In the News, Michelin Pilot Challenge

Posted on by Katie Brannan
05
Jul

The Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 120

Round 5 of the 2023 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge

July 7-8, 2023

Racetrack: Watkins Glen International Raceway

2.459-mile road course, features 10 turns

Race: Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 4:00 – 6:00 pm EST

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:

Oh Canada: Canadians Mark Wilkins and Robert Wickens celebrated their victory as teammates with a spectacular race win from the back of the grid at home at CTMP one year ago. This year they return, tied for the Championship lead at the series half-way mark with one significant difference, they are racing against each other! This season Mark Wilkins is paired with Mason Filippi in the #98 Elantra N TCR and Wickens remains in the #33 Elantra N TCR co-driving with Harry Gottsacker. Wilkins and Filippi have a victory and two 3rd place finishes…. Wickens and Gottsacker are knocking on the door for their first win of the season with two 2nd place finishes. The heat is on!

BHA and Wilkins Set for Toronto Indy: Bryan Herta Autosport will enter the #98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR in the Sports Car Championship Canada Presented by Michelin at the Toronto Indy. Popular Canadian Mark Wilkins will contest three rounds of the Championship over the Indy weekend July 14th – 16th.

Win-Baby-Win: A look back at one of motorsports’ best stories of 2022 from the IMSA wire:

Return to CTMP Brings Back Emotional, Winning Memories for Wickens

The Chase is ON: Just 50 points separate Hyundai, Honda, Audi and Alfa Romeo in the manufacturer’s standings. Hyundai leads with 1270 points.

SWEEP Repeat: It was an all-BHA podium at CTMP in 2022, BHA has had at least one podium sweep each season since 2020.

#1 Hyundai Elantra N TCR

2021 and 2022 Drivers/Team CHAMPIONS

2023 Stats: Best Start: 7th Best Finish: 6th Rank: 7th 960 pts
Taylor Hagler: “We didn’t have quite the weekend that we hoped at Watkins Glen and I am hoping we turn a bad string of races around in Canada. It is a fun track with a unique layout and is

relatively high speed. Our Hyundai Elantra N TCR should perform well here,

and it would be great to celebrate on the podium.”
Michael Lewis: “Let’s go racing at such a cool track! Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is so fast, and many turns are over crests. You are always balancing the car as you are continuously in fast turns back-to-back. This place is really old school,

and it provides great racing as well. I can’t wait to get on track!”

#33 Elantra N TCR

2023 Stats: Best Start: 3rd Best Finish: 2nd Rank: 1st 1150 pts
Harry Gottsacker IV: “Robert and I both finished on the podium last year at CTMP, but we were competing against each other. It

will be good to try and continue a podium level effort together in

2023! We have had a good car all season and we just need to tighten up things a bit and have everything go our way to grab a win. The team is hungry for it, and it would be great to celebrate at Robert’s home track.”
Robert Wickens: “I’m really looking forward to CTMP! Last year we got the win in front of the hometown crowd, and it was a podium sweep for Hyundai and BHA! The 33 team is working hard and that first win of the season is getting close. It would be amazing to get it done at home in front of lots of friends and family.”

#98 Elantra N TCR

2023 Stats: Best Start: 2nd Best Finish: 1st Rank: 1st – 1150 pts
Mason Filippi: “Back to CTMP! Last year we had a lot of speed and I’m excited to be teamed up with Mark Wilkins this year at his home track. We are locked in after Watkins Glen and can’t wait to push our Elantra N TCR car to the limits at one of the highest speed circuits on the calendar.”
Mark Wilkins: “CTMP was a huge highlight of the 2022 season for me and I’m excited to try and repeat that performance next weekend with Mason! I spend many days at CTMP coaching and I’m always in awe at how awesome and intense it is around there. After a disappointing weekend at Watkins Glen, we are looking to be back on form and back up front. We have great fan support for our Canadian race and that is definitely one of the highlights of this event every year. I love that we are in the busy part of our race season with so much seat time; CTMP will be the start of a 5-weekend stretch in the Elantra N TCR! It can’t get any better!”
Bryan Herta Autosport drivers completed a Hyundai podium sweep at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 120 on July 2, 2022. L-R: Second place finishers Michael Lewis and Taylor Hagler, race winners Robert Wickens and Mark Wilkins and third place finishers Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker.
Katie Brannan

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