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IMSA Welcome Letter
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Welcome Letter
Staff Listing
Driving School
USF Juniors - the first step
Mid-Ohio hosts halfway point of Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup season
IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge preview
the podium nine times in 14 races. It was that consistency that allowed the duo to successfully fend off late season pushes from challengers enroute to the championship – they will be a favorite to reclaim top honors in 2020. Racers Edge will also have a second NSl and sports car racing resume - the duo should give Barkey and Marcelli a run for their money this season. Gradient Racing will also run a partial season in 2020 fielding an Acura NSX GT3 Evo.
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge preview
USF Juniors entry list
Mazda MX-5 entry list
IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge entry list
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge entry list
Spot ten puzzle
Map
WEvent Schedule Sponsors
orld Challenge Pro/Am champions Kyle Marcelli and Martin Barkey continue their partnership behind the wheel of the Racers Edge Motorsports’ Acura NSX GT3 Evo. In 2019, the Canadian driver duo earned two overall pole positions and three race wins with Barkey and Marcelli finishing on
The two-car DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG in the driver standings – impressive given Askew began his pro racing career at the age of 50. The Salt Lake City based driver so the push to cross the line first is in his blood. m Cup class Champion moves up to compete in Pro/Am, while Am driver Austin, Texas based businessman Pierre Mulacek will run a partial season in the series for Risi Competizione. Vital SpeeTrevor Baek and Jeff Westphal sharing duties in Pro/Am and Richard Baek and Mark Issa running in the team’s Am entry. And speaking of sleek Italian sports cars, Change Racing will enter a Lamborghini Huracan GT3.
On behalf of the France Family, we welcome you back to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and a spotlight weekend for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge – the O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio on Sunday, June 8.
The Mid-Ohio race is our second of two four-hour races for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. From the showroom to the speedway, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge is IMSA’s showcase for the latest in American-made and imported high-performance sports cars, coupes, hatchbacks and sedans.
This series is home to the same cars seen on streets and highways around the world and off ers racing in two classes – Grand Sport (GS) and Touring Car (TCR) – running a 10-race schedule in tandem with most of the WeatherTech Championship events. MidOhio provides a chance to showcase these competitors to the always engaged sports car audience that comes to this track.
Seven manufacturers in Grand Sport (Aston Martin, BMW, Ford, McLaren, MercedesAMG, Porsche and Toyota) and four in Touring Car (Audi, Cupra, Honda and Hyundai) provide some of the best door-to-door racing action on a given IMSA weekend. The fourhour format opens strategic options beyond the standard-length two-hour races.
Beyond the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, two other IMSA-sanctioned series are in attendance, the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin, which both run a pair of 45-minute sprint races. The IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge features three classes of action across both prototypes and GT cars, while Mazda MX-5 Cup cars deliver thrills from their single, purpose-built car.
Our fan-friendly, open paddock is designed to be as accommodating as possible. Be sure to get your hands on one of our free Fan Guides located around the track, which provide a spotter’s guide of car illustrations and handy weekend tidbits.
Deck here. the return of IMSA to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a welcome addition for both the series and its fans, for Meyer Shank Racing owner Michael Shank, the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio is something else entirely.
Plan to head to the Super Pavilion in the infi eld to get an up close-and-personal look at our full fi eld and meet the drivers during the Michelin Pilot Challenge driver autograph session Sunday morning.
Story by ???? // Photography by ????
You’ll also notice digital displays on all Michelin Pilot Challenge race cars. These inform you where each is running in its class throughout a race. Also, be sure to download the IMSA app for live Timing & Scoring, onboard cameras and up-to-theminute news and information.
Races stream across NBC Sports’ Peacock platform and additionally on IMSA’s Offi cial YouTube channel. Stay tuned to our offi cial social media channels for more original content throughout the weekend and all season long.
“I
Whether this is your fi rst time attending an IMSA race or you’re a regular Mid-Ohio attendee, we are pleased to have you with us here! Thanks again for joining us this weekend!
