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Gottsacker Takes Title Fight to the Finale, Dupont, Brown Still in Contention

Posted on by Katie Brannan
08
Oct

FOX Factory 120

Round 10 of 10 of the 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

Bryan Herta Autosport

Racetrack: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta | 2.54-mile road course with 12 corners

Race: Friday, October 10th, 2025, at 12:45pm EST (2-hour race)

TV: Live on Peacock: www.peacock.com

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:

Last Round of the Season: The FOX Factory 120 is the season finale of the 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Last Time at Road Atlanta: In 2024, Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins won the race, and Denis Dupont and Preston Brown finished second. Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens came in fourth, and Bryson Morris and Taylor Hagler ended in ninth.

Road Atlanta Statistics: BHA has had great success at Road Atlanta. Wilkins and Filippi won at this track again in 2023. In the last six years of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, BHA has won this race a total of four times.

The Championship Fight Continues: The #98 and #76 Hyundai Elantra N TCRs are both in contention for the 2025 team championship title. The #98 of Gottsacker and Filippi are currently in second place with 2,540 points, ten points behind the leaders. The #76 of Dupont and Brown are in third with 2,480 points.

Ryder Spotlight: Lead engineer on the #98 car Megan Ryder started at BHA as an intern in 2021. Just four years later, she is neck and neck for the championship title.

Familiar Faces: Gottsacker and Filippi aren’t new to fighting for the championship lead. Their rookie year in 2019, the pair were teammates and they finished the season in second place. Gottsacker and Filippi have raced for BHA and Hyundai ever since.

Driver’s Championship: Along with the team championship, Gottsacker is also heading into this final round of the season aiming for the driver’s championship title. He is currently the highest standing Hyundai driver, ten points behind the leaders. Filippi isn’t in the running for the driver’s championship due to missing an IMSA race to compete in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. Dupont and Brown are currently in third for the driver’s championship.

Manufacturer Championship: Hyundai is leading the manufacturer championship by 160 points.

Hyundai Hope on Wheels: For every lap led by a Hyundai, Hyundai Hope on Wheels (HHOW) will donate $100 to a local children’s hospital. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will be the beneficiary of the season finale at Road Atlanta. So far this year, $40,100 has been donated to different children’s hospitals.

Photos and Driver Quotes Below

Gottsacker is trying to bring home the driver’s championship title solo

Gottsacker and Filippi’s 2019 rookie year together

Lead engineer on the #98 car Megan Ryder.

#9 Elantra N TCR

Maddie Aust (R) and Suellio Almeda (R)

2025 Stats: Best Start: 6th Best Finish: 4th

Championship Points Standings: 7th – 2,100 pts
Maddie Aust: “This season with Bryan Herta Autosport has been such a great learning experience, and I’m proud of how much progress Suellio and I have made. It will be my first time racing at Road Atlanta, and I’m excited to take on the challenge. With it also being the season finale, I’m looking forward to giving it everything and hopefully ending the year on a high note.”
Suellio Almeida: “My simulator practice has helped immensely in Indianapolis, so I doubled down on it for Road Atlanta! I’m sharper than ever now.”

#33 Elantra N TCR

Bryson Morris and Mark Wilkins

2025 Stats: Best Start: 1st Best Finish: 1st

Championship Points Standings: 5th – 2,280 pts
Bryson Morris: “Road Atlanta is one of my favorite tracks of all time with lots of personal history there. Last year I was even able to set the lap record in qualifying so I’ll be aiming to do the exact same thing to give the BHA squad the best possible chance at a championship result. It’s a shame we’re not in the hunt as well with the speed we’ve shown all year but I know we can end it well with a win in the last race of the season.”
Mark Wilkins: “Saving the best for last, I always look forward to closing out the season at Road Atlanta. I just love everything about this race track; it’s technical, it’s fast and it has a wonderful flow. This has been a great track for our Elantra N TCR over the years and especially over the last two where we have found the top step of the podium! Bryson and I have had a very mixed season with some great highs but also some really challenging lows. Ideally, we could end the season with a big positive inclusive of leading more laps for Hyundai Hope on Wheels. It will be an exciting event for the team with championships on the line. I’m ready to get to work in a few short days!”

#76 Elantra N TCR

Denis Dupont and Preston Brown

2025 Stats: Best Start: 7th Best Finish: 1st

Championship Standings: 3rd – 2,480 pts
Denis Dupont: “I’m excited to go to Petit Le Mans.

We are a bit far in the championship now but until the checkered flag, we won’t give up.”
Preston Brown: “We are finally at the last race of the season and the championship has come down to the wire. Denis and I have a chance at winning but it’s going to take skill, execution, and luck to pull off. Regardless of how the championship battle shakes out this Friday, I am going to give this drive at Road Atlanta everything I’ve got and we are going to finish up 2025 on a strong note.”

#98 Elantra N TCR

Harry Gottsacker IV and Mason Filippi

2025 Stats: Best Start: 2nd Best Finish: 1st

Championship Points Standings: 2nd – 2,540 pts
Harry Gottsacker IV: “Looking forward to getting back at it in Atlanta for the last race of the season. I’m expecting a really big battle for the championship and we’ve been putting in the extra effort to make sure we are prepared. Megan and the crew have been all over the car in the shop and working with Mason and I on our prep and strategy. We’re looking forward to delivering on a big weekend for Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport.”
Mason Filippi: “I cannot wait for Road Atlanta. The 98 car is right there for the championship and we are fighting hard to get the last 10 points needed. It is going to come down to the wire and I know Harry and I will fight hard on track as well as everyone at BHA who have been pushing off the track to be even better. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish as a team this year, time to send it for one more.”

#18 Elantra N TCR

Jon Miller and Lance Bergstein

2025 Stats: Best Start: 8th Best Finish: 5th

Championship Points Standings: 12th – 1,660 pts
Jon Miller: “We had some rough luck at Indy with a mechanical failure, ending a race right before I was due to hop in the car. Just one of those things, but we are back on fighting form for Road Atlanta, which is one of my favorite tracks in the world. We’re looking forward to sealing up the manufacturers championship for Hyundai and supporting our teammates in their fight for the drivers championship. We have our own race to think about but at the end of the season, it’s good to keep in mind all of the hard work that has gone into the year from the mechanics, engineers, PR people, support staff, and all of our partners and fans of the series who make this championship so special and exciting to race in. Looking forward to closing out 2025 on a high note for Lance and myself and for the team and Hyundai. We’re already looking forward to what next year may bring.”
Lance Bergstein: “Road Atlanta is a track that really plays to the strengths of the Hyundai Elantra N TCR — fast, technical, and demanding. We’re confident heading into the weekend with Bryan Herta Autosport behind us — one of the best teams in the paddock, on and off the track. Execution is everything at this level, and our crew delivers every time. We’re ready to fight for a strong result.”
Katie Brannan

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