Belated Call Informing Them of Their Michelin Pilot Challenge Win Pumps up PartyJuly 10, 2023By John OreoviczIMSA Wire Service BOWMANVILLE, Ontario – Parker Thompson and his Hattori Motorsports teammates had plenty to celebrate Saturday evening. Then the celebration got even better.A few hours earlier, Thompson and Billy Johnson had driven Hattori’s No. 50 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO to second place in the team’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge debut in the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120. But second place became first when the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 that crossed the line first was moved to the back of the Grand Sport (GS) class field for a pair of technical infractions.The news, delivered via a phone call from Steve Hallam, Toyota Racing Development manager of vehicle support and team engineering, kicked the team’s party up a notch.“We were actually all out with Weins Auto Group (a Canadian team sponsor) having a dinner celebrating, and we got the call that the No. 95 didn’t make it through postrace tech, so we started celebrating more,” Thompson said.Rightfully so, since it was the first Michelin Pilot Challenge win for Toyota, the team and Thompson – the latter two making their series debuts.“It was definitely cool to get the call,” Thompson continued. “You never want to get those phone calls; it’s not how you want to win a race. But at the same time, to get it while we were out to dinner with our sponsor was just awesome. We had the team owner, Shigeaki Hattori, there, and it was a pretty cool and special moment for everyone involved.” The whole effort came together quickly for Thompson, a 25-year-old native of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, and Johnson – who had shared the record of 23 Michelin Pilot Challenge race wins for the last seven years with Matt Plumb.“I got a call five weeks ago that was a very soft call that this might happen,” Thompson related. “Really, it wasn’t until about a week and a half ago that they said, ‘We’re doing this. Let’s go try and win the race.’ Definitely a last-minute effort, and a cool story, too.”The result was not only the first Michelin Pilot Challenge win for Thompson, it was also the first for the Toyota GR Supra GT4 in the series. Not to mention Johnson’s now solo record 24th.Johnson was elated to become the sole possessor of the most Michelin Pilot Challenge wins but was just as happy for the firsts that went with it.“This was such an incredible and meaningful win,” he said. “From the first IMSA victory for the GR Supra, to Parker’s first series win, and personally breaking a seven-year tie to become the winningest driver in the MPC history, this was truly a very special weekend. We had a strong effort going into this weekend, and the way the entire team, drivers and car came together having never worked together or tested prior to this weekend is a testament to the professionalism and determination of everyone involved.”Thompson called it “a Cinderella story.”“Obviously I’m a little biased, but to get the Toyota GR Supra’s first win in IMSA, on the team’s debut and on my debut, and do it here at home at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, you couldn’t script it better,” the Canadian said. “I always feel like home when I come back to Canada. Get to drink my Tim Hortons (coffee) in the morning and enjoy my Canadian fans.”Thompson truly made the most of his unexpected opportunity to race in his homeland. Now his focus turns to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he will join Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 competing in the GT Daytona (GTD) class in October’s Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The trio was victorious in their last outing at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.“Those guys are nice enough to keep my name on the top of the door,” he said. “My focus is on going to Atlanta and getting another endurance win for those guys.”The next race for the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class is the Road America 120 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on Aug. 6. |
