Welcome, north of the border, to Canada, eh. It's time for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120. This fabled ribbon of racing asphalt was once known as Mosport Park and diehard fans from the USA and Canada alike, still refer to it by its traditional name rather than the corporate branding of the Canadian Tire company, a tire dealer. 36 cars, 21 Grand Sport (GT4), and 15 TCR, will start today's two-hour motor race. Let's have a Captain Cook at our class polesitters. Today, Robert Wickens' homecoming is coming full circle after he won in TCR at Watkins Glen last weekend, for his first win since 2017. One of the most inspiring stories in all of motor racing in 2022. Robert Wickens' determination has been absolutely remarkable.
He drove with his team to Canada and had a press conference and loads of interviews. His son, Wesley Joseph Wickens is born on Friday, and now, he is back at the track but because he did not qualify he starts at the back of the grid in TCR. In the Grand Sport division for GT4 sports cars, five brands have won, and we could see a sixth. Frank Depew and Robin Liddell have a shot of this race possibly being theirs. No driver duo has a repeat win. Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak have pole in the #72 Murillo Racing Mercedes AMG GT4.
17 Grand Sport cars in the field. Roy Block and Tim Lewis Jr. lead the points by 30 markers over Mike Lewis and Taylor Hagler. In TCR, the #77 entry, the Hyundai is on pole for Tyler Maxson and Mason Filippi. They feel their luck will turn around. One crewman went to by a succulent plant and they are using said plant as a good luck charm. The #5 KMW TMR Alfa Romeo has won twice but they are struggling today at CTMP, Tim Lewis Jr. and starting driver Roy Block. What is going to happen? We're about to find out.
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is an amazing track. 2.59 miles with 171 feet of elevation change. Watch the blind entry, flat out into turn two. It is like a runaway locomotive. Moss Corner at turn five, named for the late Sir Stirling Moss, up the Mario Andretti straightaway into turn eight and then complete the lap. This track is remarkable. The 32 car field is forming up for a split start. GS cars off first.
It is time. The safety car is in the pit lane. Green flag! Let's go! Into the lead it is both Murillo Racing Mercedes cars. Kenny Murillo leading Marc Miller as we also see Alan Brynjolfsson and Damien Fineschi going for it right away and the TCR start sees the Hyundai go right ahead of the Audi. Big move by Brunjolfsson and almost plows right into the Toyota Supra ahead! Up the Mario Andretti straightaway for the first time as Hugh Plumb makes his move right 'round Alan Brynjolfsson. Mike McCann in the #8 McCann Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 moves past as well. So, Mercedes 1-2 followed by the Toyota and now it is actually both of the Ford Mustang GT4's moving up including the #40 PF Racing entry in the hands of James Pesek, sharing with Chad McCumbee.
Through Moss corner, with the resurfacing of the track, it is not so bumpy. Not like it used to be. Damien Fineschi has dropped to third place. He is driving the Toyota Supra for the first time and on this track for the first time. He is a mechanical engineer who chooses drivers to come and race this car. He has raced in Portugal and at a high level. But he is a newbie himself. Alan Brynjolfsson is floored to be back racing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. He will have to balance aggression with finesse. This is the middle portion of the season and they are looking at getting track position and points. The elbows are out already. We have just begun this motor race for Michelin Pilot Challenge. Good stuff so far.
Mercedes, Mercedes, Toyota, Porsche, and Aston Martin at the head of Grand Sport. In replay, off the road is the #61 Road Shagger Racing Audi RS3 LMS TCR of Gavin Ernstone sharing with Jon Morley. Now, we move to a scrzazp up the Mario Andretti straightaway. Trying to see who is in that fight. It looks like it is Hugh Plumb monstering Damien Fineschi. Fineschi has his sights set on Marc Miller in the #56 Mercedes AMG GT4 he is sharing alongside Eric Foss this weekend. A good battle developing too in TCR. Audi vs. Hyundai.
