Hyundai Celebrates Victory at Pikes Peak and Podium Finishes at Watkins Glen

Hyundai had a standout weekend at two iconic U.S. motorsport events, capturing a class win on a weather-shortened course at the 103rd Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and securing double podium finishes at the IMSA race weekend at Watkins Glen International.

Evasive Motorsports and its driver Robert Walker piloted the all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 N at Pikes Peak. This collaboration conquered the elements and the mountain with a commanding 4:23.858 run, earning first place in the Exhibition division. At Watkins Glen, Hyundai teams demonstrated their competitive edge in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Eric Powell and Tyler Gonzalez drove the No. 99 Hyundai Elantra N TCR to a second-place finish for Victor Gonzalez Racing Team (VGRT). Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker brought the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) entry home in third, completing a strong weekend for Hyundai.

Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ 5 N wins Exhibition division at the 103rd Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Pikes Peak, Colo., June 22, 2025. (Photo/Hyundai Motor America/Larry Chen Photography)

Tyler Gonzalez and Eric Powell, drivers of the No. 99 Hyundai Elantra N TCR, celebrate on the podium after the LP Building Solutions 120 at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y., Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Bryan Herta Autosport/Richard Prince Photography) 

IMSA Results at Watkins Glen International Raceway
Following a post-race adjustment to the final standings, each Hyundai entry moved up one position. The No. 99 and No. 98 Hyundai Elantra N TCRs advanced to second and third, promoting the No. 98 onto the podium. The No. 99 Hyundai Elantra N TCR spearheaded Hyundai’s efforts, converting a fifth place starting position into an impressive second-place podium finish. They were joined by the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) Elantra N TCR of Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker, who battled hard to finish third, adding another strong finishing result for Hyundai.

This weekend also saw some temporary driver substitutions within the Hyundai camp. Taylor Hagler joined the No. 33 Bryan Herta Autosport entry alongside Mark Wilkins, who filled in for Bryson Morris. Parker Chase filled in for Mason Filippi partnering with Harry Gottsacker in the No. 98. Regular drivers Mason Filippi and Bryson Morris were unavailable as they were representing Hyundai at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in Germany.

The race began with powerful Hyundai representation at the front of the field. The No. 98 of Chase and Gottsacker starting in fourth position and the No. 99 of Powell and Gonzalez was in fifth. The No. 76 BHA entry of Denis Dupont and Preston Brown started in seventh, with the remainder of the Hyundai field in contention.

Early in the race, the No. 99 quickly advanced to fourth position, showcasing immediate pace. A brief early full-course yellow (FCY) regrouped the field. At the 30-minute mark all Hyundai cars maintained strong positions. The No. 98 held fifth position, the No. 99 held sixth, and the No. 76 held ninth.

A mid-race FCY initiated a flurry of pit stops, which saw strategic gains for the Hyundai contingent. Following the stops, the No. 99 emerged in second position, setting the stage for their charge to the podium. Harry Gottsacker in the No. 98 skillfully navigated an incident with another car, while the No. 99 received a warning for contact later in the stint, highlighting the intense battles throughout the race.

As the race entered its final stages, Tyler Gonzalez in the No. 99 expertly moved into third position with 22 minutes remaining. Harry Gottsacker and Parker Chase in the No. 98 secured fourth. Denis Dupont brought the No. 76 home in a respectable fifth, while the No. 9 of Aust and Almeida made a significant climb of four positions from their start to finish eighth.

Hyundai maintains its competitive stance in the IMPC Manufacturers’ Championship as the season progresses, continuing to showcase the performance capabilities of the Elantra N TCR platform.

• Top-Finishing Hyundai: Second place for the No. 99 Hyundai Elantra N TCR, piloted by Eric Powell and Tyler Gonzalez.
• Top-Qualifying Hyundai: Fourth Position for the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR driven by Harry Gottsacker and Parker Chase.
  

The No. 99 Hyundai Elantra N TCR, driven by Tyler Gonzalez and Eric Powell, competes in the LP Building Solutions 120 at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y., Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Bryan Herta Autosport/Richard Prince Photography) 

 Hyundai Finishing Results

Hyundai Championship Standings

IMSA TCR Manufacturer Standings

Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ 5 N wins Exhibition division at the 103rd Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Pikes Peak, Colo., (Photo/Hyundai Motor America/Larry Chen Photography)

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb: A Battle Against the Elements
The 103rd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also known as the Race to the Clouds, proved to be as much a test of resilience as it was of speed. This year’s event was heavily impacted by extreme weather conditions, with high winds delaying the start by over two and a half hours. Sustained gusts reaching 80 to 100 miles per hour created unsafe conditions near the summit, ultimately forcing race officials to shorten the course. The finish line was moved down the mountain to Glen Cove, effectively cutting the iconic 12.42-mile climb nearly in half.

Despite the shortened course and challenging circumstances, the Evasive Motorsports team rose to the occasion. Behind the wheel of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, the team delivered a blistering run of 4 minutes and 23.858 seconds, securing an excellent victory in the Exhibition class. Their performance was a testament not only to the vehicle’s capability but also to the team’s adaptability and determination amid unpredictable conditions on America’s most legendary mountain.

Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company’s Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai’s 850 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a published economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

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