IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge: Watkins Glen Report
Watkins Glen, NY – In a thrilling round of the 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Watkins Glen International, Jan Heylen and Luca Mars in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS claimed their second victory of the season. After a strategic race marked by late cautions, the duo extended their championship lead in the Grand Sport (GS) class.
Heylen took control of the LP Building Solutions 120 race after a mid-race pit stop, solidifying the lead shortly after the halfway mark. He successfully fended off challenges from Jeff Westphal (No. 39 CarBahn BMW M4 GT4 EVO) and Chad McCumbee (No. 13 McCumbee McAleer Racing Ford Mustang GT4) until the race concluded under caution due to a stalled car. This win marks Mars and Heylen’s fifth podium finish in five starts this season, giving them a commanding 340-point lead in the GS championship.
Mars started the race from fourth but quickly moved up to third before handing the wheel to Heylen after 50 minutes. A decisive caution allowed the leading contenders to synchronize their pit strategies. Heylen took the lead after the pit cycle and maintained it despite pressure from competitors, with McCumbee eventually passing Westphal for second position with 25 minutes remaining.
“Until the yellow, we had to save so much fuel, which obviously made it even harder… I was just holding on,” reflected Heylen, emphasizing the challenges of fuel management during the race.
Mars, a rising star at just 19 years old, celebrated his second career Michelin Pilot Challenge race win, attributing the success to solid teamwork and strategy. "I have confidence in Jan’s ability to hold anybody off, and that last caution is what sealed it for us," he concluded.
TCR Class: MMG Honda Breaks Hyundai Streak
In the Touring Car (TCR) class, Honda’s LP Montour and Karl Wittmer seized victory in their No. 93 MMG Honda Civic FL5 TCR, breaking Hyundai’s four-race winning streak. Montour capitalized on pole position and led the majority of the race, navigating through a chaotic pit sequence and maintaining the lead amidst several late cautions.
Hyundai’s best contenders had a challenging race, culminating in an infusion of strategy and misfortune. The No. 7 Audi, driven by Ryan Eversley, took the lead post-pit stop but faced issues due to insufficient fuel. This allowed Wittmer to reclaim the top spot late in the race.
“It’s a perfect one to win… we led both practices and 90 percent of the race,” stated Montour, highlighting their dominant performance.
In a post-race inspection, the second-place Gou Racing Cupra was disqualified for a technical infraction, promoting Tyler Gonzalez and Eric Powell’s No. 99 Hyundai to second place. The overall podium now includes the top TCR entries moving up in position, with the Herta Hyundai entries finishing third and fifth respectively.
Outlook
The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge heads to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for Round 6 on July 12, as teams vie for crucial championship points in the remaining races of the season.
