whole season to work at it, so I’m keen to get things going.”
Source: Autosport