Best regards,
Ed Bennett
think our (ability to manage tire) degradation is definitely our stronger suit compared to some of our competitors,” Gottsacker said
John Doonan CEO President
On behalf of our entire team at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, welcome to the 2025 O’Reilly Auto Parts Four Hours of Mid-Ohio featuring the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance race on Sunday!
Sports car racing is what Mid-Ohio was built to showcase, so there’s no better way to start the 2025 season than with a weekend full of IMSA racing. We have a world-class event with a jam-packed lineup in store this weekend, headlined by a four-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance race. The three-day schedule also features six additional races across Saturday and Sunday from VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup and open-wheel action from rising stars of the sport in the USF Juniors series.
We’d like to thank O’Reilly Auto Parts for its continued support of Mid-Ohio and for helping make this weekend possible as the event’s title sponsor. Also, thank you for your attendance at this season-opening race weekend.
Deck here. the return of IMSA to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a welcome addition for both the series and its fans, for Meyer Shank Racing owner Michael Shank, the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio is something else entirely.
Story by ???? // Photography by ????
Don’t forget that we’re just getting the action started at Mid-Ohio! Join us June 20-22 for the Permco Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, July 4-6 for The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport, July 25-27 for the iconic Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, and finally August 15-17 as MotoAmerica Superbike action wraps up the five-event schedule.
We look forward to seeing you all summer long!
Best regards,
Craig Rust President Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
“I think
our (ability
to
manage tire) degradation is definitely our stronger suit compared to some of our competitors,” Gottsacker said
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GREEN SAVOREE RACING PROMOTIONS EXECUTIVES
Kim Green Chairman & CEO
Kevin Savoree President & COO
Michael Morrisey Executive Vice President & CFO
Jeff Atkinson Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Craig Kersey Vice President, Operations
EVENT STAFF
Craig Rust President, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Weston Bell, Kris Boatwright, Nathan Long, Spencer Prill, Dave Schwall, Nathan Young Track & Event Operations
Deven Keady, Christopher Kersey, Chad Seufert, Ben Valentine Event Operations
Matthew Borkan, Ryan Cash, Giles Dowden, Kathy Nolan Sales & Client Services
Steve Bidlack, Alexis Boyer, Jack Carney, Jenna Hood, Christian Ryan Marketing & Communications
Sue Cline, Gwen Duffy, Anita Karklins, Mike Raven, Tammi Sipes, Fay Taylor Customer Service & Ticketing
Paul Alterio Security
Brian Sipes Safety
Dr. Alice Frazier, M.D. Medical
Nathan Savoree Accounting
Scott Ellsworth Race Control
Cindy Loomis Catering Services
Sonny Gee, Scott McKinley, Max Gee The Mid-Ohio School
John Fippin, Tom Michaels, Steve Conley PA Announcers
EXECUTIVE
Tim Rutledge Group Publisher & CEO
EDITORIAL
Anna Rutledge Special Projects Editor
Adam Gordon Associate Editor
George Webster Motorsport Editor
DESIGN + PRODUCTION
Queue Gonzalez Creative Director
Patrick Dinglasan Production / Senior Art Director
Edward Shintani Senior Art Director
Patrick Beltijar Senior Art Director
Mel Manasan Designer
SALES + ADMINISTRATION
Richard Robles Director, Client Services
Julia Neukom Project Manager
Harjaan Sivia Director of Strategic Partnerships
Jason Redmond Motorsport Marketing Manager
IMAGE & STORY CREDITS
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Gavin Baker, Mazda MX-5, IMSA
ADVERTISING
sales@ppmghq.com Phone: (416) 922-7526 Toll Free: 1-800-667-7223 www.ppmghq.com
You’ve been to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course a hundred times, but never have you had the chance to drive on track. Here’s your opportunity! The Mid-Ohio School has specialized programs for all types of drivers from the least experienced to the most experienced, and even options for sportbike riders.
