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Back to Back Victories for Wilkins and Filippi and Road Atlanta!

Posted on by Katie Brannan
12
Oct

Hyundai Secures Fifth Consecutive TCR Manufacturer’s Title

Bryan Herta Autosport Closes the 2024 Season with a Podium Finish in all 10 Rounds of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

  • BHA secures four victories, five pole positions, and 13 podium finishes in 2024.
  • BHA secures a podium finish in all 10 rounds of the IMPC
  • BHA cars lead 298 laps in 2024, contributing $29,800 to Hyundai’s Hope on Wheel Lap Leader Donation

Speedway, IN (Oct. 16, 2025) – Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins maximized the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, winning the event for their second year in a row and in the process, jumping to second in the series standings. The pair secured their first victory of the season at the penultimate round on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month. Mason Filippi picked up a position in his opening stint after starting third and turned the car over to Wilkins in second place. Wilkins executed flawlessly, with aggressive fuel-saving measures to finish the race with just one pit stop. On the final lap, the race-leading #99 Hyundai of Victor Gonzalez Racing gasped for fuel and had to make a splash and go pitstop, while Wilkins took the lead and the win. Filippi and Wilkins led more laps than any other Hyundai entry in 2024, a total of 115, they scored two victories and four additional podium finishes, and Wilkins became IMSA’s winningest TCR driver of all time.

Teammates Denis Dupont and Preston Brown were the biggest movers in the series finale. Having started seventh, Brown had a strong stint and Denis Dupont worked his way through the top five to finish second. It was their fifth podium of the season. The #76 Hyundai Elantra N TCR were the newcomers at BHA in 2024, and they had a stellar season. Brown and Dupont came out strong in their debut when they finished second at Daytona and went on to earn the team’s first victory of the year with their win at Mid-Ohio. In addition to their win, they finished on the podium in four other races and led 38 laps in 2024.

Teammates Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens finished fourth at Road Atlanta and third in the series standings. Their season was highlighted by earning their first win as co-drivers, which took place at Wicken’s home race in Canada. While they were not able to defend their 2023 Championship title, the pair had a strong season which saw them lead 87 laps and five podium finishes in addition to their victory. Harry Gottsacker extended his series record for pole positions adding three to the tally in 2024.

Bryson Morris set a shattering pole-winning lap at Road Atlanta and finished his stint up front, leading the opening 28 laps. Strategy did not play out the way he and teammate Taylor Hagler and hoped, resulting in an eighth-place race finish for the pair. Their season ended with two-top five five-finishes and two pole positions en route to their seventh-place finish in the series standings.

Bryan Herta Autosport entries led 298 laps in 2024, making a significant contribution to Hyundai’s fifth consecutive manufacturers’ title in IMSA’s TCR category. Hyundai led Audi in the standings by 160 points, Hyundai finished 290 points ahead of Honda and 1030 points ahead of Alfa Romeo. Hyundai pledged $100 for every lap led by a Hyundai in 2024, with the donation benefitting children’s hospitals in each race market on behalf of Hyundai Hope on Wheels. The program raised $30,769 in 2024.

 

Photos and Quotes Below
Top: The Hyundai drivers and cars along with (center) Bryan Herta and Hyundai’s Ross Rosenberg, Tyler Branning, and Erik Thomas celebrate Hyundai’s fifth straight manufacturer’s title.

Middle: Race winners Mark Wilkins and Mason Filiip celebrate on the podium with second-place finishers Denis Dupont and Preston Brown along wihwitht members of the Georgia and North Carolina N Clubs.

Below: Bryson Morris celebrates his record-setting pole lap.

