Taylor Hagler Brings Momentum with Fourth Place Finish at CTMP
Taylor Hagler marked her weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) with a fourth place finish for the only international round of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season. With Bryson Morris at her side, the No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR driver duo secured their best result of the season just outside podium contention.
The abbreviated weekend began with two practice sessions on Friday before Saturday at the 10-turn course began early with qualifying. With cool, cloudy conditions, Hagler placed the No. 77 Hyundai in seventh.
As the green flag flew, the conditions at CTMP rapidly changed with temperatures rising and the sun blaring overhead. Hagler battled 127 degree track temperature as the field of GS and TCR entries got up to speed for the two-hour race. She settled into eighth and would stay there through the opening stint.
Hagler continued clean, concise racing as she utilized fuel saving tactics as she lapped the 2.49-mile course. The Texan saved enough fuel in the No. 77 Hyundai to work up the running order to second as the TCR field dove to pit lane. Hagler came to pit lane to hand over the controls to Morris on lap 42. The extra on-track time paid dividends for the BHA squad when the first and only full course caution appeared on the next lap as Morris returned to the racing surface.
The condensed field took the restart on lap 48 with Morris close in pursuit of the leaders in front. Morris kept the gap to the TCR class leader below four seconds as he navigated tight racing through the final 32 laps to sit fifth.. On the final lap, Morris made one final move in turn four to gain an additional position claiming Hagler and Morris’s best result of the season of fourth.
Taylor Hagler, Driver of the No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR: “Today was a physically challenging race for me. The heat was difficult and with a full green flag stint, there was no ease. I am happy with our result today and we were able to combine for our best result of the season. We have had positive momentum the last two races and we hope to keep that going into Road America.”