Heylen, Mars Win Again at The Glen

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge: Watkins Glen Race Report

Watkins Glen, NY – June 10, 2025 – The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge showcased a competitive edge at the LP Building Solutions 120 at Watkins Glen International, with Luca Mars and Jan Heylen driving the #28 RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS to a convincing victory in the Grand Sport (GS) class.

Heylen took the lead after the halfway point of the two-hour race, successfully fending off intense competition from Jeff Westphal (#39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO) and Chad McCumbee (#13 McCumbee McAleer Racing Ford Mustang GT4). A late caution left the race concluding under the Safety Car, ensuring Heylen’s lead and marking their second win of the season.

With this victory, Mars and Heylen extend their championship lead to a substantial 340 points over Jenson Altzman, who secured his first Motul Pole Award on Friday. Previous contenders Francis Selldorff and Dillon Machavern, winners at Mid-Ohio, fell to third in points after finishing 13th in this race.

Mars, who qualified fourth, initially gained positions and handed the wheel to Heylen while in third place. Key tactical decisions and a race-altering caution allowed the duo to adopt a unified strategy against the field. After a relentless battle, particularly with the CarBahn BMW, Heylen transitioned into the lead for the final stretch.

“It was a tough race, but super-fun,” Heylen commented. “We had to save fuel, which made it challenging. A big thanks to Luca and the team for their strategic decisions.”

Mars affirmed the importance of the late caution: “It gave us the fuel advantage needed to secure the win and extend our championship lead.”

Meanwhile, in the TCR class, LP Montour and Karl Wittmer achieved a breakthrough victory for Honda with their #93 MMG Honda Civic FL5 TCR, ending Hyundai’s dominance in the series. Montour took the early lead from pole and maintained position through strategic pit stops and a well-timed caution.

Despite early missteps from a competing Audi, which suffered a fuel miscalculation during pit stops, Wittmer capitalized, reclaiming the lead as the race neared its conclusion. The race ended under the fourth full-course caution, confirming their win—a significant moment for Honda, breaking a streak of six consecutive wins by Hyundai.

“This was a perfect win—we led most of the race and executed great pit stops,” Montour stated. “Let’s keep the momentum going.”

However, the Gou family’s #55 Gou Racing Cupra Leon TCR, which initially finished second, was disqualified post-race due to a technical infraction, promoting the #99 VGRT Hyundai to second place, with the #98 and #76 Herta Hyundais rounding out the top five.

Next Event: The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will continue on July 12, 2025, at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for Round 6 of the championship.

Key Results: