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Fast Facts: Motul Course de Monterey Powered by Hyundai N

Posted on by Katie Brannan
11
May
Motul Course de Monterey Powered by Hyundai N
Round 3 of the 2023 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge
May 12-14, 2023
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
2.238-mile road course, features 11 turns
IMPC Race: Saturday, May 13 2023, at 4:30 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:
2 For 2 and a Tie: With back-to-back podiums this season, Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins, drivers of the #98 Elantra N TCR are tied for the points lead. The pair, driving together for the first time in 2023, are tied with the #73 LA Honda World Racing entry. Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens are 30 points behind; they earned their first podium of the season at Sebring where they finished second.
Laguna By the Numbers: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca carries many significant memories for the BHA squad: including two victories in four attempts (2020 and 2021), as well as two second, and two third place podium finishes. Harry Gottsacker is the most successful qualifier for BHA at Laguna Seca, with two pole positions, including his series record breaker in 2022 when he recorded his sixth IMSA TCR pole. BHA’s most successful race at Laguna Seca came in 2021 with a podium sweep at Hyundai’s home race.
Hyundai Owners: The Hyundai cheering squad will be a bit louder this weekend at Hyundai’s home race. 160 Hyundai owners will be in attendance, traveling from Arizona, Nevada and throughout California to attend the race. Hyundai has a full itinerary for their owner guests including a car corral and the opportunity to drive their Hyundai’s on the legendary circuit, hospitality with a behind the scenes look at the N Lounge at Bryan Herta Autosport and Tech Talks with Michelin and Hyundai executives.
Lasting Impressions: Rocco Horvath, a paraplegic iRacer and race fan was so inspired by Robert Wickens’ story and achievements, he purchased his own Elantra N and converted it to hand controls. Horvath and his family are driving from Arizona to attend this weekend’s race as special guests of Hyundai and BHA and will be featured in an upcoming episode of Hyundai’s web program “Next Level.”
TEAM USA at the ADAC Nürburgring 24: As the checkered flag waves at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this Saturdday, all focus shifts to the ADAC TotalEnergies 24H Nürburgring race the following weekend. Representing Hyundai Motor America, Bryan Herta Autosport’s (BHA) teammates Taylor Hagler, Michael Lewis, Mason Filippi and Harry Gottsacker will all depart to Germany as the final step of their journey to the famed 24-hour race. It will be the teams’ sixth trip to Germany since March 11th. The eligibility process for the race required classroom studies and qaulifying races to earn their “A Permit,” a requirement for the historic 24-hour race. In those qualiyfing races, Hyundai’s Team USA earned multiple podium finishes. Action for the ADAC TotalEnergies 24H Nürburgring begins on Thursday, May 18th, with practice and qualiyfing sessions before the the green flag drops on the ADAC TotalEnergies 24H Nürburgring race at 4pm CEST on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Watch the action live on motorsport.tv.
#1 Hyundai Elantra N TCR
2021 and 2022 Drivers/Team CHAMPIONS
2023 Stats:
Best Start: 11th Best Finish: 5th Rank: 7th (490 pts)
Taylor Hagler: “Laguna Seca is a track that really suits our Elantra N TCR car, and I’ve collected three top five finishes in the past. There is nothing like taking the famous corkscrew on the out lap, it’s an adrenaline rush! We really need a podium to kick start our challenge for the championship and I’m looking forward to the battle.”
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Michael Lewis: “Looking forward to racing at Hyundai’s home racetrack! There will be a lot of team members from Hyundai cheering us on, and that is so special. And, with Hyundai becoming the official vehicle partner of the racetrack, it gives the feeling like it’s our “home field.” Getting our BHA Elantra N race cars to the front to battle for the win is what we will work to do. I’m also looking forward to giving some members a special experience with laps around the track in the Elantra N road car.”
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#33 Elantra N TCR
2023 Stats:
Best Start: 4th Best Finish: 2nd Rank: 3rd (570 pts)
Harry Gottsacker IV: “We’ve been super busy lately with our Nürburgring program, but we haven’t lost focus on the prize in our IMSA championship!
Robert and I have been improving every race and I like our chances on home soil at Laguna Seca. It will be really cool to have the support of over one hundred N Club members from the area.”
Robert Wickens: “It’s been way too long since Sebring! I feel like Harry, and I have unfinished business after a great race at Sebring, but ultimately, we didn’t get the result we felt we deserved. Laguna is always one of the
highlights of the season, and the addition of Hyundai’s involvement at the track will make it even better! We are hungry to get Hyundai their first win of the season and there’s no better place than at our home race.”
#98 Elantra N TCR
2023 Stats:
Best Start: 3rd Best Finish: 3rd Rank: 1st (tied – 600 pts)
Mason Filippi: “It’s Hyundai’s home race! After an amazing couple of months racing Hyundai’s across the pond, at Nürburgring, I cannot wait to get to Laguna Seca and show what our Elantra N TCR can do. Mark and I have been prepping to take on the corkscrew. It will be a tight battle, but the Nürburgring opportunity has helped me hone my skills to be prepared during this break.”
Mark Wilkins: “I’m absolutely pumped to get back out to Laguna and back in the Elantra N TCR! This is always a fantastic event for us. Performance wise, this is a great track for our car. We’ve been very successful here and so I’m very confident going into the event that we will be in a position to continue our streak of podiums and perhaps even capture that elusive first win of the season. It’s Hyundai’s home race and it’s a great opportunity to catch up with our friends from HMA; of course some extra pressure but we’ve been there and delivered some fantastic results. We have a huge group of Hyundai N owners that are coming out, the largest yet! The Hyundai N owners have been huge supporters of ours over the years and we love to see the community continue to grow! It’s a big weekend for us but our goal will be to focus on the big picture. Practice One can’t come soon enough!”
L-R: Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker on the podium celelbrating their second place finish at Sebring Internatioanal Raceway on March 15, 2023. They are joined by the race winners, Roy Block and Tim Lewis, and teammates Mark Wilkins and Mason Filippi in third position.
Above: Hyundai Motor America Team USA finished second in the ADAC qaulifying races at Nürburgring on April 15, 2023.
Katie Brannan

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