VGRT score first IMSA podium with Elantra N TCR

Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens completed the TCR class podium at the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge event at VIRginia International Raceway (August 23-25), making crucial gains in the standings as they moved into second in the championship.

The defending class champions brought their Elantra N TCR home third, providing the second half of another double-podium for Hyundai Motorsport customer teams in the series. The result at the end of the two-hour contest completed a strong weekend for Hyundai Motorsport customers at the twisting, undulating circuit.

Bryson Morris qualified the #77 entry on pole position and led the first half of the race until completing the driver change pit stop to hand over to Taylor Hagler during a mid-race Safety Car period. The interruption brough most of the TCR leaders to the pits at the same time and it was Tyler Gonzalez in the #99 Victor Gonzalez Racing Team (VGRT) Elantra N TCR who emerged in the lead. Following the restart, he exchanged the lead with Gottsacker, before starting to pull away in the lead. However, in the closing laps Gonzalez came under intense pressure from another competitor. Though he was able to heroically defend the lead for a number of laps he was eventually forced back into second with three laps remaining – the final three laps would be the only ones not led by an Elantra N TCR all race.

The runner-up finish, though, was still the first podium for VGRT since becoming Hyundai Motorsport customers in the final part of the 2023 season. Gottsacker and Wickens’ third place moved the defending champions into second – past their Bryan Herta Autosport team-mates Preston Brown and Denis Dupont, who lost a handful of laps during the first half of the race to a technical problem. More importantly, with two race remaining, they were able to cut the deficit to the championship leaders to 180 points.

Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins combined to finish fourth. Hagler brought the #77 home in sixth place.