IMSA SWINGS NORTH TO MID OHIO

2021 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge
Mid-Ohio 120
Saturday, May 15, 2021

 
Round: 3 of 10 in the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC)
Racetrack: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH
2.258-mile road course, featuring 13 turns 
Race: Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 3:35 pm ET (12:35 pm PT) (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 and RadioLeMans.com
 
BHA FAST FACTS: 

Mid-Ohio Dreamin’: Taylor Hagler, the current TCR points leader in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge scored her first IMSA pole position and had a phenomenal drive to her first podium finish (2nd) at Mid-Ohio in 2020.
 
“I’ve had countless dreams about my return to Mid-Ohio after such a strong weekend last year, and I’ve been running laps in my head for the last 8 months,” said Hagler. “Coming back as the points leader and in the Veloster with Michael (Lewis, co-driver) is the perfect scenario to finish one step higher on the podium for the win!” 
 
Lewis and Hagler finished fourth in the season opener at Daytona and followed that with their first podium, when they finished third at Sebring in March.
 
The WINS: BHA and Hyundai scored their very first IMSA victory at Mid-Ohio two years ago. Since then, they’ve tallied 10 more for 11 wins since 2019, for a 52% win rate.
 
The POINTS Picture: Heading into the third race of the 2021 IMPC Championship, there are five Hyundai’s in the top-ten. The #77 Hyundai Veloster N TCR driven by Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis lead the way by 20 points over Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson who are tied for second in the #54 Veloster N TCR. AJ Muss and Mason Filippi are ranked sixth in the #51 Veloster N TCR while Harry Gottsacker and Mark Wilkins are seventh in the all-new Elantra N TCR. Van Der Steur Racing’s Dennis DuPont and Rory Van Der Steur round out the top ten in the #19 Veloster N TCR.
 
Unstoppable: IndyCar star Robert Wickens completed a track day with BHA last week at Mid-Ohio, driving the #54 Veloster N TCR. It was Wickens’ first time back in a race car since his horrific accident in August of 2018. Throughout his grueling recovery, Wickens vowed to race again, despite his spinal cord injury which has limited the use of his legs. BHA driver Michael Johnson, who is also paralyzed from a racing incident offered Wickens the opportunity to drive the #54 Veloster N TCR which is outfitted with hand controls. Wickens ran 64 laps at Mid-Ohio last Tuesday, he wasted no time getting up to pace with the system. The track day was celebrated worldwide with fan and media coverage celebrating Wickens return, and will be featured in the Mid-Ohio race broadcast this weekend.

    
#98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR
Drivers: Parker Chase and Ryan Norman
Best Start: 5th Best Finish: 9th Rank: 11th
Ryan Norman is the defending TCR Champion.
Parker Chase recently announced his entry into ARCA competition in addition to IMPC. He is also racing for Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Truck Series

Ryan Norman: "I grew up outside of Cleveland, so Mid-Ohio is definitely a highlight for me on the IMSA schedule. I was really happy with our test last week. Laps are everything right now developing the new Elantra N TCR."
 
Parker Chase: "It's a busy time, I am racing a lot and learning a lot. I've always believed versatile drivers make better drivers and seat time is invaluable. Mid-Ohio is a great Drivers track, tough and a bit technical, Ryan and I are anxious to race to our first podium of the year."

    
Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian:
Founded in 2009, Bryan Herta Autosport has grown from a single car Indy-Lights team into a multi-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 Rallycross, 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 American Sports Car scene beginning its immensely successful partnership with Hyundai. Together, BHA and Hyundai have won three championships in as many seasons, including their dominating performance finishing first, second and third in the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, where Hyundai won its first manufacturers title. For 2021, BHA will debut the all-new Hyundai ELANTRA N TCR and continue with the proven Veloster N TCR with a three-car assault in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. For more information, visit: www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.

BHA/Hyundai Customer Support: Bryan Herta Autosport is the U.S. sales agent and part support representative of Hyundai TCR and TCA race cars for customer teams. The BHA/Hyundai Customer Support Team offers trackside engineering support, setup and tuning advice, and part and order fulfillments for the Hyundai Veloster N TCR and TCA teams and drivers from the BHA’s headquarters in Speedway, IN. Since its North American debut in 2019, the Hyundai Veloster N TCR has scored 26 race wins, and three TCR championship titles.

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 820 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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