Hyundai Returns to IMSA Action with Formidable, Four Car Line-Up

The Advent Health 120

July 16-17, 2020

Round: 2 of the 10 race 2020 Michelin Pilot Challenge

Racetrack: Sebring International Raceway

3.74-mile road course, featuring 17 turns

Race: Friday, July 17, 2020 at 2:30 pm ET (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

Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) Fast Facts:

174 and We Are READY: It will be a 174 day gap from the checkered flag at Daytona to the green flag at Sebring for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. This is double the length of a normal “off-season,” which occurs from the end the championship in October and finishes at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.

In The News: BHA took advantage of the unexpected break from competition in a BIG way:

  • The team announced its expansion to a four-car team last month, adding the #29 Vertical Bridge Hyundai Veloster N TCR with drivers Parker Chase and Spencer Brockman.
  • Hyundai announced their sponsorship of the IMSA event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship will take place Oct. 30 โ€“ 1.
  • Working with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) assembled more than 8,000 PPE face shields for the stateโ€™s first responders.
  • Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport hosted the Hyundai Drivers’ Camp in Indianapolis in February. The camp was attended by Hyundai’s North American drivers and featured four days of intense physical and cognitive training.


Bryan’s View:
โ€œFinally is the word that comes to mind about resuming our season and returning to Sebring. The drivers, mechanics, engineers…we can’t wait to get back on track. Weโ€™re excited to welcome Parker and Spencer along with Vertical Bridge and our new team members on the #29 Veloster.โ€ – Bryan Herta

#29 Vertical Bridge/Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Drivers: Parker Chase and Spencer Brockman

Best Start: N/Aย ย Best Finish: N/Aย ย Championship: N/A

  • Parker and Spencer will make their IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge debut at Sebring. The driver’s completed a successful “shake-down” of the #29 car at Palm Beach Raceway.
  • This will be Spencerโ€™s first-time executing pit stops.


Parker Chase:
โ€œThis will be my first weekend in a front wheel drive car and I have a lot to learn quickly.ย I am confident that Spencer and I will be successful with the great teammates and team we have around us.โ€

Spencer Brockman: โ€œThe experience here from Bryan, my teammates, the engineers, and mechanics…all the way through the program is a great asset and opportunity for me. Parker and I will be preparing all weekend with pit stop practice focusing on our driver changes and flawless execution in and out of the pit lane.โ€

#21 Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Drivers: Harry Gottsacker and Mark Wilkins

Best Start: 2ndย ย Best Finish: 6thย Championship: 6th

  • Mark won the 2019 IMPC Drivers Championship with then co-driver Michael Lewis.
  • Harry won two races in his rookie season in 2019 with BHA and finished second in the championship.


Harry Gottsacker: โ€œSebring was a track that I really enjoyed last year, and it was my first time there in 2019.ย I will be leaning on Markโ€™s vast experience at this unique place this time around as we fight for the victory.โ€

Mark Wilkins: โ€œOver the past few months, I have worked hard on being ready to go both mentally and physically. I also spent some time doing some lapping in the Veloster N road car thanks to the folks at Hyundai Canada! As usual, keeping hydrated will be key! The heat is likely to affect our setups a bit as the track will be different, but we expect that and are prepared to get the most out of our Veloster N.โ€

#33 Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Drivers: Gabby Chaves and Ryan Norman

Best Start: 7thย ย Best Finish: 5thย ย Championship: 5th

#33 Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Best Start: 7thย ย Best Finish: 5thย ย Championship: 5th

  • The #33 car led in its debut at Daytona.
  • Gabby Chaves is doing double-duty this weekend, racing the #5 Prototype for Action Express Racing.ย 


Gabby Chaves:
โ€œSebring is an amazing track, it’s challenging and physical, which will be intensified racing there in July. I have been training in these conditions to prepare and I am ready.โ€

Ryan Norman: โ€œItโ€™s been so long but I am physically and mentally ready. I was able to really prepare myself over quarantine with everything I needed including a sim. I am more motivated than ever to come out of the gate with a good result.โ€

#98 Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Best Start: 4thย ย Best Finish: 4thย ย Championship: 4th

  • Michael Lewis is the defending IMPC Driver’s Champion with Mark Wilkins, his 2019 co-driver. He finished 6th at Sebring in 2019.


Mason Filippi:
โ€œI missed driving and the feeling of racing you cannot have anywhere else but the track. During our time off, working on the sim with my teammates as well as on the treadmill has kept me ready for Sebring. I canโ€™t wait to hit Turn 1 in the Veloster N TCR!โ€

Michael Lewis: โ€œMy favorite section of the track is the Turn 10 trough Turn 13 complex. I love the flow there, how you can use the curbs, and also how you must brake for those two turns, especially Turn 13 because it’s not a perfectly straight brake zone. Our Hyundai Veloster N TCR is strong on the brakes and getting in-and-out of corners quickly. The Hyundai program has a huge fan following in Florida with Veloster N Fan Club and we intend to represent them in victory lane!โ€

 

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. Hyundaiโ€™s technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assuranceโ€”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.

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