Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez are preparing for the tenth and final round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge this weekend, November 10-12, at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Since claiming their first podium of the season four rounds ago at Lime Rock Park, the Copeland Motorsports duo has been fighting hard to return to the top spot in their #27 Hyundai Veloster N TCR machine.
Coming off a fourth-place finish – their third of the season – last month, the young Copeland Motorsports drivers are hoping to continue to improve this upcoming weekend. Adding to their confidence, Maxson and Gonzalez competed in their first ever IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race last season at the Fox Factory 120 at Road Atlanta where their claimed a second place finish their first weekend in the car. Now, they hope to build on that success this season on the 2.54-mile course in Braselton, Georgia.
Pulling double duty this weekend, Tyler Maxson will also be making his IMSA Prototype Challenge debut in the LMP3 class with Mühlner Motorsports. Maxson will be racing with Charles Crews in the #22 Duequeine D08.
“I am looking forward to having Tyler joining Charles Crews this weekend at Road Atlanta in our Mühlner Motorsports prepared Duqueine D-08 LMP3 for the IMSA Prototype Challenge race,” expressed Team Owner Bernhard Mühlner. “He has proven his skills in other forms of motorsports so I am expecting him to be fast in our LMP3.”
“I love Road Atlanta and it is a local track for me,” explained Maxson. “To have the opportunity to compete in two classes on the same weekend is awesome, and I will be pushing to stand on the top step of the podium twice!”
“The goal is simple for us this weekend,” added Tyler Gonzalez. “We want to win but also want to finish the season on a high. We were fast here last year in our debut so as a team, we are confident heading into the weekend.”
The jam-packed race weekend will begin on Wednesday morning as Maxson and Gonzalez prepare for their final event weekend. After two practice sessions and a qualifying for each series, both races of the weekend will take place on Friday.
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – Schedule
Wednesday, November 10
9:30AM – 10:15AM Practice 1 Prototype Challenge
12:00PM – 12:30PM Practice 2 Prototype Challenge
2:15PM – 3:15PM Practice 1 IMPC
Thursday, November 11
8:00AM – 8:15AM Qualifying Prototype Challenge
10:40AM – 11:40AM Practice 2 IMPC
3:55PM – 4:30PM Qualifying IMPC
Friday, November 12
8:00AM – 9:45AM Race Prototype Challenge
1:10PM – 3:10PM Race IMPC
For more information on Tyler Gonzalez, please search for him via his social media pages at ‘Tyler Gonzalez Racing’. For more information on Tyler Maxson, please search for him via his social media pages at ‘Tyler Maxson Racing’.
Photo Credit: IMSA