Parker Chase in the #98 BHA Elantra chasing the Audi in the hands of Chris Miller. You can see the rollercoaster nature of this track. It is good to be back in Canada after a few years away due to the global pandemic. But now, IMSA are back and the fans north of the border seem to be enjoying the motor racing, young and old alike. We are just to the north side of Lake Ontario. Canada Day in Canada and Independence Day in America, this weekend. TCR have caught the GS cars. TCR cars have such speed in the turns.
The TCR pack is compressed as Chris Miller wants past Tyler Maxson, look. Mark Siegel in the #93 gray CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Porsche Cayman is ahead. The GS cars will have the legs on the Mario Andretti straightaway but in the turns, we'll see the TCR cars move in. Travis Hill in the TWOth Autosport Audi is battling for the TCR lead in this motor race. Car #26 has Hill sharing with Eddie Kileen. Parker Chase passes Hill. Taylor Hagler is looking to make a move as well along with her teammate Michael Lewis and they gave up a place for a drive time penalty from last weekend at Watkins Glen.
The Hyundai's are all over the shop. They are everywhere. Parker Chase passes A.J. Muss for third spot. Travis Hill is moving in to try and make his move but he has the other two Hyundai Elantra's right on his six. Down through turn one is a bear of a place to pass here at CTMP. Robert Wickens has moved up to eighth in class in TCR as Ted Giovanis has a spot of bother in the Porsche Cayman. Through turn two, he is surrounded by TCR's and got squeezed by a Hyundai! Parker Chase makes contact with Giovanis, and the #64 spins out.
That was a racing incident. A wee bit of time lost but no damage. Giovanis sharing with Owen Trinkler. Ernstone has some biff and barge into the pit lane as the #19 Hyundai Veloster of Rory van der Steur moves to the pit lane and Gavin Ernstone takes evasive action and thank God he did not wreck! van der Steur has a cut tire and now, the bonnet is open on that Hyundai. That is no tire issue. They had a DNF at Watkins Glen. They worked on a busted exhaust manifold on the car until 3:30 A.M. this morning. Rory is crushed. He cannot believe it! Hugh Plumb off the road another time! Goodness gracious!
Hugh and Matt Plumb, with engineer Joe Varde, they cannot believe it. Team TGM have had a litany of woe as that Cayman is spewing smoke. Is that an oiling problem? I wonder. Full Course Yellow. Full Course Yellow, to remove the blue, white, and orange Porsche Cayman and bring it to a safe haven off the course. So, the marshals are doing precisely that as the flatbed truck comes to rescue the stricken Porsche. No changes yet at the sharp end with just 20 minutes on the board. The driver is out of the #46 checking in with the safety personnel. Pit stop time for GS cars. One of the Toyota Suprea's is in and so is one of the Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT4's as are the Porsche's and the Stephen Cameron Racing #43 BMW M4 GT4 of Sean Quinlan and Greg Liefooghe.
The field is now circulating behind the Chevrolet Corvette C8 safety car. Now then, the TCR field is in the lane for regular service including fuel and tires. It may be a wee bit early for driver changes. Fast, precise service from the pit cews as the TCR field recycles itself. All of these cars equipped with 2.0 liter, turbocharged, 4 cylinder engines. The fans both young and old are so glad to have the sports cars back here at CTMP. Last weekend at Watkins Glen, Turner Motorsports and BMW went to victory lane but yesterday, Dillon Machavern and Bill Auberlen did not even start this race.
Only one car in the field at Turner Motorsports, truly. The #96 sister car of Robby Foley and Vincent Barletta. Auberlen explains the extensive damage which broke the suspension, the sub frame, the strut tower and so on. Poor old Dillon Machavern had a horrible crackup. They will be back, but in a spare car. We are ready to go back to green. Half an hour of the race now gone. Frank DePew will hand over to Robin Liddell in the #71 Rebel Rock Racing Camaro GT4.R as Sheena Monk and Kyle Marcelli at their home track, also have a shot in their PF Racing #3 Ford Mustang GT4. Keep the driver on the track and do this race on one more stop.
