Bryan Herta Autosport
Round 3 of the 2022 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge
April 29-30, 2022
Racetrack: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
2.238-mile road course, features 11 turns
Race: Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 4pm PST
TV: Live on NBC’s PEACOCK: www.peacock.tv
Live updates are available throughout the weekend on BHA social media and www.bryanhertaautosport.com Live timing and scoring is available at imsa.com.
FAST FACTS:
Just Six Months Ago: The Bryan Herta Autosport team swept the podium at Hyundai’s home race at Laguna Seca. Mark Wilkins and Harry Gottsacker won the event in the Elantra N TCR, while Elantra teammates Parker Chase and Ryan Norman finished second with Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis bringing the Veloster N TCR home in third.
2-for-2 in 22: The #77 team of Tyler Maxson and Mason Filippi have experienced the highs and the lows of racing so far in 2022. Maxson won the pole at Daytona in his first race with BHA and teammate Filippi backed that up with the pole at Sebring. They’ve proven they are quick but have yet to take the checkered flag in 2022. They had a mechanical issue at Daytona and Filippi was involved in heavy crash with Kyle Marcelli at Sebring, which left both cars beyond repair. The Elantra N TCR cars come from Europe and delays in shipping forced the team to bring back the Veloster N TCR for the #77 team at Laguna and Mid-Ohio. Not a bad plan B, the Veloster has won 12 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races since its IMSA debut in 2019.
Special Duties: The #2 Elantra N TCR team of AJ Muss and Ryan Norman welcome professional skater Sean Malto to the team at Laguna. A guest of Hyundai, Malto will handle the sign board duties in the pitstops for the #2 team on Saturday.
N Performance Academy: Hyundai is offering race fans and enthusiasts a once in a lifetime opportunity to test the performance of their N models at the N Performance Academy at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, May 7th & 8th. Produced by Hyundai partner team, Bryan Herta Autosport, N Performance Academy was created for car enthusiasts to develop comfort and confidence behind the wheel. Nearly 200 guests have registered for the two-day event. The action-packed driving experience will include laps on the dynamic 2.2-mile road course which features 11 turns, including the famous “Corkscrew”. In addition to the track laps, participants will challenge the N models and develop their technique and abilities with an Autocross course.
After honing their skills on the track, participants can compare their driving line with professional Hyundai race car drivers Mason Filippi and Michael Lewis. Filippi and Lewis will be on hand for rides and driving tips.
The Closer: With a pair of second place finishes to their name in 2022, 2021 IMPC TCR Champions Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis lead the points standings. Their transition to the Elantra N TCR this season has been seamless, and the racing has been exciting. Hagler has raced to the top-five in both events before turning the reigns over to Lewis, whose battles for the podium have been nothing short of epic. Lewis mastered his craft from a diverse pedigree of racing environments. The series’ first two-time champion got his start dirt racing, moved to Europe to race F3, tested a Formula One car, and has raced a variety of sports cars in IMSA and SRO. Hagler and Lewis currently hold a 90-point lead in the series standings.
Baby Boom: Mark Wilkins and his wife, Leah, welcomed their third child and first girl, Maisie Ann on April 17th. Robert Wickens and his wife Karli are expecting their first child, a boy in early July.
#1 Hyundai Elantra N TCR
2021 Drivers/Team CHAMPIONS
2022: Best Start: 5th Best Finish: 2nd Ranked: 1st
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Taylor Hagler: “Michael and I have really worked on being consistent all season and that has helped us grab the points lead after only two races. I’m really developing a great feel for the Elantra and the added stability from the car means that we can really push the car. Laguna Seca is a track that is typically low grip, so I’m thinking the Elantra platform will help us quite a bit, and our teammates performed well in it last season. We did good in our Veloster in 2021, but we really want that top step this time!”
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Michael Lewis: “Laguna Seca is next and it is so cool to race on the huge elevation the track provides. A highlight from racing there was when Taylor and I charged up through the pack last year and got on the podium to help Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai sweep the podium. It’s going to be hard work to do that again, but we will try to do it! It’s a home race for Hyundai and it is every driver’s dream to be with a team and company who is so involved in motorsport. If you are attending the race, stop by and check out our Hyundai race cars and walk the entire Laguna Seca event. There are a lot of cool things to see at The Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship!”
