BHA Finishes Strong at Sebring

The Alan Jay Automotive 120

Round 2 of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

Race Report

The Alan Jay Automotive 120 at Sebring International Raceway concluded with all four BHA Hyundai Elantra N TCR’s finishing inside the top-ten. A yellow flag fell 38 minutes into the two-hour race. Drivers are required to complete 40 minutes of the race to receive championship points. The caution period was just long enough that some teams chose to pit and complete their driver change, while others held on, creating a split strategy race.

Harry Gottsacker earned his ninth TCR pole and extended his own

series record when he qualified first. Gottsacker had a strong start and led 14

laps in his stint. The #33 team finished third and jumped from 12th to fourth

in the championship standings.

Preston Brown and Denis Dupont followed up their second-place

finish in the season opener at Daytona with another top five at Sebring. They

gained an impressive 10 positions to finish fourth and remain second in the

standings.

Coming off a podium at Daytona and sixth at Sebring, Mason Filippi

and Mark Wilkins’ consistency keeps them third in the standings.

Taylor Hagler had her best qualifying result since joining BHA in

2021. She started fourth and ran strong until mid-race contact resulted in a

punctured tire. Bryson Morris took over mid-race and recorded the fastest race

lap en-route to their eighth-place finish.

Hyundais led 21 of 47 laps at Sebring resulting in a $2100 for the

Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Childrens Hospital by Hyundai Hope on Wheels

(HHOW). HHOW has committed to donating $100 for every race lap led by a Hyundai

in 2024.

Car/Drivers Total Laps Led in 2024

#33 Gottsacker/Wickens 26

#98 Filippi/Wilkins 3

#76 Brown/Dupont 2

#99 Gonzalez/Gonzalez 2

#80 Chase/Burkhead 2

2024 Total Laps Led 35 $3500

Photos and Quotes Below

#33 Elantra N TCR

2023 CHAMPIONS

Started: 1st Finished: 3rd 2024 Standings: 4th

Harry Gottsacker: “It was nice to grab another pole and lead 14 laps for Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels campaign and raise funds for Arnold Palmer’s Childrens Hospital here in Florida. The strategy just didn’t go our way to get back up to the lead, but it was great to get a strong finish for the points. We are looking forward to another shot at executing a win at Laguna Seca.”

Robert Wickens: “Not the result we were looking for after a really strong qualifying. Harry led most of the opening stint but an untimely yellow basically split the field 50/50 on strategy. It could have gone either way, but today we didn’t get the breaks we needed. It felt good to get our season up and running but can’t help but feel a little disappointed.”

#76 Elantra N TCR

Started: 14th Finished: 4th 2024 Standings: 2nd

Denis Dupont: “We finished fourth. It’s a decent place for the championship race, but I feel our race wasn’t perfect and we’ll want to correct those detials for the next round at Laguna.”

Preston Brown: “Sebring was one of the closest TCR races I’ve participated in while racing in IMSA. While we had hoped for a higher finish, I’m happy with where we sit in the championship and I’m looking forward to the newly repaved circuit at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.”

#77 Elantra N TCR

Started: 4th Finished: 9th Standings: 8th

Taylor Hagler: “A disappointing

end to an otherwise good weekend. The BHA team gave Bryans (Morris) and I as fast car and I am proud to have had my best qualifying result with Hyundai yet (4th). Unfortunately, our race did not go as planned as I battled for the lead and was not left with racing room. We will regroup and learn from this weekend as we prepare for our next race at Laguna Seca.”

Bryson Morris: “It was a difficult race as we had unfortunate contact with another car which cave us a flat tire and caused us to go a lap down. On the bright side, our 77 Hyundai N TCR was very fast and allowed me to set the fastest lap of the race! Hopefully we can take that pace into Laguna Seca and have a great result there!”

#98 Elantra N TCR

Stared: 3rd Finished: 6th 2024 Standings: 3rd

Mason Filippi: “Sebring was all around a tough weekend for us, but Hyundai was able to raise money fro Hyundai Hope on Wheels by leading lots of laps and I’m proud that Mark and I contributed to that.Team 98 is stoked to bag some points and we are going to head into Laguna Seca seeking a win, just like last year.”

Mark Wilkins: “A solid points scoring day for us on the 98 team, but certainly not the result we were looking for. The race didn’t pan out in our favour and we had to take what we could get points-wise. We’ll regroup and focus forward defending our win at our home race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in May”

Harry Gottsacker leads the field at the green flag of the Alan Jay 120 at Sebring International Raceway on Friday, March 15, 2024.

The #98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR takes service in a pitstop at the Alan Jay Automotive 120 at Sebring International Raceway on March 15, 2024.

The #77 Hyundai Elantra N TCR at the Alan Jay Automotive 120 at Sebring International Raceway on Friday, March 15, 2024.

Michelin Pilot Challenge

Katie Brannan

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