It was high hopes for Copeland Motorsports as they entered the seventh event weekend in the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season. Taking on the picturesque Road America facility in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the results were not what they had hoped, but the team takes away knowledge and experience that they can use in the future.
“Difficult weekend for us all around on the IMSA side after we started promising,” explained Dean Copeland, Owner of the multi-series Copeland Motorsports program. “We did not have the speed that we needed, the timing of the cautions was not on our side and some issues in the pits cost us. The rain dampened the spirits of the entire event but we brought two cars back with four wheels on each so we will live to fight another day.”
With Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez in the #27 Hyundai Veloster N TCR and Mason Filippi and AJ Muss in the #51 entry, both cars showed speed throughout the event weekend, but could not muster up the results they deserved in the Road America 120. With the Maxson and Gonzalez duo coming off a podium result a few weeks ago and claiming the second quickest time in the opening practice session, it was a promising start to the weekend for Copeland Motorsports.
Copeland continued, “We had speed on occasion and that is a positive that we can take away from the weekend. Rain for the race on Saturday threw every team for a loop but I think we handled it well and were prepared for whatever weather came at us. A huge thank you to all of our supporters and crew for their hard work and efforts. We will be back at the next one and be aiming for a race win or podium result.”
With only three events remaining on the 2021 Michelin Pilot Challenge calendar, Copeland Motorsports will travel west over the September 10-12 weekend as they take on the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship.
Photo Credit: IMSA