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#2 Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 2nd Best Finish: 8th Ranked: 13th
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Ryan Norman: “I am really excited to be back at Laguna Seca! I won my first time racing there in 2020, in what led to my Championship season. I guess you could say I’ve had an affinity for the place ever since! Obviously, it’s Hyundai’s home race and its great being able to perform and get results at home for them! Weve made great strides on the development of the Elantra N and I feel like we are going to be a force to reckon with this weekend.”
AJ Muss: “One of my favorite tracks, beautiful, fast, high speed corners which I love, and I am especially excited to tack with the Elantra N TCR and it’s longer wheelbase. Although this season has not gone our way, we have the pace and things are headed in the right direction. Hyundai puts a lot of energy into this program and this race and it would be great to reward them with a podium. There is something about the Corkscrew. Once you’ve raced it, that feeling is imprinted on your brain, different than any other turn. It’s very rewarding.”
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#33 Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 2nd Best Finish: 3rd Ranked: 6th
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Mark Wilkins: “It’s incredible to see how the Hyundai N brand has grown! We introduced the Elantra N in front of an incredible group of Hyundai N owners at the Laguna race last year. I can’t wait to see Elantra N’s, Kona N’s and of course Veloster N’s and their respective owners at the track having a blast and cheering us on again this year! For our fans, be sure to check out the cork screw and of course come and spend time with us in the N Lounge! It’s Hyundai’s home race and it promises to be an epic one!”
“Awww Laguna! Last season this was the highlight race not only for Harry and I but for the whole team! A Podium sweep in front of our friends and colleagues at HMA; It was a picture perfect weekend for us and I’d love nothing more than to try for a repeat this year!
Robert Wickens: “Laguna is such an iconic track and one that I haven’t had a chance to drive on for a long time. We gained a lot of momentum in Sebring to build on that this weekend. Mark led the Hyundai podium sweep with the Elantra at Laguna last year, so we’re certainly hoping to do the same this weekend.”
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#54 Universal Coating Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 7th Best Finish: 6th Ranked: 8th
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Stephen Simpson: “We were so close to be being part of the podium sweep at Laguna last year in the Veloster N. and I am still not over it! This is the weekend; I am definitely excited to have a go at it with the Elantra N TCR.”
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#77 Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 1st Best Finish: 9th Ranked: 14th
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Mason Filippi: “Back home! I can’t wait to get back in the car at Laguna. Hyundai puts on an awesome event and having my home N Club there to support us gives an extra tenth or two. Coming down the hill through 9 and 10 has a great flow and lots of technique. It’s going to be an intense fight at the front but we’re confident in BHA and our Hyundai machines to bring us to the top step.”
Tyler Maxson: “I always look forward to our events at Laguna Seca. There is just something about racing at one of the most prestigious tracks in the world that you can’t help but get excited, plus, I have had some success there in the past, so it is always good to go back. This year we have proven our speed with two pole positions, but our race results have been less than ideal. The goal is to fight for a podium or race win and turn our season around. People know who we are because of our sheer speed, but we need to execute in the end, and I know that is one item that Mason and I 100% focused on.”
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#98 Elantra N TCR
2022: Best Start: 3rd Best Finish:7th Ranked: 11th
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Harry Gottsacker IV: “It seems like it’s been a while since we have been in our #98, but the next event at Laguna Seca is one of our most important of the year as Hyundai is the presenting sponsor! Last year we won the race and did a podium sweep, so we have some big shoes to fill! We showed speed at Sebring and didn’t get a result, so we will be focused on getting Team Texas on the podium for the first time this year. I’ve been making laps on iRacing to get ready and helping Hyundai with the Best Lap Challenge that featured me at Lime Rock Park. It is really cool to see how Hyundai is fully involved in motorsports at the enthusiast, virtual racing, and professional levels.”
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Parker Chase: “After a strong running last year for Hyundai as a whole, we’ve got some history to repeat. Having Hyundai as the presenting sponsor for the weekend means we’ve got one goal and that’s to come back and sweep the weekend as we did a year ago.”
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