Sheena Monk going for it trying to pass Frank DePew. She has to given it up. Here comes Damien Fineschi as well aboard the Toyota. In replay, on the Mario Andretti straightaway, she hit the brakes t not run over debris on the road. Supra vs. Mustang. All tires are up. Aaron Telitz who also drives for Lexus and Vasser Sullivan Racing. Damien Fineschi sharing the #14 Toyota with Diego Azar. James Pesek is all over Tim Probert through the final turn. Probert slams the door in Pesek's face through that final turn which can be calamity corner. The Audi vs. Hyundai TCR scrum is still raging. One the Hyundai's takes a drive through for speeding in the lane.Ernstone slides out wide into Moss corner. Deary me. He is now monstering Eric Rockwell in the #15 Audi, the Belgard Racing entry.
Down the hill, back up, into turn three on exit of turn two as the #2 Hyundai bicycles. Flat through the kink and down the hill and then, the Audi gets squeezed to the outside and nearly clatters Rockwell in the #15. Yikes! Roy Block dodged a major bullet, the leaders in the TCR championship and another car off the road at Moss! That was the #2 BHA Elantra with A.J. Muss at the wheel of it. Aye yaye yaye yaye yaye. Boom! He thumped that curb. That was a bear! Muss a former snowboarder, he hit the moguls there, mate. That was close!
Meantime, Pesek in the Mustang as we ride onboard, he is not done yet with the Murillo Mercedes! Oh dear. They are side by side down the straight and into turn one. Pesek wants by Probert for the fifth spot. Probert moves to the inside. He blocks Pesek from moving in for the pass. This is hot and heavy motor racing once again up the Mario Andretti straightaway. TCR is still wild. We can see A.J. Muss zoning in another time on one of the Audi's. You have a Hyundai, Audi, Honda battle in TCR and then it is a veritable candy dish of GT4 manufacturers.
You have Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, Toyota, Ford, and Aston Martin along with a Chevrolet Camaro or two. Many different flavors. Chocolate, nuts, coconut, caramel, peanut butter. You name it. Kenny Murillo from pole is still leading the motor race over teammate Marc Miller. Mike McCann in the #8 Porsche Cayman is pushing and so is Alan Brynjolfsson. 40 minutes gone and now driver changes are acceptable. From the tail end of the field, Robert Wickens, last week's winner, he is pressing hard at his home track. It has been some time since he has been here to Mosport (CTMP). Wickens and Wilkins are looking for a win as we see a picture of Carly and Robert Wickens' newborn son Wesley. Congratulations.
Mark Wilkins does a lot of track days here at CTMP when not racing professionally. Oh wow. Miller wants by Murillo who is lapping the CarBahn Porsche of Mark Siegel. Marc Miller sharing the #56 Murillo Mercedes with Eric Foss and here comes Mike McCann Jr. to second place as another Murillo Benz is in the lane for service. That is a strategy call to do a driver change. Full tanks, they should stay on the lead lap, and now, Tim Probert is going to hand over #65 to Brent Mosing. But, this is not a strategy call. Probert said on the radio, "I've got trouble with the car."
It is a misfire. Will they take the car back on track or to the garage? Frank DePew in tenth place he is being chased by Vinny Barletta and by Sean Quinlan. DePew wide through turn four and hammers the curb on the downhill! Ouch! Keep focused. DePew will hand the car over to Robin Liddell for the second half of the race as we watch a couple of Porsche's also racing in this scrum. Nick Galante and Tom Collingwood are the Porsche's for Hardpoint and for BGB Motorsports, respectively. Galante sharing the Hardpoint entry with Sean McAllister. Collingwood in the #83 BGB Motorsports entry is teamed up with Spencer Pumpelly.
TCR, close racing. Audi vs. Hyundai. Two on one it appears for the lead of this motor race. Miller followed by Chase and Wickens. Wickens now fending off a challenge from Hill as well, look. Victor Gonzalez also wants a bite of the cherry. Ye olde plot doth thicken in TCR. The #8 McCann Racing Porsche goes off the road and back on. Mike McCann Jr. has to regroup. Well, well, well. #8 is back on the button but headed for the pit lane for green flag pit service. He had just gotten off track and now he will hand the Porsche to Andrew Davis. McCann missed the turn in point all by his lonesome as we see in replay.
