In the News, Michelin Pilot Challenge

5X Champs Set for Season Debut at Daytona

Posted on by Katie Brannan
24
Jan

BMW Endurance Challenge

at The Rolex 24 at Daytona

Round 1 of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

January 26, 2024

Racetrack: Daytona International Speedway

3.56-mile road course, features 12 corners

Race: Friday, January 26, 2024, at 1:45 pm EST (4 Hour Race)

TV: Live on NBC’s PEACOCK: www.peacock.tv

Listen: Live radio commentary for every session at www.IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com Live timing and scoring from each session available at www.IMSA.com. Live updates are available throughout the weekend on BHA social media and www.bryanhertaautosport.com

 

FAST FACTS:

 

2023 Champions: Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens return to IMPC competition as the defending series champions. The pair won the title in their first season as co-drivers. 2023 was Wickens’ second season of racing with hand-controls, it took him just 20 races to win his first series title controlling the accelerator, brake, steering and transmission with his hands. Wickens is the first driver in North America to win a professional title using hand controls and the third in the world.

 

HHOW: Hyundai Hope On Wheels donated $100 for every lap a Hyundai vehicle was in the lead during the final two races of the 2023 season. This raised nearly $20,000 to support pediatric cancer research. In 2024, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has pledged to donate $100 for every lap a Hyundai Elantra N TCR is leads during every race of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season. The Arnold Palmer Childrens Hospital will receive the donation based on laps led at Daytona.

 

+1 Elantra N TCR: Bryan Herta Autosport will enter four Elantra N TCR cars in the 2024 IMPC. Denis Dupont and Preston Brown join BHA to co-drive the #76 Hyundai Elantra N TCR. The pair welcome Nick Looijmans as a third driver for the four-hour season opener.

 

Daytona x20: Mark Wilkins will make his 20th consecutive start at Daytona International Speedway on Friday. The 2019 IMPC Champion is also a Daytona 24 race winner, he won the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Core Autosport, in Prototype Challenge. In his debut at Daytona 20 years ago, Wilkins raced a Porsche, co-driving with his father, the late Greg Wilkins and they finished third. Wilkins has six podium finishes at Daytona, including back-to-back third place finishes racing the Elantra N TCR in 2022 and 2023.

 

New Faces and New Roles: 18 year-old Bryson Morris joins BHA full-time in 2024, co-driving with Taylor Hagler in the #77 Hyundai Elantra N TCR. Bryson made his debut with the team at the 2023 season finale at Road Atlanta. Veteran motorsports engineer Chris Finch is BHA’s Technical Director, he remains the lead engineer on the #98. Megan Ryder joined the team as an intern from IUPI’s Motorsports Engineering program in 2021. In 2022 Ryder joined the team full-time as an assistant engineer and in 2023, she was the assistant engineer on the #33 championship winning team. New for 2024, Ryder has been promoted to lead engineer on the #77 Elantra N TCR driven by Taylor Hagler and Bryson Morris. Additionally, veteran IndyCar engineer Mike Colliver joins the team as the lead engineer for Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens and the #33 team.

 

Camp: Hyundai TCR drivers participated in the first half of the fifth annual Hyundai Drivers’ Camp between the Roar and the start of the race event at Daytona. Drivers completed media training with NBC Pit Reporter, Matt Yokum, and also a behind the scenes race control briefing with IMSA’s Race Director, Beau Barfield. BHA’s Technical Director Chris Finch and Systems Engineer Josefine Eskildsn presented engineering systems and strategies, while Hyundai Motor America’s marketing and social teams briefed the manufacturer’s latest developments, campaigns and social strategies. The camp resumes with two days of fitness and health training in NYC in early March.

