Hyundai takes top spot at racing event
Hyundai has grown its Manufacturers’ Championship lead in the racing world after a win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120 by Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins in their No. 98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR. This win at the Battle on the Bricks is the manufacturer’s third victory of the season. Drivers Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens claimed the second step of the podium in the No. 33 entry to complete Hyundai’s one-two finish at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In addition to these stellar results, Bosch unveiled a new hand control system for Robert Wickens. The redesigned system allows for “more consistency across the application of brakes, faster response rates and advanced diagnostics for safety,” according to Bosch. The new hardware reduces friction and allows Wickens to rely more on his own power to apply the brakes while providing increased precision. Wickens explains the specifics of the new Bosch hand control system in a video hosted on IMSA’s YouTube page.
After a red flag during qualifying prevented the No. 98 car from setting a time, the driver duo started the race from back of the TCR grid. Despite this setback, Mark Wilkins quickly found pace around the historic track, knifing through the field in the race’s early stages, bringing the No. 98 car towards the front of the field. After a strategic decision to stay out during a caution allowed his team to inherit the lead, Wilkins eventually pitted while first, handing the car over to Mason Filippi to complete the final leg of the race.
Filippi was immediately up to speed. Not only did he maintain the lead after the pitting, he built a large gap over the rest of the TCR field. Despite this buffer, a dramatic closing stint ensued, as it wasn’t guaranteed that the No. 98 had enough fuel to complete the 120-minute sprint. Filippi would ultimately persevere and take the checkered flag after 30 minutes of fuel saving, securing the No. 98 drivers their first victory of the 2024 IMPC campaign.
Similar to the No. 98 car, the shortened qualifying session saw drivers Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens start 11th in the 13-car field in their No. 33 car. Gottsacker made impressive progress during his opening stint, holding the car at the front of the field after following the same strategy as No. 98. A long pitstop during the driver change cut into the team’s progress, but Wickens was quick to recover as he set blistering lap times. Like the No. 98 car, the one-stop strategy forced Wickens to conserve fuel, but he managed the closing laps of the race expertly to bring home second place, improving the duo’s standings in the Drivers’ Championship by shrinking the gap in the standings to a mere 150-point deficit to first place.
After starting in second-to-last place, drivers Bryson Morris and Taylor Hagler had their work cut out for them in the No. 77 car. Hagler opened the race and continued to show the strong pace of the Hyundai Elantra N TCR as she joined her teammates at the end of the TCR field before pitting. After the driver change, Morris continued to hold a strong position before pitting for a second time for a splash of fuel. After driving a strong closing stint, Morris took fourth place, locking down an impressive three of the top four positions for Hyundai.
In the No. 99 Victor Gonzalez Racing Team Hyundai Elantra N TCR, Morgan Burkhard and Tyler Gonzalez ran a strong race, leading multiple laps before contact in the latter half of the race caused them to fall down the running order. The team finished in tenth.
An early collision ended drivers Preston Brown and Denis Dupont’s day in the No. 76 car, despite having been the race’s top-qualifying Hyundai.
Heading into the final round of IMPC competition, Hyundai leads the Manufacturers’ Championship by 90 points. Up next, Hyundai will take on Road Atlanta for the final round with the Fox Factory 120 on Oct. 11, 2024.