A racing Porsche, hop on the bonnet and jump down when you pull the hose out of the filler cap. Back in TCR land, Chris Miller being chased by Travis Hill from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, who will hand over to Eddie Killeen. We are nearing the halfway mark in the race. The dominos are going to start falling. Roy Block changing over to Tim Lewis in the #5 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce. Victor Gonzalez in the VCMG #88 Honda Civic has stayed out but will pit and be stationary in the lane for an additional 15 seconds or so.
Yikes! Easy. Argy bargy madness there between teammates! Hyundai's are feisty as we see this motor race continuing to chop and change all the time. We continue to lo0k at the TCR battle as the #61 Road Shagger Audi is in the lane with Jon Morley now taking over from Gavin Ernstone. KMW TMR Alfa Romeo and JDC-Miller Motorsports Audi, now both in the lane. Driver change at JDC-Miller as Chris Miller hands the car to South African, Mikey Taylor. One of the other Audi's in the lane has smoke emanating from it, or is that only dust? Hard to tell. The TCR lead has changed. Audi on Audi as Travis Hill from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, move ahead at their home race.
They have been shuffling up and down the order. The TCR leaders must hit the pit lane to keep their advantage so they don't lose track position. That's for dead sure. Travis Hill and company with the generation two Audi, made the debut at Watkins Glen, New York, last weekend. They have two cars, the #26 and #48, and both cars had fuel line woes. All the drivers here are from Toronto and they know this track. The #48 has Ron Tomlinson sharing with Nick Looijmans. TWOth Autosport. In the pit lane now, the #71 Rebel Rock Camaro.
Robin Liddell now getting hehind the wheel. Three races in four weekends for Michelin Pilot Challenge. We will be seeing a race for MPC at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, in two weeks. So, we'll remind you of that again when this race is over. Aston Martin #7 to the lane and now Trent Hindman takes over. Robert Wickens also to the lane in Hyundai #33. Wickens is helped by his trainer out of the car and carried to the pit wall. He will be watching Mark Wilkins. Even with minimal track time, Wilkins and Wickens are looking for even more.
Some contact out of Moss corner between the two Hyundai teammates for Tyler Maxson and Parker Chase. Mason Filippi his co-driver now takes over. Bryan Herta Autosport team manager Phil Howard will be miffed about all this argy bargy. Look out for the brakes. #77 have not finished a race yet this year. Ryan Norman takes over the #2 Hyundai from A.J. Muss as well. Kenny Murillo continues to lead Marc Miller. Christian Szymczak and Eric Foss will be the next drivers into these two cars. To the lane comes #56. Hyundai #98 in the lane too, Parker Chase finishing his stint handing over to Harry Gottsacker.
54 minutes left in the race as Eric Foss will resume the race taking over from Marc Miller. Jeff Mosing, regular driver, has had broken ribs he is healing from. Marc Miller hurt his left foot not long ago but has fully healed up. Off the road big style in turn four from Stephen Simpson in the #54 Hyundai! Christian Szymczak now in the #72 Murillo Racing Mercedes. Szymczak and company earned a pole for this event. What can he do before the finish? Szymczak down and away. Damian Fineschi, the erstwhile leader. Eric Foss will try passing Christian Szymczak. He has the tire temperature and does the undercut.
So, Eric Foss in the new leader of the motor race here in Canada. Into the pit lane, the erstwhile leader in car #14, the Riley Motorsports Toyota Supra. Damien Fineschi handing over to Diego Azar in this all-Argentinian team. Turner Motorsports also into the lane with their sole remaining entry. This is the Foley/Barletta car. You haven't missed much in TCR. Travis Hill leads in class over Mason Filippi, Mark Wilkins, Harry Gottsacker, and Michael Lewis. So, a Canadian is leading his home race but they need a driver change yet. In Grand Sport, Eric Foss will retake the lead overall and in Grand Sport. Eddie Killeen will need his minimum drive time.