 

Photos and Quotes Below

#33 Elantra N TCR

2023 CHAMPIONS
Harry Gottsacker: “We had a pretty good test at the Roar in Daytona, and I think we have a solid starting point for our #33. The test was important because we have some new faces on the team and everyone can start to get familiar with each other for our title defense in 2024! It’s great to be back for another season with BHA and really appreciate the opportunity that Bryan (Herta), Sean (Jones), and Hyundai have given me over the past 5 seasons.”
Robert Wickens: “It feels great to be back again for another season. I am looking forward to getting back to business and do everything we can to defend our titles for Hyundai and BHA. Harry and I know exactly what it takes to win a championship, so we will just have to continue to raise the bar. It all starts here in Daytona!”

#98 Elantra N TCR

2023 Series Standings: 2nd
Mason Filippi: “Back at it! Our Hyundai Elantra N is a blast through the busstop and infield at Daytona. We are focusing on the strengths of Bryan Herta Autosport and keeping our Michelin tires at maximum performance for as long as possible. Mark and I are ready to hit the track running on Wednesday and I know our entire #98 crew is hungry to push for more wins this year.”
Mark Wilkins: “I’m really excited to get the 2024 season going! We had a good, positive ROAR test and I feel we are well positioned for a great result here at Daytona. It’s a long season but we know how important it is to maximize our points, so we’ll be focused on staying out of trouble with flawless execution. With Hyundai donating $100 for every Hyundai lap led, we have a great opportunity to make a real difference. Mason and I plan to lead the way this season. Thank you Hyundai! It’s going to be a fantastic season! Let’s GO team!”

#76 Elantra N TCR
Denis Dupont: “We want to build a strong foundation for the championship at Daytona. Scoring good points while keeping in mind that the journey ahead is long.”
Nick Looijens: “I’m thrilled ot be driving with Bryan Herta Autosport at Daytona. The Hyundai Elantra N TCR car is so compliant and easy to drive, so it took me no time to adjust to the car. I’m looking forward to see where we stack up during the race. From what we saw at the ROAR, we know a good result is possible.”
Preston Brown: “I’m excited to be back on track this week at the World Center of Racing in our Hyundai Elantra N. Every time I get in the car I learn a ton, and get more comfortable, and I can’t wait to see what we can do in the first race of 2024.”

#77 Elantra N TCR

2023 Series Standings: 6th
Taylor Hagler: “The Roar Before the 24 went well and we have a good feel of how the #77 BHA Elantra N is handling. Luckily, we are familiar with the platform and know how good this car can be at Daytona. With a four-hour endurance race, it comes down to strategy and keeping the car clean until the end. We know what we need to do and Bryson and I will work together to do just that.”
Bryson Morris: “It has been a very positive few days of testing at the roar. I now feel more comfortable with the team and car itself, and I am confident Taylor and I will put up a good challenge for a race win.  This is my first time racing at Daytona, my first impressions from the Roar are the car was really good on entry of the corners and through the bus stop, but we still need to find more mid-corner rotation.”

#98 Elantra N TCR

2023 Series Standings: 2nd
Mason Filippi: “Back at it! Our Hyundai Elantra N is a blast through the busstop and infield at Daytona. We are focusing on the strengths of Bryan Herta Autosport and keeping our Michelin tires at maximum performance for as long as possible. Mark and I are ready to hit the track running on Wednesday and I know our entire #98 crew is hungry to push for more wins this year.”
Mark Wilkins: “I’m really excited to get the 2024 season going! We had a good, positive ROAR test and I feel we are well positioned for a great result here at Daytona. It’s a long season but we know how important it is to maximize our points, so we’ll be focused on staying out of trouble with flawless execution. With Hyundai donating $100 for every Hyundai lap led, we have a great opportunity to make a real difference. Mason and I plan to lead the way this season. Thank you Hyundai! It’s going to be a fantastic season! Let’s GO team!”

2023 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR Champions, Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker at IMSA Media day, Thursday, January 18, 2024.

The #33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR in the International Horseshoe at Daytona International Raceway, Sunday, January 21, 2024.

Top: The Hyundai Drivers competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge experience IMSA’s race control with a briefieng from IMSA Race Director, Beaux Barfield .
Katie Brannan

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