Bryan Herta Autosport Announces 2019 IMSA Michelin Challenge Driver Roster
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| Herta Autosport Hyundai Veloster N TCR |
Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb Agajanian will debut the Hyundai Veloster N TCR in the 2019 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season opener at Daytona International Speedway as part of the 2019 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona event. Hyundai and Bryan Herta unveiled their #98 Bryan Herta Autosport Veloster N TCR race car and announced their 2019 driver roster at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit.
In addition to unveiling this year’s challenger, Hyundai TCR veterans Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkins were confirmed to return to the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian entry while Harry Gottsacker and Mason Filippi will join the team to drive the #21 Hyundai Veloster N TCR. “We are incredibly proud to be expanding our relationship with Hyundai by bringing this all new 2019 Veloster N TCR into the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for the coming season," said Bryan Herta. He continued, “We believe we have the most exciting driver lineup in the series, with proven TCR winners Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkins sharing the #98 and two exciting young talents in Mason Filippi and Harry Gottsacker co-driving in the #21."
Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai began their partnership in 2018 with a two-car assault on the Pirelli World Challenge TCR class. They found success together immediately with the Hyundai i30N TCR, winning eight victories in 13 races with Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkins, and capturing the Team championship and Manufacturers championship for Hyundai.
Transitioning to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for 2019, the 350 horsepower Veloster N TCR was designed by the same Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Team that developed the championship-winning i30 N TCR. Like its i30 stablemate, the Veloster N TCR is produced at Hyundai Motorsport Headquarters in Alzenau, Germany. The two cars share around 85 percent of their core components, including the 350-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. “The Veloster is a perfect fit for the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge as we expand our motorsports efforts," said Dean Evans, vice president, Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “The all-new 2019 Veloster and Veloster N are playful, fun-to-drive cars, and thanks to Bryan and his team we’re excited to introduce them to racing fans across North America. In 2018, we won a manufacturer’s championship, so it is great to get back to racing with our proven veterans, a pair of great young drivers, and this brand-new car.
The highly competitive IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge is a 10-race championship across North America’s legendary racetracks. It features 8 two-hour races and 2 four-hour endurance events, beginning with round one at Daytona International Raceway January 24 -25th. Follow the action live at www.imsa.com. NBC Sports Network with air the race from Daytona at 1pm ET on Wednesday, February 6th. For more information and visit www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.
No. 21 Hyundai Veloster N TCR
Mason Filippi
Born: April 23, 1998
Residence: Alamo, CA
Website: www.masonfilippiracing.com
Recent Racing Career:
- 2018: Pirelli World Challenge TCR, 4th in the Championship (RealTime Racing)
- 2017: Pirelli World Challenge TC 1 win, 5th in championship – rookie season
- 2016: Global MX 5 Cup, Pirelli World Challenge TCA, NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill Winner (E1)
- 2015: Teen Mazda Challenge Championship, Top 8 Mazda Road to 24, NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill Winner (E1)
- 2014: SCCA SFR Rookie of the Year
Mason Filippi: “I am extremely excited to be joining Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai this year for the 2019 Michelin Pilot Challenge. I am looking forward to driving with such a strong team and the Veloster N TCR will be very competitive. The transition to IMSA’s format and long races presents a few more challenges that I am eagerly anticipating. It was great news to hear I have a fast co-driver Harry Gottsacker, He and I both have our eyes set on the podium."
Harry Gottsacker
Born: July 28, 1999
Residence: San Antonia, Texas
Website: www.harrygottsackerracing.com
Recent Racing Career:
- 2018: Pirelli World Challenge GTS 2 wins, 2nd in the GTS overall and GTS SprintX Championship.
- 2018: IMSA Prototype Challenge 4th at Petit Le Mans
- 2017: British GT Silver GT3 class win, Pirelli World Challenge GTS 2 podium finishes
- 2016: Red Bull Global Rally Cross 2 top five finishes, Pirelli World Challenge GTS 1 podium finish
Harry Gottsacker: “I am really looking forward to 2019 with Bryan Herta Autosport. They are a great organization and have had success in all levels that they have competed in. The work that we've done together as a team so far has been great, and I really look forward to working with such a great group of people throughout the season. Hyundai has been such a capable car in TCR with their i30N and I am sure the Veloster N TCR will be even better, I can’t wait to finally get my hands on it in Daytona in two weeks."
No. 98 Veloster N TCR
Michael Lewis
Born: December 24, 1990
Residence: Laguna Beach, CA, USA
Website: www.MJLRacing.com
Recent Racing Career:
- 2018 – Pirelli World Challenge TCR 4 wins, 6 poles Team (Bryan Herta Autosport) and Manufacturer (Hyundai) Champions
- 2017 – Pirelli World Challenge, SprintX Pro-Pro with K-PAX Racing
- 2017 – SRO California 8-Hours
- 2017 – 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Competition Motorsports, finished second overall
- 2016 – Pirelli World Challenge, GT and SprintX with EFFORT Racing/Curb Agajanian and Calvert Dynamics/Curb Agajanian: 2 Wins and 2 Poles, Sprint X 2 wins and 2 poles
- 2015 – Pirelli World Challenge, GT with EFFORT Racing and Curb/Agajanian
Michael Lewis: “I thank Bryan Herta for having me back on his team to help with the goal of winning races for his team and for Hyundai. The Veloster N has an incredibly strong following and it is an honor to be representing the Veloster N brand. People who follow our season can relate the Veloster N on the street to the Veloster N TCR that we use for racing purposes, and I think that is very cool. Additionally, the endurance race format with live pit stops and driver changes in the Michelin Pilot Challenge is a fun and new endeavor for our team. I am honored to join Mark Wilkins once again, and to work alongside Mason Filippi and Harry Gottsacker in our sister Veloster N TCR Race Car. Our team of engineers, management, mechanics, and drivers will work to bring attention to the fact that Hyundai not only builds efficient and economic cars, but also performance cars."
Mark Wilkins
Born: May 9, 1983
Residence: Mulmar, ON, Canada
Website: www.markwilkinsracing.com
Recent Racing Career:
- 2018 – Pirelli World Challenge TCR 3 wins, 1 pole, Team and Manufacturer (Hyundai) Champions
- 2017 – Factory driver: IMSA SportsCar Championship and the Pirelli World Challenge
- 2017 – North American Endurance Championship rounds at Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta
- 2017 – Sprint X championship in Pirelli World Challenge; victory at Utah Motorsport Campus
- 2016 – Second Sebring victory with CORE Autosport
- 2015 – PWC victory at Miller Motorsports Park
- 2014 – KIA PWC team; six podiums including two wins
Mark Wilkins: “It’s a privilege to represent Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport both on and off the race track and I look forward to showcasing the Hyundai Veloster N TCR throughout North America this season. I’m excited to be back in the IMSA paddock for 2019 with Hyundai! I love the venues we get to race at, the endurance race format and the added team component with the addition of pit stops. We’ve elevated the team aspect substantially and I’m especially excited to race with Michael in the same car. Michael is a real talent behind the wheel, a smart racer and real detail-oriented thinker. We get to carry on where we left off in 2018 and I think this is a great advantage as we dive into a new program in IMSA with a new car from Hyundai."