- Promising start to Road America 240 as Honda Civic Type R TCR duo line up second and fourth for endurance run
- #89 HART Honda suffers from early contact with GS category car
- VGRT #99 leads at halfway, but later retires with wheel issue
It was a difficult day for Honda at Road America as the pair of Honda Civic Type R TCR machines failed to finish the Road America 240.
Both Honda entries started up front in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series' second four-hour race of the year, showing promising pace early in the weekend. Chad Gilsinger qualified the #89 HART Honda Civic Type R TCR in the second position, while Victor Gonzalez put his #99 Civic fourth on the grid.
It was an unfortunate early exit for the #89 following contact with a GS class car, damaging the left front suspension. Though the team worked to get it fixed and got out on track for a period of time after, the damage inflicted by the GS car was too extensive and the Gilsinger, Steve Eich and Ryan Eversley-piloted car was ultimately retired.
Starting fourth, Victor Gonzalez stormed to the front of the TCR field, leading more than a dozen laps, including at the halfway mark in his VGRT #99 Honda Civic Type R TCR. However, a vibration began to develop at the front of the car and eventually Gonzalez would lose a wheel just past the halfway point of the race—ending a promising run before co-driver Karl Wittmer had a chance behind the wheel.
Next
The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge next heads to VIRginia International Raceway in Danville, Va.., for the August 27 Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix.
HPD has three ready-to-race Civic models for touring car competition. The line starts with the affordable and reliable Civic Si TCA race car, then leads to the Civic Type R TC racer that puts legendary Type R performance on track, and culminates with the no-compromise, championship-winning Civic Type R TCR race car. Our unparalleled trackside support at every level from HPD engineers is a unique benefit that no other manufacturer can offer. Find out more about these cars and our touring programs at: https://hpd.honda.com/Motorsports/Touring
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