Teen Defensive Driving
Providing driving techniques not found in a typical drivers’ education classroom, the Teen Defensive Driving Program puts students of all ages behind the wheel to learn skills that will be used for a lifetime. Students practice collision avoidance techniques, loss of control recovery skills, bad weather maneuvers through emergency lane change, wet braking, and skid car drills. An instructor will be in the car only during the skid car drill. The Mid-Ohio School will provide Honda Civics for use during the program.
On select dates, Double-Up Days will provide two students (teens and/or adults) the life saving skills provided in a traditional Teen Defensive Driving Program for one price. Each participant will split the driving time in the car, but both will get to experience all of the classroom and defensive driving drills covered in the standard teen program format. Students will benefit from the “watch and learn” environment of a Double-Up Day. Many parents sign up for the Double-Up Day so they can participate and also bond with their teen.
Learn why your vehicle performs the way it does and how to maximize that performance on the street for more driving enjoyment and to be prepared for any emergency situation. This program covers the physics and dynamics of precision driving then tests participant skills behind-thewheel in intense off-track performance driving drills. The highlight of this entry level program includes approximately an hour-long, on-track
lead/follow lapping session at day’s end. Participants will also spend time driving a Honda S2000 roadster on the autocross course.
Advanced High Performance Program
Attack the same course that challenges the world’s top racers by breaking it down into smaller segments and repeatedly practicing those segments.
Refine your new high performance skills, learn more precise lines and apply these during high-speed cornering and lead-follow lapping drills.
The final step to open lapping includes overtaking techniques and instructor rides before taking the green flag for several hours of open lapping with controlled passing zones. All driving instruction takes place on the racetrack!
Lapping Program
Want more track time? We all do! The Lapping Program is the one for you. You will spend a full day lapping MidOhio Sports Car Course and see why the track is called the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” The highly experienced instructors will teach you not only the fastest way around Mid-Ohio, but also the race craft to get you to the checkered flag first!
Open Test and Tune: Street Cars
Have you always wanted to get your street-legal car on the track at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course? This
is now the least expensive option! Each group will receive approximately three 20-minute Lead/Follow or Open Lapping sessions, depending on driver skill levels and track conditions. No SUVs, vans, or trucks are eligible to participate. No SUVs, vans, or trucks are eligible to participate.
Open Test and Tune: Race Cars
Get some track time at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in your open wheel or closed wheel competition car! Perfect for testing that new build, scrubbing some tires, calibrating the brakes, and
fine tuning your qualifying and race set ups.
Performance Track Riding
Get on the track with your sport bike! Beginner through Advanced level riders are welcome to participate. Our coaches will aid you in cornering skills, visual skills, body position, throttle control, steering input, lean angle and entry speed. Work on line selection and traction management and brush up on track flags and terminology. Find something you want to try? Learn more and enroll at midohioschool.com!
USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire represents the first rung on the USF Pro Championships open-wheel driver development ladder, which o ers scholarships at every level to help bridge the gap between karting, at the grassroots of the sport, and the pinnacle, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500.
By Jeremy Shaw
Photos By Gavin Baker
This week’s doubleheader event will mark the halfway point in a 16-race campaign with the season’s champion set to earn a scholarship valued at almost $250,000 to ensure graduation to the next level, USF2000, in 2026.
A total of seven races have been held at Mid-Ohio
Canadian teenager
since the category’s introduction in 2022. All have been won by different drivers, although in each of the three previous seasons, one of the Mid-Ohio winners has gone on to claim the championship.
Two tripleheader events earlier this season at NOLA Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park have provided some tremendous competition with three different winners and a total of seven drivers having shared the podium spoils.
Ty Fisher currently holds a slender one-point advantage over his Zanella Racing teammate, Florida-based Brazilian Leonardo Escorpioni. VRD Racing duo Oliver Wheldon, youngest son of the late two-time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon, and another Brazilian, Joao Vergara, also are in the thick of the title chase.
