Hagler Completes Sebring Weekend with Top 10 Finish
The 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) season resumed at Sebring International Raceway for the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 – the second stop on the 10 race calendar. Taylor Hagler and teammate Bryson Morris combined in the No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR to complete the race weekend in ninth place.
Slated for qualifying duties, Hagler took command of the No. 77 Hyundai to set a flying lap of 2:13.988-seconds to set her fourth on the starting grid. The second row position is Hagler’s best qualifying result with Hyundai since joining the manufacturer in 2021.
With the green flag in the air at the historic race course, Hagler maintained a strong race line through the opening corners to keep her position as the race pace settled. Just 11 minutes into the two hour race, Hagler ran into traffic while passing the back end of the GS field. Navigating traffic allowed the No. 77 to create a gap to the car behind.
The first full course caution appeared with one hour, and 31-minutes remaining on the race clock. Nine minutes shy of the minimum drive time forced strategic pit stop planning for the BHA team. Hagler came to pit lane under yellow flag conditions for four tires and fuel for the No. 77 Hyundai. The green flag reappeared for one lap on Lap 18 before returning to a full course caution for the second time.
As the race clock hit the one hour mark, green flag conditions returned as Hagler moved up the running order to second. On the back half of the course, the No. 77 came into contact with the TCR class leader causing a cut tire. Hagler returned to pit lane to hand over the Hyundai to Morris while the BHA crew went to work to quickly change the cut tire.
Morris returned to the course in 13th, but circulated effortlessly through traffic to gain two positions before coming to the checkered flag. The No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR of Hagler and Morris completed the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 in 11th place. Following the completion of the race, two competitors were disqualified promoting Hagler and Morris to ninth place.
Taylor Hagler, No. 77 Bryan Herta Hyundai Elantra N TCR: “A disappointing end to otherwise a good weekend. The Bryan Herta Autosport team gave Bryson (Morris) and I a fast car and I am proud to have had my best qualifying result with Hyundai yet. Unfortunately, our race did not go as planned. We will regroup and learn from this weekend as we prepare for our next race at Laguna Seca.”