Fifth for Honda in Final IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Race of 2020

• Ryan Eversley and Taylor Hagler score fifth place finish 
• Atlanta Speedwerks misses qualifying, recovers to sixth-place finish

It was a top-five finish for Honda in the final IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race of 2020, with the #77 LA Honda World Honda Civic Type R TCR duo of Ryan Eversley and Taylor Hagler leading the Honda effort Friday at Sebring International Raceway.  

Despite it being the series' second trip to Sebring in 2020, it was Hagler's first visit to the track, after missing the July race due to a COVID-19 diagnosis. Starting ninth, Hagler moved through the field to sixth at the start, then slipping to seventh before a yellow flag at the 27-minute mark. Hagler pitted under yellow for fuel and fresh tires and ran as high as third before handing over driving duties to Ryan Eversley.

Eversley's near one-hour stint was primarily spent battling the #5 Alfa Romeo of Tim Lewis and Roy Block. The duo swapped position no fewer than seven times in the closing half hour of the race. Ultimately, Eversley would cross the line in the fifth position to take the #77's fifth TCR top five result of 2020.

Finishing just behind the LA Honda World pair, the #84 Atlanta Speedwerks duo of Brian Henderson and Robert Noaker scored a sixth-place result n the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120. Noaker started at the tail end of the TCR field after the team discovered a mechanical issue on the car prior to qualifying.

The crew quickly got to work, replacing the engine and ensuring their Honda Civic Type R TCR was race-ready for today's two-hour event. Leveraging a different spit trategy, including two separate driver changes, Henderson and Noaker carved through the field en route to their sixth place finish.

HPD has three ready-to-race Civic models for touring car competition. The line starts with the affordable and reliable Civic Si TCA race car, then leads to the Civic Type R TC racer that puts legendary Type R performance on track, and culminates with the no-compromise, championship-winning Civic Type R TCR race car. Our unparalleled trackside support at every level from HPD engineers is a unique benefit that no other manufacturer can offer. Find out more about these cars and our touring programs at: https://hpd.honda.com/Motorsports/Touring

Honda Racing social media content and videos from this weekend's season finale at Sebring are available on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hondaracing_hpd), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD).  

Next
Today's race concludes the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season. The 2021 season kicks off January 29th at Daytona International Speedway.

Quotes
Taylor Hagler (#77 LA Honda World Honda Civic Type R TCR), finished fifth: It was really cool to make my first start at Sebring after missing the first opportunity [due to illness] earlier this year. The LA Honda World crew gave us a great Honda Civic Type R TCR, and I just worked on making consistent laps and moving up the order throughout my stint.  We had a good strategy and Ryan jumped into the car and did a great job getting the car into the top five.  It feels nice to finish the year strong and I'm looking forward to more laps on Monday in the Acura Motorsports NSX GT3 [at the HPD GT3 Academy]."

Ryan Eversley (#77 LA Honda World Honda Civic Type R TCR), finished fifth: "We're pretty happy to grab another top five finish in the TCR class today. I honestly feel like we did the absolute best with what we had, and did everything within our capabilities to get that result. Now we're looking forward to next season, and seeing Honda have a better season with a bit more of a level playing field."

Alan Jay Automotive Network 120
Circuit: Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, FL
Weather: Hot and humid, 81 degrees F

Top Five TCR, Honda Race Results:

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