Taylor Hagler Completes Opening Round Of European GT4 Campaign
Taylor Hagler joined W&S Motorsport for the Paul Ricard, Spa-Francorchamps and Misano GT4 European Series rounds alongside Gustavo Xavier in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport #442.
– The race weekend at Paul Ricard was Hagler’s first visit to the French track. The technical 5.842 km (3.630 miles) course features 15 turns is know for its flat and elongated track design.
– GT4 European Series features a unique format with testing on Thursday, two free practices on Friday, two qualifying sessions and two hour long races. Each driver completes a qualifying session and starts their respective race. Hagler took control of the #442 Porsche in the second qualifying session and started Race 2.
– Hagler and teammate Gustavo Xavier completed 50 total race laps – 25 in Race 1 and 25 in Race 2. Hagler drove two clean races in her first GT4 European race weekend with rain appearing in Race 2 in the second half. Heads down driving by the Texan allowed forward movement with Hagler getting up with sixth place before handing the car over to Xavier. The #442 would gain four positions before the checkered flag on Sunday. – Prior to the Paul Ricard race, Hagler completed the 24Hour Nürburgring with her IMSA teammates as apart of Hyundai Motorsport America‘s Team USA. Hagler stood on the TCR podium with a second place finish over two trips around the clock at the historic German course.
– Hagler is the reigning IMSA TCR Champion winning two back-to-back Championships in 2021 and 2022. Hagler made history with those wins becoming the first and only female Champion in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR history.
Taylor Hagler, Driver of the W&S Motorsport No. 442:
“I’m really happy with my first weekend in the GT4 European Series with W&S Motorsport. The GT4 category is new to me and we were focused on improving each session and learning about the car and the difficult track at Paul Ricard. We covered a lot of ground throughout the weekend and thank you to the team and my teammates for all of the hard work. I’m looking forward to Spa with the team in a month.”