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- Category: Road Racing
July 7, 2023
Los Angeles, California – The Racing to End Alzheimer's team will take on next weekend’s Honda Indy Toronto, with Nick Galante contesting the Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin, behind the wheel of a very special Mercedes AMG GT4 prepared by Toronto-based VPX Motorsport.
“I appreciate that this opportunity came about,” said Galante. “I’ve known Chris Bye (President of St. Catharines-based FEL Motorsports, who owns the Canadian series) for a few years through the IMSA paddock. He’s been trying to help us find a way to come run with them and this came together with a local team – VPX Motorsport – for Phil and me to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s in Canada.”
The No. 77 Mercedes gives families the chance to honor loved ones who have suffered from alzheimer’s disease. For a $250 donation, the family member’s name and hometown is placed on the car, and their photo can be posted on the R2EndAlz website’s tribute page. All donations are matched by Legistics (Phil Frengs), VPX Motorsport (Vince Partap, M.D.) and FEL Motorsport (in the name of Barbara Glover), which means that a $250 donation becomes $1000 – with 100% going to the Alzheimer Society of Toronto.
Racing to End Alzheimer's partner in Toronto will be VPX Motorsport, led by Interventional Radiologist Dr. Vince Partap. He notes the similarities between the levels of precision and teamwork involved in both medicine and racing.
“The level of excellence we have to practice in medicine is what I am trying to replicate in racing, where every millisecond counts,” said Dr. Partap. “I accomplish this by giving people in my organization the guidance and opportunity to do just that. When I select partners, I select them not just for their name on the car, but their willingness to support people.
Because ultimately, supporting people is why racing succeeds, why medicine succeeds and why charity succeeds. I believe that Phil and I share similar principles and why we have so easily collaborated to bring that organization to Canada and can work together to drive its future success here.”
Galante and Frengs met in 2017 and formed a fast friendship. Frengs’ company Legistics began to sponsor Galante, who would go on to win 2016 and 2018 championship titles in what is now the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
But Frengs’ wife Mimi was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, and in 2017, he formed Racing to End Alzheimer’s as a way to help other families honor their loved ones, and to raise money and awareness about the terrible disease. Galante was happy to race in the new livery, as the fight is also a very personal one for him.
“Alzheimer’s affected my family as well – I lost my grandmother to the disease 10 years ago, and recently lost my aunt as well. There isn’t much you can do to help, but Phil wanted to do something in Mimi’s honor, so he created this charity to make a difference while she is going through what’s now her 10-year final journey.”
Galante has continued competing under the Racing to End Alzheimer’s banner, in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series and in GT4 America. They plan to make the most of the opportunity to compete in Toronto and bring the message of hope north of the border. For Frengs, the race car presents an opportunity to raise money for the cause – and to help loved ones feel as though they, too, had made a difference.
“My job at the racetrack is to educate, but probably my most important job is to be chief hugger, because we end up doing a lot of hugging,” said Frengs. “People will be having a conversation with me and, all of the sudden, their eyes glass up thinking about the person that’s been affected. For most of them, I reach out and give them a hug and say, ‘It’s okay. It’s my wife, too. I know.’
“This gives me some purpose,” Frengs continued.
“Watching someone go through this disease, the two things that come to mind are how helpless you feel and how hopeless you feel. So, I feel this is my calling and my opportunity to do something.”
The Sports Car Championship Canada joins the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at the Honda Indy Toronto, contesting a tripleheader of races: Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 4:35 p.m., and Sunday at Noon. The races will be live streamed on the FEL Motorsports YouTube channel.
About Racing to End Alzheimer's
In 2013, Phil Frengs’ wife Mimi was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Their experience with the disease led Frengs to a seminal moment: his company, Legistics, had long sponsored a team in IMSA sports car racing and he realized an opportunity to raise money and awareness for the fight against the disease. In 2017, he formed Racing to End Alzheimer's, giving fans the opportunity to honor loved ones by putting their names on the race car via donation – with Legistics matching each contribution.