Trent Hindman is now third in the #7 Aston Martin. As they run, Murillo could still be leading Volt Racing. We will have another race for these boys in two weeks. Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. A bullring of a circuit. Eddie Kileen and Travis Hill have raced together now for about seven years and Hill has been a driving coach for him. They are 54 seconds ahead of Mason Filippi in Hyundai #77. They may lose the lead with this pit stop. How will Kileen's pace work out? We're about to see. Under 45 minutes to go. Front tires on the #26 Audi. This should put them in a window to finish the motor race.
The team had to wait and see until when the other driver got back over the wall. I wonder if that is a rule from a championship here in Canada, they were not used to not being there in IMSA. Canadian Touring Car Championship, perhaps? The race is definitely on between teammates in TCR with Hyundai and in GS with Murillo Mercedes. Foss being harried by Szymczak for the overall lead. 40 minutes to go. This race has flown by. Szymczak wants to make a move into the downhill turn at turn ten, the final corner on the circuit. Now they move onto another lap uphill and down dale through turn two, a very long corner. Two teammates vying for victory. Can Eric Foss keep Christian Szymczak at bay? Aaron Telitz is now at the wheel of the #14 Riley Motorsports Toyota Supra.
Kenny Murillo is amazed his team is 1-2 right now. They want a win. That's for sure. Travis Hill says that the team is using a driver assistant to help with the driver change. Coming into IMSA with the new generation two Audi, it is a hard thing to see except for comfort in pace. They are running in FPL Canadian national TCR series. They were sorting out fueling and refueling issues they saw but they are confident in the final 35 minutes of this event. Mason Filippi leads in class over Mark Wilkins and Harry Gottsacker.
Chad McCumbee in the #40 PF Racing Mustang and he is a wheel man, a former Street Tuner champion. He is fifth overall and in the GS class. Closer and closer to the end of the motor race. We are seeing final pit stops before the checkered flag here this afternoon but are keenly watching the lead scrap between teammates. Foss vs. Szymczak. A lapped TGM Porsche Cayman moves over for the leaders and their next target will be the TCR #17 Audi as we also see trouble for one of the Hyundai's! Punctured tire for one f them. Which is it? Some argy bargy in replay there between Vinny Barletta and Andrew Davis! Ooh!
Right front corner damage, too, look, on the #98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR which is now stopped on the side of the road with half an hour to go. Full Course Yellow. Full Course Yellow, now. That front splitter is damaged. This is not the #98. This is the #88 Hyundai Racing Canada entry of Bob and Conor Attrell with a damaged tire or damaged front end which sounded like the engine was about to go bang, but it did not. BHA #33 seems to be in good shape. Wilkins is told by his team that he can make. Wilkins and Wickens, the Canadian's are trying to bring home the checkered flag at their home race on Canada Day weekend. How special that would be.
The safety car makes I believe it's second appearance today as the Attrell father and son Hyundai is towed to safety. This si the halfway mark on the 2022 MPC season. Bryan Herta Autosport compete against each other as team mates and it is not always a happy time. Parker Chase is not happy with Tyler Maxson saying "I wish my team mates would not hit me." No damage. Tyler Maxson is a young bloke and he will learn. Bryan Herta Autosport now 1-2-3-4 in the standings in TCR. Tyler Maxson, looking on from the pit box and he won a TCR championship in the SRO series as well.
Eric Foss continues to lead Christian Szymczak with Trent Hindman and Aaron Telitz moving up. Watch out for Robin Liddell too. Green flag again. It is hammer time with 20 minutes to go. Foss and Szymczak will be flying. Foss shot from a cannon. Robin Liddell is pushing Chad McCumbee through the traffic. In TCR, it is all Hyundai while Mason Filippi is skipping ahead of Mark Wilkins and Harry Gottsacker. Mikey Taylor now fourth aboard the Audi. Look at this shemozzle! Michael Lewis passes and so does Gottsacker!
