Pit+Paddock Civic Type R TCR Takes First Podium Finish at 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Canada

Serving as the home track for Montreal Motorsport Group (MMG), the Pit+Paddock Civic Type R TCR was primed to tackle Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, one of North America’s fastest circuits. With ENEOS ambassador Dai Yoshihara behind the wheel, he qualified P6, his first time driving at this course, and by the time the checkered flag waved, the team finished P2, taking the first podium of the season.

TCR didn’t get a clean first lap due to an incident that occurred within the first five minutes, but Yoshihara managed to move up to P3 from P6. His best lap time was nearly two full seconds faster than the TCR leaders but he seemed to be tempering his outright pace as part of a larger fuel strategy. The top 5 began to tighten at the 30-min mark, forcing everyone to balance between track position, pit stops, and traffic with the GS class. The pace difference between the two classes was minimal but added an interesting dynamic to the racing action.

There weren’t many on-track incidents during the first hour, and many started coming into the pits for the first time around the midpoint of the race, including Yoshihara. Co-driver Karl Wittmer resumed the race in P6 before the first full course caution at the 56-min mark, then climbed to P3 by the time the green flag waved and the pit stops ran their course. With an in-depth familiarity of the course, Wittmer became a sudden threat behind the leaders as he was only split by 0.8sec from P1 as the race approached the 1.5hr mark.

Drama came with 27-min left as the Unitronic/JDC-Miller MotorSports Audi RS3 LMS TCR suddenly pulled off course with a mechanical issue, however, the #33 Hyundai never surrendered the lead after the Audi’s exit. Wittmer applied pressure until the very end, despite losing his anti-lock braking system. The Pit+Paddock Civic Type R TCR held onto P2 at the checkered flag, only 0.723sec behind the winner.

“P2, baby!” said Yoshihara. “I’m so stoked for my first podium finish in IMSA, and it’s extra special because it happened at my team’s and my teammate’s home track!”

“To have a well-deserved podium finish at our home track, with this crew that’s put in sweat and tears since the start of the year, is so rewarding,” Wittmer said. “I’m so happy, I can’t wait to party with them!”

NEXT RACE

MMG heads to the Road America 120 in Plymouth, Wisconsin from August 1-3.

Photos: courtesy of Pit+Paddock