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You are committed to parallel
programmes in TC America and the
IMSA Michelin Challenge. How do you
feel about this intense activity and what
are your ambitions in the two
championships?
“Sprint racing is what I have competed in
during most of my career, and I am excited
to race in TC America. IMSA is an
awesome new challenge, as Bryan Herta
Autosport is running a top-notch
programme with two cars. The addition of a
co-driver in the endurance races adds a
level of complexity that motivates me.
There are different car setups for the long
run, pit stops, strategies and the list goes
on. I love being able to help build winning
strategies and compare data with all of the
drivers in our team. The increased seat
time in the Veloster along with gaining
racing experience in both series has been
beneficial. I love competing in both
programmes, and I am always itching to
get back in the car! I am looking forward to
the second half of the season. In IMSA we
are fighting to try to catch our sister car
that’s leading the championship. It would
be great to have it come down to the last
race to see who wins. We still have a
chance and we are shooting for it! For TC
America, we are way out of the points after
missing two weekends, but we can still
make up a lot of points and finish in the top
three, which is our goal this year!”
Last year you made your TCR debut in
the Pirelli WC in a Volkswagen Golf first
and then a Honda Civic. This year you
were the first to drive the Hyundai
Veloster to victory. How proud are you
about this?
“I am stoked to have recorded the first
Veloster victory. The weekend at COTA was a
great success! That is one of my favourite
tracks and now is home to the first Hyundai
Veloster TCR win. I am proud of our success
and owe it to the team and all the people at
Hyundai Motorsport that built this car. My
debut in TCR was with the Pirelli World
Challenge in the Golf and then finished the
last two weekends in the Honda. Our teams
found success in both cars and finished the
season strongly. The Hyundai, Honda, and
Volkswagen are very different handling cars
and all have strengths. Racing each of them
means I am able to think back and remember
where the other cars are strong, which gives
me a few extra tools to work with.”
Three questions to…
Mason Filippi
As TCR is a global category, are you
thinking to broadening your experience
and commit to some international series
in the near future?
“If given the opportunity, I would love to race
TCR globally. The WTCR races are some of
my favourite races to watch and I would love
to compete in them! I have truly fallen in love
with the TCR platform and seek any
opportunities to broaden my experience
worldwide. With so many great TCR races
going on around the world I am itching to be
driving everywhere! Give me a Call!”