About the Alzheimer Society of Toronto
The Alzheimer Society of Toronto provides free counselling and education to people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, their families, and caregivers. They deliver specialised training and professional development for frontline health-care providers, and public education and awareness events to increase accessibility to dementia information.
https://alz.to/
Racing to End Alzheimer’s
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- Category: Road Racing
July 5, 2023
Toronto, Ontario - The gourmet food provider Tiffany Gate has been named title sponsor of the NASCAR Pinty’s Series street race on Friday, July 14, during the 2023 Honda Indy Toronto, set for July 14-16. The headline race of the opening day of the annual motorsports festival at Exhibition Place is now named the Tiffany Gate Grand Prix of Toronto.
Tiffany Gate, a Freshstone brand, has spent over 30 years working with food service providers to create delicious, fresh food that can fit every Canadian’s needs. Fans will have the chance to sample Tiffany Gate Fresh Gourmet premium pasta and potato sides in Thunder Alley during all three days of the Honda Indy Toronto.
“We are thrilled to be the title sponsor on opening day of this world-class motorsports festival,” said Jennifer Booth, Partnership & Media Manager at Freshstone Brands Inc. “This opportunity will allow Tiffany Gate a chance to promote our new retail brand, Tiffany Gate Fresh Gourmet, and we look forward to engaging with race fans over the weekend showcasing a few of our delicious, fresh sides.”
The Tiffany Gate Grand Prix of Toronto caps off Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Honda Fan Friday which offers all fans complimentary general admission - including open first-come, first-served grandstand seating - with a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada. Make-A-Wish fundraising activities have been an integral part of Toronto’s marquee racing event for more than a decade. To date, a cumulative total of $905,000 has been raised and each dollar will go toward granting wishes for children living with critical illnesses.
“We’re honoured to add Tiffany Gate to our fantastic list of Honda Indy Toronto partners as the new title sponsor of the NASCAR Pinty’s Series race. Tiffany Gate’s involvement provides further momentum to Fan Friday to increase the charitable impact that this great weekend in downtown Toronto will have again,” said Jeff Atkinson, president of Honda Indy Toronto. “Our festival goers having the opportunity to sample an assorted selection of Tiffany Gate’s classic comfort food is also a great new feature added to Thunder Alley.”
Following the Tiffany Gate Grand Prix of Toronto, which wraps up Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Honda Fan Friday benefiting Make-A-Wish® Canada on Friday, July 14, runners and walkers can race in a 5K or 1K on the Honda Indy Toronto track in the inaugural REV & RUN. The 5K course is a two loop route that runs through the Exhibition Place grounds and along Lake Shore Blvd., following the same track used by NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers competing in the Honda Indy Toronto. The 1K course is a family-friendly route that travels through pit lane and down the main straightaway to the Prince's Gates.
Honda Indy Toronto 2-Day General Admission tickets are still available at $75, offering the best weekend value. Single Day General Admission is $50 for Saturday and $60 for Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free (general admission and paddock) with a ticketed adult providing an exceptional family value.
Honda Indy Toronto is an unforgettable weekend for the whole family. The event’s Rookie Racers program immerses the youngest attendees into the sport with fun experiences. Thunder Alley will be filled with numerous activities and interactive displays including Honda World. Many diverse food options and additional festival gathering points will continue to upgrade the experience for 2023.
All attendees are encouraged to use Toronto’s GO Lakeshore West Train to Exhibition Station for the easiest commute without the worry of traffic or parking at the Honda Indy Toronto. For $80, GO Transit is offering a combo ticket which includes 2-Day General Admission and two daily round trip fares for transportation to and from the event. Single-day combo options are also available at hondaindy.com/GO. Children 12 and under ride free on Go Transit.
For more ticket pricing, event schedule and festival information, visit hondaindy.com.
About Honda Indy Toronto
Honda Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.874-kilometre (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Honda Fan Friday offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation.
To date, $905,000 has been raised for Make-A-Wish® Canada. As one of Ontario's largest annual sporting events with the first race held in 1986 first known as the Molson Indy, it has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens, and more.
Canadian Devlin DeFrancesco is planned to be in the 2023 starting field. Honda Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (March 3-5, 2023), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2023 Accord Hybrid (June 30-July 2, 2023) and Grand Prix of Portland (Sept. 1-3, 2023).