Wilkins may be leading his home race and Robert Wickens' home race. But now, Wilkins is being harried, look, by Lewis. In replay, yes indeed. Wilkins has a head of steam on the restart and takes advantage of a slip up by Filippi. Filippi is buried in the pack and must have clag on his tires. So, he is not a happy bunny at the moment. Wilkins tells his team, "do not speak to me because I am focused on racing." Michael Lewis chasing his team mate. If Wilkins and Wickens win, it could put them in championship form. Mark Wilkins also had a new baby girl a few months back. Michael Lewis is coming and now, Mikey Taylor was pushing Michael Lewis but he gets loose, and crashes into the wall!
That was an overcommitment. He was in no man's land through turn ten, slipping outside, Gottsacker moves, Taylor goes off the road, and... crunch! Taylor has a clatter into the wall! Cut down left front tire. This team won three times did the JDC-Miller Audi. But not the season they've wanted in 2022. We continue under green with less than 15 minutes left to race. The TCR battle remains hot and heavy motor racing. Holy mackerel! #33 vs. #1, the Hyundai battle rages on. They are closing up on slower GS cars.
The battle is also heating up for the lead between the two Murillo Racing Mercedes cars are going at it hammer and tongs. Trent Hindman third in the #7 Volt Racing Aston Martin. Good on fuel for Murillo Racing. Championship in the team's thoughts. This is going to be close. It is squeaky, squeaky time now. Murillo Racing won an SRO champinship last year. Foss is a tough cookie, but Szymczak is right on his tail and poor old Hindman is being left in the dust of the bronze-colored Murillo Mercedes cars. Aaron Telitz does want to have a scrap with Hindman as well and we see Mark Wilkins chasing Michael Lewis.
The #22 Porsche Cayman of Swan McAliister goes off the road! That was crazy! Through turn three, off in the dirt, no room. Car on the wrong radius and he got vacuumed off the circuit. Goodness gracious! Wicked save there! Nearly a heart attack, collectively, in the Hardpoint pit! Time is of the essence now, with ten minutes remaining. Team cars battling for victory in both classes here at CTMP. This has been a mega race all afternoon. Murillo Racing fielded three cars today. One had issues and the other two scrap for the overall victory. Five or so laps left.
Robin Liddell is charging after gettimg stymied. Liddell moves past Aaron Telitz moving in on Trent Hindman. The Toyota Supra is having another strong run. The Camaro is much bigger than the Toyota Supra. The Supra is half the size. The Michelin Pilot tires have given their all here at Mosport. We have not seen a repeat winner yet in MPC racing in 2022. Every car in TCR is front wheel drive. These 2.0 liter turbo motors have the power. Wilkins, who lives an hour or so away from this track, knows it like the back of his hand.
Robin Liddell moves past Telitz and now he is monstering Hindman. Think big picture as Eric Foss twitches and here comes Christian Szymczak. No. Liddell wants by Hindman. Of the three Murillo Racing cars, Szymczak has the best of the three. Down the Mario Andretti straightaway , here comes Szymczak. Foss is canny, and knows what to do, fighting it all the way to the apex of the turn. Into the right hander at turn ten. Liddell wants the run. These cars are so evenly matched. Liddell probing Hindman with two laps remaining.
White flag this time by. Finish it off. Put all the eggs in the basket. One lapp to go as Foss goes off the road and back on in the final turn! Christian Szymczak stays with him. Settle down. Hit your marks. Liddell wants by Hindman still! Hindman is the cork in the bottle. Moss corner for the final time. Mario Andretti straightaway one more time. Can Liddell use the draft? Who will be the winner? Foss looking to be the first repeat winner. Eric Foss will repeat! He does so with Marc Miller. In TCR, the Hyundai's scrap for the win. Through the final turn. Wilkins and Wickens get two wins in a row on home soil!
Overall/Grand Sport: #56 Foss/Miller Murillo Racing Mercedes AMG GT4
TCR: #33 Wilkins/Wickens Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian Hyundai Elantra
N TCR
What a race for Michelin Pilot Challenge at Mosport Park! That's a wrap! We'll see you next time out, in two weeks, at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, the shortest track on the schedule, for the Lime Rock Park 120. Bye bye, from Canada, everybody. Take care.
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