Honda News Article - Honda Civic Type R TCRs Finish 1-2 in Daytona Debut

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.        

‍

• Honda Civic Type R claims TCR class victory in MICHELIN Pilot Challenge debut
• LA Honda World Racing finish 1-2 at Daytona International Speedway
• Tom O'Gorman and Shelby Blackstock take the win, teammates Mat Pombo and Mike LaMarra finish second

‍

LA Honda World Racing claimed a 1-2 finish in a thrilling debut for  the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge series Friday at Daytona International  Speedway.  Tom O'Gorman, 2018 Pirelli World Challenge TCA champion, and  Indy Lights veteran Shelby Blackstock combined to edge teammates Mike LaMarra and Mat Pombo by just 1.605 seconds on the challenging Daytona  road course.

‍

Three teams brought a total of five Honda Civic Type R TCR entries  this weekend to the opening round of the re-branded MICHELIN Pilot  Challenge, with the Atlanta Speedwerks Honda of Brian Henderson claiming  the TCR class pole on Thursday, in the car he shared with Todd Lamb.

‍

Starting fifth, Blackstock steadily worked his way through the other  class front runners to assume the lead at the end of the first hour of  racing.  Making his IMSA debut, O'Gorman continued to run with the  leaders as multiple cautions repeatedly bunched the field.  The third LA  Honda World Racing entry of Max Faulkner and Colin Mullan also ran with  the leaders during the second half of the race, but suffered a cut tire  soon after its final pit stop, forcing Mullan to stop the car on  course.

‍

The event came down to an 11-minute sprint following the ninth and  final caution period. O'Gorman quickly moved ahead of the class-leading  Audi, followed by teammate Pombo as the two Hondas pulled away in the  battle to the checkered flag.

‍

The Honda Civic Type R TCR made its North American racing debut in  2018, with Ryan Eversley claiming the Pirelli World Challenge TCR  Drivers' Championship with RealTime Racing.  Developed by Honda partner  JAS Motorsport in Italy, the Civic Type R TCR is offered in race-ready  condition through Honda Performance Development.

‍

Next

The 2019 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge continues on Friday, March 15, with  the second round in the 10-race championship at Sebring International  Raceway.

‍

Quotes

Tom O'Gorman (#37 La Honda World Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR)  Started fifth, finished first: "I've been racing with Honda for a long  time - starting 12 years ago - so it's great to step up to TCR and get  the first win. I got chills when I saw the Daytona Speedway come over  the horizon, because I never raced here before. The hardest part was to  stay out of trouble, keep your wits about you, and keep the car  underneath you, because these guys were racing so hard. If you'd have  told me yesterday that we would be standing here [in victory circle], I  wouldn't have believed you. Now, we're in victory lane. It's an exciting  day."

‍

John Whiteman (Manager, Commercial Motorsports Honda Performance  Development): "We are very excited and pleased that the Honda Civic Type  R TCR grabbed the top two spots today at the inaugural Michelin Pilot  Challenge. The car's performance and reliability, which both contributed to last year's success in sprint racing, were key in today's four-hour  endurance race victory at Daytona. Congratulations to Tom O'Gorman,  Shelby Blackstock, LAP Motorsports and L.A. Honda World on the amazing  finish!"

‍