Elkhart Lake, WI

  • #93 MMG Honda of Karl Wittmer and LP Montour secures third pole and fourth podium in four races
  • MMG's top form sees them further reduce TCR class championship points gap

Honda extended its podium streak to four consecutive IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge events, scoring a P3 finish in the Road America 120 with the #93 MMG Honda Civic Type R TCR of Karl Wittmer and LP Montour.

After starting from pole position—their third in the last four races—LP Montour maintained the lead for the opening half of the race. However, a caution-filled first hour turned the event into a strategic minefield. For MMG, the primary challenge was fuel management, as Road America's high-speed layout strained the possibility of a one-stop race.

With championship implications in mind, MMG executed a conservative but effective strategy, keeping Montour in the car until the race's final hour when a one-stop finish became viable.

As Wittmer took over for the remainder of the race with 56 minutes on the clock, the shuffle in pit strategies caused by multiple full course caution periods saw him return to the field in sixth. Nevertheless, he went on to regain a couple of positions before going on to execute a decisive pass in the final ten minutes to move into podium position. A dramatic last-lap chase for second place ensued, in which he narrowly missed out in a race to the finish line.

Following their consistent podium form in the past four rounds at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Watkins Glen International, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and Road America, the MMG Honda has further closed the gap in the TCR championship standings, now just 90 points adrift of the leading car and 70 points behind second place. 

Elsewhere in the Honda camp, the #89 HART entry of Chad Gilsinger and Tyler Chambers showcased strategic brilliance by capitalizing on an early stop to clear debris, which later positioned them in P2 after a quick driver change. Unfortunately, their race ended prematurely after being collected in a multi-car incident, sustaining damage that forced retirement.

The #5 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Honda of William Tally and Tim Lewis had completed a pit stop during one of the early caution periods to top up on fuel, and although they were originally handed a penalty for crew coming over the pit wall too soon, the multiple yellow periods negated this setback. However, they were ultimately hampered in the closing 20 minutes by brake issues and would cross the line P9.

Road America 120 Honda Race Results

  • Finished 3rd - #93 MMG Honda Civic Type R TCR, Karl Wittmer, LP Montour
  • Finished 9th - #5 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Honda Civic Type R TCR, William Tally, Tim Lewis
  • Finished 13th - #89 HART Honda Civic Type R TCR, Chad Gilsinger, Tyler Chambers – not running, contact

Quotes

LP Montour (#93 MMG Honda Civic Type R TCR) Finished third: "We did a great job in qualifying and led from pole for the first stint. We had a different strategy than our competitors, and Karl did an amazing job to bring us back from sixth up to third, so I'm very happy. Thanks to HRC, MMG, and JAS Motorsport for giving us a great car."

Karl Wittmer (#93 MMG Honda Civic Type R TCR) Finished third: "Another incredible race! That's our fourth podium in a row with HRC and MMG. It's just so rewarding for everyone to come together and actually pull off these results that we really deserve. We're a small Canadian team, and I'm super proud of LP for the killer stint. Couldn't be happier to be here on the podium."

Next
Honda returns to VIRginia International Raceway for the two-hour Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix, where the manufacturer and MMG won the first race for the FL5 TCR in IMSA competition the year prior. The eighth round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season will take place on Saturday, August 23rd at 2:15 PM ET.

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