The Hyundai Motor America-supported team won all three TCR class titles from the season

Elantra N TCR driver Harry Gottsacker secured his second IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge title as part of a Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai sweep of the Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ Championships in the US-based series.

The race for the Drivers’ crown came down to the final laps of the season-ending two-hour race at Road Atlanta, with Gottsacker finishing the year just 20 points clear of Bryan Herta Autosport team-mates Preston Brown and Denis Dupont in the #76 Elantra N TCR. Ultimately, while Dupont drove to second during the second part of the contest, Gottsacker’s fourth place finish in the #98 car was enough to take back the title he won in 2023 alongside Robert Wickens.

That the title battle came down to Gottsacker against Brown and Dupont was fitting, given their respective starts to the 2025 campaign. Between them they shared the victories at the first four rounds as the Hyundai Motor America-backed team got off to a perfect start. Brown and Dupont provided a first-ever Hyundai victory at Daytona International Speedway in the four-hour season opener, as well as at Laguna Seca at the head of an Elantra N TCR 1-2-3.

Gottsacker and co-driver Mason Filippi were second across the line at Laguna Seca and won at both Sebring and Mid-Ohio. Round 5, at Watkins Glen, proved a turning point in the season. Firstly, with Filippi part of the Team Americas line-up that finished second in the TCR class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Gottsacker partnered with Parker Chase to take third – setting Gottsacker on the path to his solo title. Secondly, it marked the start of a run of form for Bryan Herta Autosport’s rivals that ultimately left Gottsacker in second place heading into the final round.

After winning the first four races, Elantra N TCR teams claimed only one of the remaining six rounds – Bryson Morris and Mark Wilkins at Road America. However, Gottsacker and Filippi’s consistency – finishing fourth three times – limited the points lost and kept Gottsacker in contention. At the final round the proven reliability of the Elantra N TCR was decisive, as the only other car in the title battle retired with a mechanical problem, leaving the two Bryan Herta Autosport crews to decide the champion.

For his part in Gottsacker’s winning season, Filippi finished sixth in the standings ahead of Wilkins and Morris, who finished seventh and ninth in the championship, respectively – their partnership also broken by the Watkins Glen-N24 clash. The pair were split by series’ debutants Madison Aust and Suellio Almeida, who took their best result of the season – fourth – at Daytona. Jon Miller and Lance Bergstein joined the Bryan Herta Autosport stable from fellow Elantra N TCR team Victor Gonzalez Racing for the second half of the season, while other Elantra N TCR on the grid were run by Pegram Racing and Rockwell Autosport Development.

2025 is the fifth time that Bryan Herta Autosport, their drivers and Hyundai have swept the series’ three TCR class titles since entering the championship in 2019. In that time, they have won a total of 18 titles – six Drivers’, six Teams’ and six Manufacturers’ in IMSA competition.

Harry Gottsacker said: “It’s hard to believe that we came from behind to win the championship at Road Atlanta!  It was an up and down season with so many defining moments. I can’t thank Bryan, Sean, and Ross for putting me behind the wheel of this #98 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR. Phil, Megan, and Andrew led us through the season with determination and the attitude that we can execute when it matters. Mason and Parker killed it on track with me and we share this championship in 2025.  It is a pleasure to chase our dreams every weekend as a team.”

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Manager Benoit Nogier said:

“Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing’s partnership with Bryan Herta Autosport has been one of the longest and most successful. Together, we have won titles since the very start in 2018 and the Elantra N TCR has become the car to beat in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, but every season is very competitive right to the very end. Again, this year, the title was only decided in the final race in favour of Harry Gottsacker after another consistent season, despite some tough opposition in the second half of the year, and the reliability of the Elantra N TCR proved crucial at the end. 2025 has been another successful campaign, with Elantra N TCR teams taking victory in half the races, including a first win at Daytona in arguably the biggest race in the series.”