Racing, and Australian Liam Loiacono (Jay Howard Driver Development).
Drivers representing at least eight different nationalities will be on the starting grid, and for the first time, there will be three young woman striving to make a breakthrough: Emma Scarbrough (InterMS), from Senoia, Ga., Kaylee Countryman (Exclusive
A total of seven races have been held at Mid-Ohio since the category’s introduction in 2022. All have been won by di erent drivers.
Other likely contenders will include Mexican brothers Rodrigo and Patricio Gonzalez, who along with Finland’s Vilho Aatola will drive for DEForce
Autosport), from Chandler, Ariz., and Hunting Valley, Ohio’s Maddie Colleran (Zanella Racing), all of whom are stepping up from the karting ranks.
The story of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin as it heads to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is the complete opposite of last year’s visit. In 2024, the series came to Mid-Ohio for Rounds
Seven and Eight without a repeat race winner. This time, the series arrives with only two drivers scoring wins in six races: Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) and Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing).
Gonzalez is on a hot streak after winning Rounds Five and Six at Barber Motorsports Park, bringing his total to four wins on the season. Were it not for a DNF in Race 2 at Daytona International Speedway, Gonzalez would be leading the championship.
Mazda Motorsports has long supported women in racing and was thrilled to see the number of female drivers in the series go from two in 2024 to six in 2025.
Instead, it is Thomas, with two wins, who arrives at Mid-Ohio sporting a 40-point lead over Gonzalez. This is as close to a home race as Thomas and JTR get. They are based in North Vernon, Indiana, roughly a four-hour drive from Mid-Ohio.
The best rookie in the field thus far has been Noah Harmon (No. 77 AAG Racing). Harmon is the
most recent Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout Scholarship winner ($150,000 toward the 2025 season) and despite just getting his first podium at Barber, he finds himself fourth in the point standings. Should he continue his run at the top of the rookie leaderboard, he’ll be $80,000 richer at the end of the season courtesy of Mazda.
Mazda Motorsports has long supported women in racing and was thrilled to see the number of female drivers in the series go from two in 2024 to six in 2025. Last year’s MX-5 Cup season was documented through the eyes of females in the sport in the Prime Video docuseries ‘First to the Finish,’ that is definitely worth the watch.
After you binge ‘First to the Finish,’ on Prime Video, you can watch the first six rounds of the 2025 MX-5 Cup season on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels, where you’ll also find this weekend’s races streamed live!
A er more than a three-month break, the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge returns to action at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Jonathan Woolridge (No. 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320) to take a fortuitous but well-judged first win of the year. Catalano leads Woolridge by 110 points, 1,310-1,200, heading into the Mid-Ohio double.
Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports came within two minutes of a sweep of all four Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3) races so far, but for a fueling issue at the first of two rounds at Circuit of The Americas in March. Running 1-2, Valentino Catalano (No. 30 Duqueine D08) and Oscar Tunjo (No. 31 Duqueine D08) ran out of fuel at nearly the same point on the track at the same time, which opened the door for
The Grand Touring Daytona X (GTDX) class took center stage at COTA with distinct, close and intense battles throughout its 10car grid, most notably for the lead in Round 3 between Jake Walker (No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3) and Adam Adelson (No. 24 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R 992). After Adelson swept the Daytona weekend, Walker doubled up in COTA. It’s the consistency of AJ Muss (No. 66 Af Corse Ferrari 296 GT3) that leads the points though with four podiums; he has a 10-point
lead on Adelson (1,2601,250). Samantha Tan (No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3) leads the GTDX Bronze Cup by 90 points over Kyle Washington (No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R 992).
RAFA Racing has won the four Grand Sport X (GSX) class races thus far. Kiko Porto (No. 8 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO) won the first three and leads teammate Ian Porter (No. 68 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO) by 150 points (1,270-1,120). Porter won his first race at COTA.
VP Challenge competitors have a pair of practice sessions Friday, qualify on Saturday morning and race Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. Races stream on Peacock domestically and the IMSA YouTube channel internationally.
