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All Three BHA Hyundai Entries Finish in the Top Five at VIR

Posted on by Katie Brannan
28
Aug

Double Podium Finish for Hyundai at VIRginia International Raceway

  • Second Place for Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker at Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix
  • Mark Wilkins and Mason Filippi Complete Podium with Third Place
  • Top
  • Wickens and Gottsacker Lead TCR Drivers’ Championship by 50 Points

 

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Aug. 26, 2023 – Hyundai Motor America earned two positions on the podium at the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix this weekend. The current IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) Drivers’ Championship leaders Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker captured a second-place result, their sixth podium finish this season followed by Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) teammates Mark Wilkins and Mason Filippi in third. With the podium finish at the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix, the No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR driver pairing of Wickens and Gottsacker continue to sit atop the TCR Drivers’ Championship standings by 50 points. The pair had to fight their way through the field in the early part of the race after starting at the back of the grid following a post-qualifying penalty, while both their BHA teammates – Michael Lewis in the No. 1 entry and Wilkins in the No. 98 led multiple laps early in the race.

As multiple Safety Car periods shuffled the running order, it was Wickens and Filippi who led the charge to catch the leaders in the second half of the race. However, when a final incident left the result to be decided by a single-lap sprint at end of the two-hour event, Wickens was unable to mount a final challenge for the win, though the points for second preserved his and Gottsacker’s championship lead. Seven Elantra N TCR cars competed at VIRginia International Raceway under the Hyundai banner and all seven entries earned a top-ten finish at the drop of the checkered flag.

 

The IMPC season continues with two events remaining on the calendar as the field next heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, which will host as the series’ second four-hour endurance event on the schedule – the IMSA Battle on the Bricks on Saturday, September 16th.

·       Top Finishing Hyundai: Second place for the No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR driven Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker

·       Top Qualifying Hyundai: Second place for the No. 1 Hyundai Elantra N TCR driven by Michael Lewis and Taylor Hagler

 

-HMA-

#1 Hyundai Elantra N TCR

2021 and 2022 Drivers/Team CHAMPIONS

Started: 2nd Finished: 5th Rank: 7th 1920 pts
Taylor Hagler: “It was a positive day for us and the Bryan Herta Autosport team today. Michael and I had a solid and clean race and made forward strides in both of our stints. The late race yellow really evened the playing field and allowed me to make some big moves to finish in the top five today. Thank you to the team for a big effort over the weekend and helping us battle back from some issues in practice.”
Michael Lewis: “Everything was great! We had fun racing at VIR and had a fast car. It was fun running up front! Thank you to the team for the really fast pit stops.”

#33 Elantra N TCR

Started: 13th Finished: 2nd Rank: 1st – 2410 pts
Harry Gottsacker IV: “The podium streak continues! It was a bit of a wild one starting in last, but I put my head down and was focused on getting as high as I could on track. We made some big passes and had a lot of close racing. The stops and driver change were great all day and the team is really working hard as we battle for the championship.”
Robert Wickens: “A great recovery by the whole #33 team after our setback in qualiyfing and being forced to start last. Harry’s opening stint was pretty special to watch and the team had great pitstops to get uns into podium contention by the time I jumped in. It was a full team effort and great execution by the whole BHA team. Our championship lead shrunk a bit, but the important thing is that we are still leading heading into IMS.”

#98 Elantra N TCR

Started: 3rd Finished: 3rd Rank: 3rd 2300 pts
Mason Filippi: “We had a great car and our Team 98 was on point. Excited for Indy in a few weeks. Our ElantraN TCR is a blast to race and the competition is heating up.”
Mark Wilkins: “We had a great car and it’s nice to be back on the podium. We executed all around and didn’t put a foot wrong. Mason’s drive was fantastic and our crew delivered on fuel strategy and in the pits. I’m really proud of our group. We will keep pushing to chase the manufacturers’ championship for Hyundai.”
L-R Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker celebrate second place with race winners Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor from JDC Motorsports and Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins in Third on the podium at the Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway, Saturday, August 26, 2023.
Katie Brannan

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