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July 3, 2023
Speedway, Indiana– Four-time IMSA Sports Car Champions, Bryan Herta Autosport will participate in the Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin at the legendary Honda Indy Toronto. The team will enter the #98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR with Canadian TCR Champion Mark Wilkins driving.
The annual marquee event at Exhibition Place takes place July 14-16, 2023, and features three rounds of the Sports Car Championship. Canadian Mark Wilkins races fulltime for Bryan Herta Autosport in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, where he is the current IMPC points leader at the season’s mid-point. Wilkins is a resident of nearby Mulmur and thrilled to participate in the Toronto Indy race weekend for the first time since he won there racing in the Pirelli World Challenge in 2014.
“I am so elated to have the opportunity to race on the streets of Toronto with BHA and Hyundai! I love street circuits; they demand precision, and they have no margin for error; just hard racing! I am grateful to BHA and FEL Motorsports, specifically Bryan Herta, Sean Jones, and Chris Bye for the chance to take part in this Championship and race against so many fine Canadian drivers at this legendary event,” said Wilkins. He continued, “The three races will undoubtedly be a great show for the Canadian fans!”
Bryan Herta Autosport is the official sales agent and parts representative of Hyundai race cars in North America. BHA President, Bryan Herta looks forward to supporting the Canadian racing series, and promotor FEL Motorsports, “We are really looking forward to competing at the Toronto Indy alongside Connor and Quinn Attrell for Hyundai Racing Canada in their Elantra N TCR and Veloster N TCR cars and Bob Attrell and James Vance in the Hyundai Veloster N-Line TCA cars," said Herta.
The Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin event at the Honda Indy Toronto kicks off Friday, July 14th with more than 120 minutes of track time through the weekend Qualifying on Friday, two races on Saturday (8:30 am and 4:35 pm) and the final race just before the Grand Prix at noon on Sunday.
Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian
Founded in 2009, Bryan Herta Autosport has grown from a single car Indy-Lights team into a multi-championship winning auto racing franchise. Led by IndyCar and Sports Car star Bryan Herta, Bryan Herta Autosport has won races in every discipline they have entered, including Indy Lights, Indy Car, Global Rallycross, and championship titles in Pirelli World Challenge and IMSA. BHA rose to prominence after winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500 in what was the final race of the Centennial Era, a celebration of 100 years of racing at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with driver Dan Wheldon.
Five years later, BHA partnered with Andretti Autosport, and defied the odds again, winning their second Indianapolis 500 with rookie driver Alexander Rossi. In 2018, BHA entered the American Sports Car scene beginning its immensely successful partnership with Hyundai. Together, BHA and Hyundai have won five championships in as many seasons, including four consecutive team and driver championships, and three consecutive (2020, 2021, 2022) manufacturer's titles in IMSA's Michelin Pilot Challenge. For more information, visit: www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.
BHA/Hyundai Customer Support: Bryan Herta Autosport is the U.S. sales agent and part support representative of Hyundai TCR and TCA race cars for customer teams. The BHA/Hyundai Customer Support Team offers trackside engineering support, setup and tuning advice, and part and order fulfillments for the Hyundai Veloster N TCR and TCA teams and drivers from the BHA’s headquarters in Speedway, IN. Since its North American debut in 2019, the Hyundai Veloster N TCR has scored 27 race wins, and three TCR championship titles.
Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America focuses on ‘Progress for Humanity’ and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.
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- Category: Road Racing
July 5, 2023
Round 5 of the 2023 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge
July 7-8, 2023
Racetrack: Watkins Glen International Raceway
2.459-mile road course, features 10 turns
Race: Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 4:00 - 6:00 pm EST
TV: Live on NBC’s PEACOCK: www.peacock.tv
FAST FACTS
Oh Canada: Canadians Mark Wilkins and Robert Wickens celebrated their victory as teammates with a spectacular race win from the back of the grid at home at CTMP one year ago. This year they return, tied for the Championship lead at the series half-way mark with one significant difference, they are racing against each other! This season Mark Wilkins is paired with Mason Filippi in the #98 Elantra N TCR and Wickens remains in the #33 Elantra N TCR co-driving with Harry Gottsacker. Wilkins and Filippi have a victory and two 3rd place finishes.... Wickens and Gottsacker are knocking on the door for their first win of the season with two 2nd place finishes. The heat is on!