For nearly a decade, two Michelin Pilot Challenge races have run an additional two hours beyond the standard-length of two hours. The O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course goes for its second run this year, a er fuel saving captured the day in 2024.
Ford, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, Aston Martin and McLaren have made it five different Grand Sport (GS) class-winning manufacturers from five different teams in the last five four-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge races dating to Daytona 2023. It leaves BMW and Toyota available to make it a sixth in six.
Daytona winners Michael Cooper and Moisey Uretsky, in the No. 44 Ibiza Farm Motorsports McLaren Artura GT4, seek to become the
Brown and Dupont in their No. 76 Hyundai
Elantra N TCR won the most recent race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
first GS pair to win both four-hour races in the same season. They’re also looking to rebound from contact with another car last time out at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, which has required significant repairs.
RS1’s Jan Heylen and Luca Mars finished second both there and Sebring in their No. 28 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS, before breaking through to win at WeatherTech Raceway to extend their points lead to 170 over Sean McAlister and Jeff Westphal in their No. 39 CarBahn by Peregrine Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
In Touring Car (TCR), Hyundai has achieved a lot in its tenure in the series and has opened the year with three straight wins. But one thing the brand hasn’t done is win both four-hour races in a single season.
Denis Dupont and Preston Brown’s back-toback four-hour TCR wins at Mid-Ohio last year and Daytona this year were the first two four-hour wins for the Hyundai Elantra N TCR; the brand’s only other four-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge win came in 2020 at Road Atlanta with the previous generation Veloster N TCR.
Brown and Dupont in their No. 76 Hyundai Elantra N TCR won the most recent race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as part of a Hyundai podium sweep, and they enter the weekend with a 40-point lead over teammates Harry Gottsacker and Mark Wilkins in the sister No. 98 car.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio goes green at noon ET and local time on Sunday, June 8.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2025
TIME SERIES SESSION
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. USF Juniors Session 1
10:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Practice 1
11:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. Mazda MX-5 Cup Practice 1
1:00 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Practice 2
1:55 p.m. - 2:25 p.m. USF Juniors Practice
2:40 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. Mazda MX-5 Cup Practice 2
3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge Practice 1
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2025
TIME SERIES SESSION
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. USF Juniors Qualifying
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. VP Racing SportsCar Challenge GSX Qualifying
9:50 a.m. - 10:05 a.m. VP Racing SportsCar Challenge GTDX/P3 Qualifying
10:20 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. Mazda MX-5 Cup Qualifying
10:55 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge Practice 2
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. USF Juniors Autograph SessionSuper Pavilion
12:05 p.m. - 12:25 p.m. Car Corral Lap
presented by
The highly popular YouTube docuseries returns for a third season, taking fans inside the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. All episodes can be seen on IMSA’s YouTube channel including Seasons 1 and 2.
This year’s eight episodes focus on recurring personalities in the paddock to help fans engage with familiar faces. These characters will range from drivers to team owners to mechanics and IMSA personnel to members of the media who give fans an intimate look into the world of sportscar racing. All while covering the chase for the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2025 (CONTINUED)
TIME SERIES SESSION
12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Driver Q&A Panel with McCumbee McAleer Racing and Bryan Herta Autosport Victory Circle
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Mazda MX-5 Cup Autograph Session -Upper Paddock
1:00 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. USF Juniors Race 1
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 1
3:05 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Mazda MX-5 Cup Race 1
4:10 p.m. - 4:25 p.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR Qualifying
4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge GS Qualifying
SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2025
TIME SERIES SESSION
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
8:00 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. USF Juniors Race 2
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 2
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge Autograph SessionSuper Pavilion
10:05 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Mazda MX-5 Cup Race 2
10:55 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Car Corral Lap
11:05 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge Pre-Race & Fan Walk
12:00 p.m. O’Reilly Auto Parts Four Hours of Mid-Ohio
