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Hyundai Fans Give BHA Boost for Double Podium at Hyundai’s Home Race

Posted on by Katie Brannan
12
May

The Motul Course de Monterey Presented by Hyundai N

Round 3 of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

Race Report

Hyundai Fans Give BHA Boost for Double Podium at

Hyundai’s Home Race

 

From the green flag, Harry Gottsacker in the No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR and Mark Wilkins in the No. 98 were in pursuit of the lead as they started in third and fourth respectively.

After a caution, Gottsacker moved into second position while the rest of the Hyundai stable filed in behind him. The No. 33 and No. 98 jockeyed for position at the front of the grid, but clever strategy allowed for the No. 98 Elantra N TCR of Mason Filippi to jump to the front of the field and hold the lead for 23 laps. After battling for first in the closing stages of the race, Filippi brought the No. 98 across the line in second position with Robert Wickens following close behind in the No. 33 to take third.

Teammates Preston Brown and Denis Dupont in the #76 Elantra N TCR and Taylor Hagler and Bryson Morris in the #77 Elantra N TCR recovered from mid-race challenges to finish eighth and ninth respectively. Filippi, Wilkins and the #98 BHA team bumped up to second in the standings after their second podium of the 2024 season.

BHA welcomed Hyundai Hope on Wheels National Ambassador and pediatric cancer survivor Ollie Foster to the team at Laguna Seca. Foster’s name rode alongside Gottsacker and Wicken on the #33 Elantra N TCR, and he signed autographs with the BHA drivers along with a behind the scenes tour of the racing operation.

Filippi and Wickens led 23 laps at Laguna Seca, resulting in $2300 earned for the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. Hyundai Hope on Wheels has committed to a $100 per lap led donation to children’s hospitals in IMSA race markets at every race in 2024.

Car/Drivers Total Laps Led in 2024

#33 Gottsacker/Wickens 26

#98 Filippi/Wilkins 26

#76 Brown/Dupont 2

#99 Gonzalez/Gonzalez 2

#80 Chase/Burkhead 2

2024 Total Laps Led 58 and total donated: $5800.

 Photos and Quotes Below

#33 Elantra N TCR

2023 CHAMPIONS

Started: 3rd Finished: 3rd 2024 Standings: 4th
Harry Gottsacker: “It was a busy weekend in Monterey that gave us a much-needed return to the podium. We battled hard and came up just a little short. It was great to see all the Hyundai fans and guests enjoying a great weekend. Thank you to Ollie, our Hyundai Hope on Wheels ambassador for being a part of our #33 crew!”
Robert Wickens: “Third is not what we were aiming for, but it’s hard to complain about a podium finish at Laguna Seca. P. 3 was all we could manage, but it felt good to celebrate a Hyundai double podium at their home race. The support was felt all weekend long. Hopefully this can kickstart our season after the scrappy first two races of 2024. There’s a lot of hard work ahead, but we are up to the task.”

#76 Elantra N TCR

Started: 10th Finished: 8th 2024 Standings: 3rd
Denis Dupont: “We had a difficult race at Laguna despite a good pace. We are still third in the championship, bu twe weat to get back to the sharp end of the field at Mid Ohio.”
Preston Brown: “It was a tough race for us. I started well but unfortunately got seperated fromt eh TCR leaders by some slower GS traffic. In my push to catch back up, I spun which pushed me to the back. We spent the rest of the race playing catch-up and I’m very impressed Denis was able to claw back to 8th place. However, we were on pace and hope to improve our result at Mid Ohio in a month.”

#77 Elantra N TCR

Started: 7th Finished: 9th Standings: 8th
Taylor Hagler: “Laguna Seca is an iconic track and even better when we celebrate Hyundai’s home race! We battled through the race and unfortunately, a racing incident put us a lap down. Luckily, this is the time of year we can quickly re-group and move forward to Mid-Ohio just around the corner in June.”
Bryson Morris: “It was a good weekend for the #77 crew up until we had unfortunate contact later in the race, which put us a lap down. There are still a ton of positives and a lot learned over the Laguna Seca race weekend, that we will take into our next round at Mid-Ohio!”

#98 Elantra N TCR

Statred: 4th Finished: 2nd 2024 Standings: 2nd
Mason Filippi: “It was a hard battle for 2nd place at Hyundai’s home race! The N Club energy gave us the extra boost we needed. It will be a tough year to push hard for the championship, but I know our Hyundai Elantra N TCR car and the BHA team can handle it. Mark had a great first stint, we are on form and ready to head to Nürburgring!”
Mark Wilkins: “Hyundai’s home race at Laguna Seca was a success. A double podium for the team is a great result and moves us up in the championship. We put ourselves in a position to win with great strategy, a solid pit stop and good driving stints from Mason and I. We couldn’t match the winners’ pace, but we did our best to capitalize as much as possible. Off track, we hosted Ollie from Hyundai Hope on Wheels, as well as the “Ultimate Race Mom.” That was a blast. The N Club brought us a lot of enthusiasm and it was exciting to share our strong results with our friends from Hyundai USA.”
Mark Wilkins gives Hyundai Hope on Wheels National Ambassador, Ollie Foster his second place trophy at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Members of the Nevada, Arizona, NorCal and SoCal N Clubs celebrate on the podium with second place finishers Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins, and third place finishers Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker at the Motul Course de Monterey Presented by Hyundai N on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

The N Club Hyundai owners take their Hyundai N’s on the track at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Friday, May 10, 2024.
The #98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR passes the #99 Victor Gonazalez Racing Hyundai N Elantra at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Katie Brannan

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