IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge: Heylen and Mars Clinch Victory at Laguna Seca
Monterey, CA – In a flawless display of teamwork and strategy, Jan Heylen and Luca Mars secured an impressive victory in the Grand Sport (GS) class at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120, driving the #28 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. This win, the first for RS1 this season, marks a significant milestone, coming after three consecutive runner-up finishes at this venue.
Heylen and Mars, entering the race as GS class point leaders following strong performances at Daytona and Sebring, faced fierce competition. Mars qualified fourth, maintaining his position through his initial stint. A strategic pit call by RS1 allowed Heylen to assume the lead following a series of cautions.
The decisive moment occurred 52 minutes into the two-hour race when Heylen transitioned into the car. Shortly thereafter, he emerged in front after a brief pit stop to refuel, taking advantage of the ensuing yellow flag. Heylen deftly managed multiple restarts, ultimately fending off challenges, notably from the #44 Ibiza Farm Motorsports McLaren Artura GT4. This competitor faced issues when Daniel Morad was penalized for an on-track incident that led to the final caution.
Heylen crossed the finish line 0.676 seconds ahead of the #71 Rebel Rock Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo, driven by Frank DePew and Robin Liddell, while the #54 Panam Motorsport Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 rounded out the podium.
Reflecting on the victory, Heylen remarked, "The team executed great pit stops and strategy. It’s a weekend where it all came together." He also highlighted the challenge of managing restarts on the demanding Laguna Seca circuit.
Mars, celebrating his first win in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition, praised Heylen’s guidance. "Jan is one of the best teammates," said the 19-year-old, who leads the championship standings.
In a notable performance, Liddell and DePew overcame starting from 18th in class, securing a P2 finish. Liddell expressed his surprise at their strong result: "That’s way beyond our expectations for the weekend."
TCR Division Dominance
The TCR class witnessed a clean sweep by Bryan Herta Autosport, with its #33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR securing the pole and leading throughout, despite a chaotic restart reshuffling positions. Following a drive-through penalty assessed to Ryan Eversley in the #7 Precision Racing LA Audi RS3 LMS TCR, the #76 Herta Hyundai, piloted by Denis Dupont and Harry Brown, took the lead and held off teammates to claim victory.
Dupont described his successful restart maneuver: "I decided to go on the other side of the track, so that went pretty well." Filippi and Morris completed the podium, underscoring a strong team performance as the Herta squad continues to assert dominance in the championship.
The Michelin Pilot Challenge will next unfold at the O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio on June 8.
