News

BHA FAST FACTS:

Back to the Top: Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis shot back to the top of the charts after the second race at Watkins Glen two weeks ago. Consistency is key for the duo, finishing in the top three in the last four races. They currently have a healthy 130-point advantage over the rest of the field.

Previously at Lime Rock Park: The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge last raced at Lime Rock Park in 2019, with six of BHA’s eight current drivers on the podium at that event. Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkins won the race en route to their title in 2019. Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson were second, while driving for another manufacturer, and Harry Gottsacker and Mason Filippi were third in the Veloster N TCR. Michael Lewis’s impressive qualifying run for the TCR pole position was just .071 seconds behind the GS pole winner in 2019, starting on the front row, second overall.

 Mid-Season Stats: Through the first half of the season, the BHA Hyundai Velosters and Elantras have scored one victory and five podium finishes. Harry Gottsacker scored the team’s first pole position of the season in the last round at Watkins Glen.

 Suits our Strengths: Lime Rock Park is the shortest track on the IMPC circuit by more than half a mile, and with the lack of long straightaways, the track requires cars to excel in braking, cornering and handling, all strong attributes of the Hyundai racecars.

#33 Elantra N TCR

Best Start: 1st Best Finish: 5th Championship Standings: 9th
Harry Gottsacker earned the first IMSA pole position for the Elantra at the previous round at Watkin Glen
The Elantra was named the 2021 North American Car of the Year

Mark Wilkins: “My best memory of Limerock Park was Michael’s qualifying Pole lap time in 2019 that almost put us on the overall Pole; Only one GS car out qualified us. Our Veloster N TCR was totally hooked up that weekend and we came home with a Win while Harry and Mason joined us on the podium. I’m excited to get back to Limerock this week! The fans are incredible and the track yields some of the best racing of the season. Traffic is always an issue and there is no time to rest anywhere around the short lap. Our Elantra N TCR will be well suited to this circuit and after a challenging first half of the season, Harry and I are eager to have a strong weekend that sees us back up front fighting for a race Win!”

2021 Highlight: “My highlight of the season thus far was Harry’s mega qualifying effort at Watkins Glen that put us on the Pole. He drove a great opening stint before an issue set us back. We showed great pace and we were poised to have a strong finish. Although our end result at the Glen was tough to accept, we had a lot of positives that give us a great deal of confidence going into Limerock this weekend. Our first session on Friday can’t come soon enough!”

Harry Gottsacker: “Lime Rock is a tough place – it’s small, but high speed and high risk. I remember in 2019 that the conditions were the most difficult that we faced all year, I was super dehydrated when I got out of the car and really hot. The interesting thing about Lime Rock is that the speed delta between GS and TCR cars is not that much and towards the end of the stint we could find ourselves pretty high up the board. I was on the podium there last time we visited and we need a podium to get our 2021 season back on track.”