Kicking off the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge this weekend at the Daytona International Speedway, the teenage duo of Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez were hoping for a strong result. Competing with the potent Copeland Motorsports program, a mechanical issue early in the race forced the goal of a podium into a character-building weekend as the pair soldiered on to the finish of the BMW Endurance Challenge.
Tyler Maxson – “It was not the start of the year that we were hoping for but taking the positives from the weekend and we are moving to the next event. We always knew that we were at a disadvantage in Daytona due to the ultra-high speeds compared to the other manufacturers, but we are confident that this deficit will change in our favor for future events. The goal of a top-five result was in on target and we proved that with our pace at the end of the race.”
Tyler Gonzalez – “It was a difficult pill to swallow with such high hopes for the weekend. We qualified well but as a team, we felt we had a better race car and unfortunately, we did not get to show that in wheel-to-wheel competition. When the car was able to return to the track later in the race, we had great pace scoring the fifth fastest lap of the race.”
Taking the positives from the first event of the season, Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez will push forward to the Alan Jay Automotive 120 at the Sebring International Raceway in just over six weeks. Taking place over the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend, TnT will be on track March 17-20.
Photo Credit: YACademy