In the News, Michelin Pilot Challenge

BHA Returns to IMSA Action with Formidable Four-Car Effort

Posted on by Katie Brannan
16
Jul
The Advent Health 120
July 16-17, 2020
Round: 2 of the 10 race 2020 Michelin Pilot Challenge
Racetrack: Sebring International Raceway
3.74-mile road course, features 17 turns
Race: Friday, July 16, 2020 at 2:30 pm ET (2 Hours)
TV: LIVE on NBC Gold Track Pass
Live timing and scoring from each session available at www.IMSA.com
Live radio commentary for every session at www.IMSA.com
174 and We Are READY: It will be a 174 day gap from the checkered flag at Daytona to the green flag at Sebring for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. This is double the length of a normal “off-season,” which occurs from the end the championship in October and finishes at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.
In The News: BHA took advantage of the unexpected break from competition in a BIG way:
·   The team announced its expansion to a four-car team last month, adding the #29 Vertical Bridge Hyundai Veloster N TCR with drivers Parker Chase and Spencer Brockman.
·   Hyundai announced their sponsorship of the IMSA event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship will take place Oct. 30 – Nov.1.
·   Working with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) assembled more than 8,000 PPE face shields for the state’s first responders.
·   Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport hosted the Hyundai Drivers’ Camp in Indianapolis in February. The camp was attended by Hyundai’s North American drivers and featured four days of intense physical and cognitive training.
Bryan’s View: “Finally is the word that comes to mind about resuming our season and returning to Sebring. The drivers, mechanics, engineers…we can’t wait to get back on track. We’re excited to welcome Parker and Spencer along with Vertical Bridge and our new team members on the #29 Veloster.” – Bryan Herta
#29 Vertical Bridge/Hyundai Veloster N TCR
Drivers: Parker Chase and Spencer Brockman
Best Start: N/A  Best Finish: N/A  Championship: N/A
·       Parker and Spencer will make their IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
debut at Sebring. The driver’s completed a successful “shake-
down” of the #29 car at Palm Beach Raceway today.
·       This will be Spencer’s first-time executing pit stops.
Parker Chase: “This will be my first weekend in a front wheel drive car and I have a lot to learn quickly. I am confident that Spencer and I will be successful with the great teammates and team we have around us.”
Spencer Brockman: “The experience here from Bryan, my teammates, the engineers, and mechanics…all the way through the program is a great asset and opportunity for me. Parker and I will be preparing all weekend with pit stop practice focusing on our driver changes and flawless execution in and out of the pit lane.”
#21 Hyundai Veloster N TCR
Drivers: Harry Gottsacker and Mark Wilkins
Best Start: 2nd  Best Finish: 6th Championship: 6th
·      Mark won the 2019 IMPC Drivers Championship with then
co-driver Michael Lewis.
·      Harry won two races in his Rookie season in 2019 with
BHA and finished second in the championship.
Harry Gottsacker: “Sebring was a track that I really enjoyed last year, and it was my first time there in 2019. I will be leaning on Mark’s vast experience at this unique place this time around as we fight for the victory.”
Mark Wilkins: “Over the past few months, I have worked hard on being ready to go both mentally and physically. I also spent some time doing some lapping in the Veloster N road car thanks to the folks at Hyundai Canada! As usual, keeping hydrated will be key! The heat is likely to affect our setups a bit as the track will be different, but we expect that and are prepared to get the most out of our Veloster N.”
#33 Hyundai Veloster N TCR
Drivers: Gabby Chaves and Ryan Norman
Best Start: 7th  Best Finish: 5th  Championship: 5th
  • The #33 car led in its debut at Daytona.
Gabby Chaves: “Sebring is an amazing track, it’s challenging and physical, which will be intensified racing there in July. I have been training in these conditions to prepare and I am ready.”
Ryan Norman: “It’s been so long but I am physically and mentally ready. I was able to really prepare myself over quarantine with everything I needed including a sim. I am more motivated than ever to come out of the gate with a good result.”
#98 Hyundai Veloster N TCR
Drivers: Mason Filippi and Michael Lewis
Best Start: 4th  Best Finish: 4th  Championship: 4th
  • Michael Lewis is the defending IMPC Driver’s Champion with Mark Wilkins, his 2019 co-driver.
  • Mason finished sixth last year at Sebring while co-driving with Harry Gottsacker. The then Rookies went on to finish 2nd in the IMPC Championship.
Mason Filippi: “I missed driving and the feeling of racing you cannot have anywhere else but the track. During our time off, working on the sim with my teammates as well as on the treadmill has kept me ready for Sebring. I can’t wait to hit Turn 1 in the Veloster N TCR!”
Michael Lewis: “My favorite section of the track is the Turn 10 trough Turn 13 complex. I love the flow there, how you can use the curbs, and also how you must brake for those two turns, especially Turn 13 because it’s not a perfectly straight brake zone. Our Hyundai Veloster N TCR is strong on the brakes and getting in-and-out of corners quickly. The Hyundai program has a huge fan following in Florida with Veloster N Fan Club and we intend to represent them in victory lane!”
Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian:
Founded in 2009, Bryan Herta Autosport has grown from a single car Indy-Lights team into a championship winning auto racing franchise. Led by IndyCar and Sports Car star Bryan Herta, Bryan Herta Autosport has won races in every discipline they have entered, including Indy Lights, Indy Car, Global Rally Cross, and championship titles in Pirelli World Challenge and IMSA. BHA rose to prominence after winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500 in what was the final race of the Centennial Era, a celebration of 100 years of racing at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with driver Dan Wheldon. Five years later, BHA partnered with Andretti Autosport, and defied the odds again, winning their second Indianapolis 500 with rookie driver Alexander Rossi. In 2018, BHA entered the Pirelli World Challenge in partnership with Hyundai and dominated the TCR class, winning seven races with drivers #98 Michael Lewis and #99 Mark Wilkins in the Hyundai i30N TCR, securing the team and manufacturers championships in the process. In 2019, BHA and Hyundai moved to the IMSA Michelin Sports Car Challenge, and the transition was flawless. BHA swept the series driver and team championships with driver Mark Wilkins and Michael Lewis finishing first in the #98 Hyundai Veloster N TCR and young guns Harry Gottsacker and Mason Filippi finishing second in the #21 Hyundai Veloster N TCR. For 2020, BHA continues its successful partnership with Andretti Autosport fielding the #98 U.S. Concrete Honda w/ Curb Agajanian in the IndyCar series for driver Marco Andretti and a four-car Hyundai Veloster N TCR campaign in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Michael Lewis and Mason Fillipi (#98), Mark Wilkins and Harry Gottsacker (#21), Gabby Chaves and Ryan Norman (#33) and Parker Chase and Spencer Brockman (#29). Bryan Herta Autosport is the U.S. sales agent and parts support representative of Hyundai TCR race cars for customer teams. For more information, visit www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundai’s technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance—our promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.Please visit our media website at www.HyundaiNews.com
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Katie Brannan

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