BHA and Wilkins Set for Toronto Indy: Bryan Herta Autosport will enter the #98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR in the Sports Car Championship Canada Presented by Michelin at the Toronto Indy. Popular Canadian Mark Wilkins will contest three rounds of the Championship over the Indy weekend July 14th - 16th.
Win-Baby-Win: A look back at one of motorsports' best stories of 2022 from the IMSA wire:
Return to CTMP Brings Back Emotional, Winning Memories for Wickens
The Chase is ON: Just 50 points separate Hyundai, Honda, Audi and Alfa Romeo in the manufacturer’s standings. Hyundai leads with 1270 points.
SWEEP Repeat: It was an all-BHA podium at CTMP in 2022, BHA has had at least one podium sweep each season since 2020.
#1 Hyundai Elantra N TCR
2021 and 2022 Drivers/Team CHAMPIONS
2023 Stats: Best Start: 7th Best Finish: 6th Rank: 7th 960 pts
Taylor Hagler: "We didn’t have quite the weekend that we hoped at Watkins Glen and I am hoping we turn a bad string of races around in Canada. It is a fun track with a unique layout and is relatively high speed. Our Hyundai Elantra N TCR should perform well here, and it would be great to celebrate on the podium."
Michael Lewis: "Let's go racing at such a cool track! Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is so fast, and many turns are over crests. You are always balancing the car as you are continuously in fast turns back-to-back. This place is really old school, and it provides great racing as well. I can't wait to get on track!"
#33 Elantra N TCR
2023 Stats: Best Start: 3rd Best Finish: 2nd Rank: 1st 1150 pts
Harry Gottsacker IV: "Robert and I both finished on the podium last year at CTMP, but we were competing against each other. It will be good to try and continue a podium level effort together in 2023! We have had a good car all season and we just need to tighten up things a bit and have everything go our way to grab a win. The team is hungry for it, and it would be great to celebrate at Robert’s home track."
Robert Wickens: “I’m really looking forward to CTMP! Last year we got the win in front of the hometown crowd, and it was a podium sweep for Hyundai and BHA! The 33 team is working hard and that first win of the season is getting close. It would be amazing to get it done at home in front of lots of friends and family."
#98 Elantra N TCR
2023 Stats: Best Start: 2nd Best Finish: 1st Rank: 1st - 1150 pts
Mason Filippi: "Back to CTMP! Last year we had a lot of speed and I’m excited to be teamed up with Mark Wilkins this year at his home track. We are locked in after Watkins Glen and can’t wait to push our Elantra N TCR car to the limits at one of the highest speed circuits on the calendar."
Mark Wilkins: “CTMP was a huge highlight of the 2022 season for me and I’m excited to try and repeat that performance next weekend with Mason! I spend many days at CTMP coaching and I’m always in awe at how awesome and intense it is around there. After a disappointing weekend at Watkins Glen, we are looking to be back on form and back up front. We have great fan support for our Canadian race and that is definitely one of the highlights of this event every year. I love that we are in the busy part of our race season with so much seat time; CTMP will be the start of a 5-weekend stretch in the Elantra N TCR! It can’t get any better!”
Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian
Founded in 2009, Bryan Herta Autosport has grown from a single car Indy-Lights team into a multi-championship winning auto racing franchise. Led by IndyCar and Sports Car star Bryan Herta, Bryan Herta Autosport has won races in every discipline they have entered, including Indy Lights, Indy Car, Global Rallycross, and championship titles in Pirelli World Challenge and IMSA. BHA rose to prominence after winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500 in what was the final race of the Centennial Era, a celebration of 100 years of racing at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with driver Dan Wheldon.
Five years later, BHA partnered with Andretti Autosport, and defied the odds again, winning their second Indianapolis 500 with rookie driver Alexander Rossi. In 2018, BHA entered the American Sports Car scene beginning its immensely successful partnership with Hyundai. Together, BHA and Hyundai have won five championships in as many seasons, including four consecutive team and driver championships, and three consecutive (2020, 2021, 2022) manufacturer's titles in IMSA's Michelin Pilot Challenge. For more information, visit: www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.
