Indianapolis, IN – Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) with Curb Agajanian and Hyundai Motor North America today announced a three-car assault on the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. This introduces Hyundai N Brand’s latest Touring Car Racing (TCR)-specification achievement, the Elantra N TCR model. Hyundai’s growing performance N Brand now has three new Elantra models; the Elantra N Line, track-ready Elantra N (on sale fall of 2021) and the Elantra N TCR racecar. Customer racing teams can purchase an Elantra N TCR from BHA starting today.
Powered for performance by a new two-liter turbocharged I-4 engine derived from Hyundai’s all-new Elantra family of road-going models, the front wheel drive Elantra N TCR shares the same six-speed, paddle-shift operated gearbox as the proven Veloster N TCR and the i30 N TCR.
“The Elantra N TCR takes full advantage of the new road car’s stable, high-performance chassis and sleek sedan body shape to optimize its design,” said Olabisi Boyle, vice president, Product Planning and Mobility Strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. “Its bold looks on track are sure to bring a lot of new fans to the Elantra and N Brands. Seeing the new Elantra N TCR in the paddock for this first time is going to be awesome for race fans.”
BHA’s three-car lineup will feature two Elantra N TCR entries and one Veloster N TCR, the car that provided championships to the team in 2019 and 2020. 2020 IMPC champion Ryan Norman returns to drive the #98 Elantra N TCR alongside Parker Chase. Coming off their second-place finish in the championship, which featured two victories in the 2020 IMPC, Harry Gottsacker once again joins 2019 champion, Mark Wilkins in the #33 Elantra N TCR. Additionally, BHA and Hyundai welcome Taylor Hagler; she joins the squad, teaming with 2019 co-champion Michael Lewis in the #77 Veloster N TCR car.
“2020 was a memorable and remarkable year for so many reasons, and we look forward to 2021. Hyundai has set the gold standard in TCR competition worldwide, and we are proud to continue representing them and their N Performance brand for another year of IMSA racing. The addition of the Elantra N TCR alongside the well-proven Veloster N TCR, with an incredible lineup of proven Sports Car championship drivers, gives us all the tools we need to keep Hyundai competing for wins at North America’s best natural terrain road courses,” said Bryan Herta.
BHA enters their third season of IMSA competition in 2021, coming off a banner season in 2020, where they won seven of the ten IMPC races. In addition to the team’s three-car stable, the BHA/Hyundai Customer Support program is set to expand with multiple Veloster N TCR cars. Set for his third season racing for Hyundai, Mason Filippi returns to the Hyundai squad of drivers, his driving assignment, along with additional Hyundai programs will be announced soon.
The 10-race 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge kicks off with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, January 22-24 and is followed by the Rolex 24 at Daytona January 27th – 31st. Follow our season at BryanHertaAutosport.com and on our social channels.
Ryan Norman: “I’m so excited to return with BHA and Hyundai for another season of TCR racing. We had such a good 2020 season winning the championship and coming back in 2021 as the defending champion with the new Elantra N TCR is going to be great. The team has become like a family to me and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together with the new Elantra race car.”
Parker Chase: “I am very happy to be joining Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai again for a full season in 2021. It’s exciting to debut the all new Elantra N TCR! Hyundai does a great job developing these race cars, it’s going to be fun learning a new car and showing what the Elantra N TCR car can do!”
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. Also, for 2021, BHA continues its successful partnership with Andretti Autosport fielding the #98 INDYCAR in partnership with Curb Agajanian in the NTT INDYCAR Series for driver Marco Andretti. For more information, visit: www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.
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