- Two Canadian drivers finished on podium for their home race
– Robert Wickens placed first
(native of Guelph, Ontario), and
Denis Dupont (Montreal, Quebec) who finished third.
- No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR leads Hyundai to the
manufacturer's second win and fifth double-podium of the 2024 IMSA
Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) season
- Hyundai closes Manufacturers' Championship gap to just 20
points
- Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) raise $3,500 for Hyundai Hope on Wheels after leading
35 laps
FOUNTAIN
VALLEY, Calif. and MARKHAM, ON, July 15,
2024 /CNW/ - Harry
Gottsacker and Canadian Robert
Wickens earned their first TCR win as a driver pairing as
they led Hyundai to victory and the manufacturer's fifth
double-podium of the 2024 IMPC season. This win at Canadian Tire
Motorsport Park (CTMP) on Saturday represents Wickens' second
victory at the track as he took the checkered flag alongside fellow
Canadian driver, Mark Wilkins in
2022.
Gottsacker set the No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR up for success
with a stunning qualifying performance, earning pole position for
the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120. Gottsacker got away clean
and then settled into a battle for the lead in the opening stages
of the race. After a strong performance from Gottsacker, Wickens
took over for the final leg of the race. Wickens kept up
Gottsacker's blistering pace while battling for the lead before
bringing the No. 33 car home to take the checkered flag just
.723-seconds ahead of second place.
The No. 76 and No. 77 cars had impressive races as they moved
through the field after a difficult qualifying session that saw
them starting in eighth and seventh places, respectively.
Preston Brown and Taylor Hagler quickly found pace, cutting
through the field in their stints. The two teams moved up to fourth
and fifth place before handing the cars over to Denis Dupont and Bryson
Morris respectively to close out the race. Dupont and Morris
were also able to capitalize on the strong pace of the Hyundais and
continue progress through the field, with the No. 76 finishing on
the podium in third and the No. 77 finishing just behind in
fourth.
After an early puncture, the No. 98 fought to recover despite
going a lap down. After strong performances from Mark Wilkins and Mason
Filippi, the driver duo secured a sixth-place finish.
Following the sixth round of IMPC competition, Hyundai trails by
just 20 points in the Manufacturers' Championship. Up next, the
Hyundai stable of vehicles is set to take on the Road America 120
in Wisconsin on Aug. 3, 2024.
- Top-Finishing and Top-Qualifying Hyundai: First place
for the No. 33 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR driven
by Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker
Hyundai Finishing Results
Position
|
Drivers
|
Team
|
Car
|
1
|
R. Wickens / H.
Gottsacker
|
Bryan Herta
Autosport
|
#33 Elantra N
TCR
|
3
|
P. Brown / D.
Dupont
|
Bryan Herta
Autosport
|
#76 Elantra N
TCR
|
4
|
T. Hagler / B.
Morris
|
Bryan Herta
Autosport
|
#77 Elantra N
TCR
|
6
|
M. Filippi / M.
Wilkins
|
Bryan Herta
Autosport
|
#98 Elantra N
TCR
|
10
|
T. Gonzalez / M.
Burkhard
|
Victor Gonzalez Racing
Team
|
#99 Elantra N
TCR
|
Hyundai Championship Standings
Position
|
Drivers
|
Team
|
Car
|
Total
Points
|
2
|
P. Brown / D.
Dupont
|
Bryan Herta
Autosport
|
#76 Elantra N
TCR
|
1780
|
3
|
R. Wickens / H.
Gottsacker
|
Bryan Herta
Autosport
|
#33 Elantra N
TCR
|
1740
|
4
|
M. Filippi / M.
Wilkins
|
Bryan Herta
Autosport
|
#98 Elantra N
TCR
|
1590
|
6
|
T. Hagler / B.
Morris
|
Bryan Herta
Autosport
|
#77 Elantra N
TCR
|
1440
|
IMSA TCR Manufacturer Standings
Position
|
Manufacturer
|
Total
Points
|
1
|
Audi
|
2000
|
2
|
Hyundai
|
1980
|
3
|
Alfa Romeo
|
1780
|
4
|
Honda
|
1740
|
Hyundai Hope On Wheels
In 2024, Hyundai Hope On
Wheels has pledged to donate $100 for every lap that a Hyundai Elantra N TCR
is in the lead for during every race of the season. At Watkins Glen
International, Hyundai cars led 35 laps, resulting in a
$3,500 donation by Hyundai and Bryan
Herta Autosport to Hope On Wheels.
About Hyundai Auto Canada
Hyundai Auto Canada, established in 1983 and headquartered in
Markham, Ontario, was the first
subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company outside of Korea. Hyundai
offers Canadian consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs,
and electrified vehicles. Today, with over 250 dealerships across
Canada, Hyundai is the official
automotive partner of the National Hockey League Players'
Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL®) in
Canada. Hyundai has been
recognized as one of the Top 50 Best Workplaces™ in Canada for the last five years by the Great
Place to Work® Institute. More information about Hyundai and its
vehicles can be found at www.HyundaiCanada.com.
For more information about Hyundai and its
products, please
visit www.hyundainews.ca or
contact:
Jenn
McCarthy
National Manager, Public
Relations
jmccarthy@hyundaicanada.com
416-770-0842
SOURCE Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.