BHA/Hyundai Customer Support: Bryan Herta Autosport is the U.S. sales agent and part support representative of Hyundai TCR and TCA race cars for customer teams. The BHA/Hyundai Customer Support Team offers trackside engineering support, setup and tuning advice, and part and order fulfillments for the Hyundai Veloster N TCR and TCA teams and drivers from the BHA’s headquarters in Speedway, IN. Since its North American debut in 2019, the Hyundai Veloster N TCR has scored 27 race wins, and three TCR championship titles.
Bryan Herta Autosport drivers completed a Hyundai podium sweep at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 120 on July 2, 2022. L-R: Second place finishers Michael Lewis and Taylor Hagler, race winners Robert Wickens and Mark Wilkins and third place finishers Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker.
Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America focuses on ‘Progress for Humanity’ and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.
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- Category: Road Racing
July 3, 2023
Daytona Beach, Florida – Even a year later, Robert Wickens shakes his head at the thought of his racing homecoming.
It was at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2022 that Wickens and fellow Canadian Mark Wilkins capped a frenetic, sometimes frightening and most memorable week by winning the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at CTMP in the Touring Car (TCR) class. They’ll return this week to defend that victory but in different Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian cars.
The saga began a week earlier last year at Watkins Glen International, just over the U.S. border in New York State, where Wickens and Wilkins won the TCR race – the first victory for Wickens since he was paralyzed in a 2018 IndyCar crash at Pocono Raceway. Immediately after that historic triumph in the No. 33 BHA Elantra N TCR, the duo drove north for a jam-packed week of sponsor and media commitments in their homeland leading into the CTMP race.
All the while, Wickens’ pregnant wife, Karli, remained back at their Indianapolis home, not due with their first child until after the Canada race weekend. That changed suddenly on Thursday, the day before Michelin Pilot Challenge cars were to begin CTMP practice and two days before the race. A complication was noticed during an ultrasound and an emergency delivery was scheduled for that Friday.
Too late to catch a flight to Indianapolis, the concerned father-to-be was driven partway home and met by his mother and mother-in-law, who drove him the rest of the way. He reached the hospital at 3 a.m., the delivery process started at 6 a.m. and son Wesley was born healthy shortly after 11 a.m.
At that point, team owner Bryan Herta called to see if Wickens still wanted to drive in the race. With wife and son doing well, he said yes. A chartered plane took him back to Canada on race morning and he arrived on the grid 20 minutes before the start of the race, having not turned a lap on track.
“Basically, between interacting with fans on the starting grid, I was asking Mark what gear each corner was because I didn't even do a lap in practice,” Wickens says, shaking his head. “Then we started last because I didn't qualify the car. Thankfully through some good strategy and some quick learning, I was able to hand the car to Mark in third (place), and then we had a great pit stop and great strategy and we got ourselves into the lead. Mark drove his ass off to get us another win!”
As soon as CTMP postrace activities finished, Wickens was on another plane back to Indy and reunited with Karli and Wesley that night. “It was a crazy, crazy like 10 days!” he understated.
Wickens says he plans to take more time to enjoy the race weekend and the mob of family and friends who’ll be with him at CTMP this year. He won’t be driving with Wilkins, however. The pair has been split into different BHA cars and both are in hot pursuit of the TCR championship. Wilkins is driving with Mason Filippi in the No. 98 Hyundai, with Wickens teaming with Harry Gottsacker in the No. 33 Hyundai. The two cars are tied in points atop the TCR standings leading into the race.
The championship battle in the other Michelin Pilot Challenge class is nearly as tight. Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak, co-drivers of the No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT GT4, lead the Grand Sport (GS) class by 60 points over Robby Foley and Vin Barletta, co-drivers of the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 who won two weeks ago at Watkins Glen.
Thirty-five cars are on the entry list, 24 in GS and 11 in TCR. Following a pair of practice sessions on Friday, qualifying for the Canadian Tire Motorsport 120 takes place at 10:50 a.m. Saturday. The two-hour race begins at 4 p.m. the same day, streaming live on Peacock in the U.S. and on IMSA.com/TVLive internationally.