Hyundai’s dominance in IMSA race at Lime Rock

The Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Veloster co-driven by Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkins scored a near-perfect victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Lime Rock, after starting from the pole position.
Leading the beginning of the race, Lewis gave way to Alex Papadopulos in the KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR – albeit for 16 laps – but by design to put the team in a better position later in the race.

“It’s always nice to put it on pole,” said Lewis. “For the first stint before handing off to Mark, the Veloster was solid. It was just taking care of the tyres because I didn’t really know what the pace was going to be like. I saw the Alfa behind me pushing hard, so I was wanting to let them go. I let him set the pace and then I could manage it from there.”

For Wilkins, it was last year’s winner Stephen Simpson looming large in his mirror, eager for another victory with co-driver Michael Johnson. In fact, Simpson momentarily took the lead in his JDC-Miller Motorsports Audi RS 3 LMS with 12 minutes remaining, but Wilkins quickly relegated him to second place where he and Johnson would ultimately finish for their best result of the season.
Making it two Hyundai Veloster N cars on the podium for the first time this season were their teammates Mason Filippi and Harry Gottsacker; the third-place finish was a career best for both drivers.
As for the Alfa Romeo, it dropped out the fight for the podium places halfway through the 2-hour race, when Alex Popow made contact with a GT car.
Lewis and Wilkins now lead the TCR standings with 168 points, jumping from third to first after the top two teams – the Honda Civic of Shelby Blackstock and Tom O’Gorman and the Audi of Jonathan Morley and Gavin Ernstone for Roadshagger Racing finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
The next round will be at Road America on August 2^nd/3^rd.

Race
1. Bryan Herta Motorsport, Hyundai Veloster N (Lewis / Wilkins), 123 laps
2. JDC-Miller Motorsports, Audi RS 3 LMS (Johnson / Simpson), 3.325
3. Bryan Herta Motorsport, Hyundai Veloster N (Filippi / Gottsacker), 6.785
4. Atlanta Speedwerks, Honda Civic FK7 (Lamb / Henderson), 1 lap
5. HART, Honda Civic FK7 (Eversley / Gilsinger), 1 lap

Championship points
1. Lewis-Wilkins 168 pts; 2. O’Gorman-Blackstock 158; 3. Ernstone-Morley 154