#33 Elantra N TCR

2023 CHAMPIONS

Started: 2nd Finished: 4th 2024 Final Rank: 3rd (2880pts)
Harry Gottsacker: “Robert and I put together a strong season like last year after battling back from our issues in Daytona, but it wasn’t enough for a second championship. It was special for us to win Robert’s home race at CTMP. Congratulations to Hyundai for the fifth Manufacturer’s Championship in IMSA TCR. The Hyundai family had such a strong year with all of our cars and our friends at VGRT did a great job too. I am proud to be a part of this team and this program.”

 
Robert Wickens: “What a year for Hyundai. Ahead of each season, winning the manufacturer’s title is always the first goal and we managed to do that through hard work and great teamwork. I feel like third in the championship doesn’t quite tell the whole story for the #33 team. We started the season on the back foot after Daytona but fought hard every weekend. Six podiums one win and three poles were not enough this year and will work even harder to hit the ground running in Daytona in 2025.”

#76 Elantra N TCR

Started: 6th Finish: 2nd 2024 Final Rank: 4th (2730pts)
Denis Dupont: “I’m really proud of our season and everything Preston and I accomplished together. Scoring podiums in 50% of the races and securing our maiden win was a huge achievement. Considering the level of competition we faced in the championship, it truly highlights how well we performed. It’s been a great effort from the whole team.”
Preston Brown: “I couldn’t be more thrilled with how my first season with Bryan Herta Autosport, and being able to finish up the successful season with second at Road Atlanta after the heartbreak at Indy only made things that much better. Denis and I are working better than ever as a pair and I’m looking forward to building on our success in 2025.”

 

#77 Elantra N TCR

Started:1st Finished: 8th 2024 Final Rank: 7th (2450pts)
Taylor Hagler: “A disappointing end to the season, but that is just how racing goes sometimes. We took an alternative strategy in the race, and it just didn’t work out. The year has challenged me as a driver and pushed me to grow in new ways. Thank you to Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport for their work and dedication all year. I am looking forward to what is to come!”
Bryson Morris: “Ended the 2024 season with a strong final round at Road Atlanta with the pole position and 28 laps led. Unfortunately, the end result wasn’t quite how we wanted it to go. Thank you to everyone at Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai for a great first full season in TCR.”

#98 Elantra N TCR

Started: 3rd Finished: 1st 2024 Final Rank: 2nd (2890)
Mason Filippi: “Another win at Road Atlanta, Manufactures Champions, and second in the Drivers Championship! Another great year with Bryan Herta Autosport in our Hyundai Elantra N TCR machine. It is special to be able to drive with a team that pushes for maximum performance every single year. I am also grateful to have the opportunity to race for a manufacturer that is always looking for the best on and off track. We raised over $37,000 for Hyundai Hope on Wheels and children’s pediatric cancer research. There was a lot of success this year, from winning the 24 hours of Nurburgring, Indianapolis, and at Road. I am looking forward to the off-season and seeing what we can bring to elevate the bar again.”
Mark Wilkins: “When I think about how the weekend played out, it’s all smiles. Back-to-back wins to close out the season, a manufacturers title for Hyundai, a secsecond-placeond place finish in the drivers’ championship and $37,800 raised through laps led for Hyundai Hope on Wheels is beyond what I would have expected. I’m really proud of what we accomplished as a team this season. Every member of the team played a big role in our collective success and I love to see the hard work pay off. On the 98, we had a good start to the season but hit a few bumps along the way that really challenged us to dig deep and stay focused. Once we found our stride, and our results the second half of the season were really strong, and we really picked up momentum. Mason’s drive at Indy showed how far he has come as a driver…a total pro drive and it was so cool to win at Indy and get an opportunity to kiss the bricks. With that momentum and heading to Road Atlanta where we had a great win last season, we had a great deal of confidence and I think as a team we just nailed it on all fronts. Huge Thanks to Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport; a great deal to be proud of this season! I’m excited for a full press into the 2025 season starting in January at Daytona!”

Mark Wilkins and Mason Filippi press conference quotes: https://youtu.be/g-SXofJLIYA?si=r83oNyUdciocWcEF

Katie Brannan

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