Eversley Switches to LA Honda World in New Lineup

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Honda Performance Development driver Ryan Eversley will make the switch to LA Honda World Racing for the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season, teaming up with rising star Taylor Hagler at the wheel o the team’s No. 77 Honda Civic Type-R TCR.

The 2018 TC America TCR champion will start his 11th season with HPD, albeit in a new environment.

“The LA Honda World team has won a lot of races and I’ve admired what they’ve accomplished from a competitors standpoint and I know they’re going to be great to work with,” he said.

“Taylor and I are ready to go and looking forward to getting the season started in our No. 77 Honda Civic Type R.”

Hagler, 24, began racing two years ago in Spec Miata and NASA Pro Racing’s HPDE to Racing Program, winning Rookie of the Year while placing fifth of 69 drivers in the NASA Texas Spec Miata championship.

She drove a Honda Civic for X-Factor Racing in the TCA category of TC America this year, finishing fifth with two podiums to her credit, prior to getting a chance to test Honda’s TCR platform in the build up to the 24H COTA.

“I’ve had a chance to try the Honda Civic Type R TCR a few times and I’m looking forward to driving it at Daytona,” she said.

“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to drive it on a more regular basis and I’m so pleased that LA Honda World Racing has provided this opportunity for 2020.

“It is really cool to be paired with Ryan. He is a long standing Honda driver and one that I watched in IMSA races when my dad and I traveled to Daytona and Road Atlanta as fans.”

The Luis Perocarpi-owned operation heads into next month’s four-hour season-opener at Daytona International Speedway as defending class winners, with Tom O’Gorman and Shelby Blackstock returning to the No. 37 entry that landed in victory lane.

Eversley’s former team, HART, is expected to contest the Pilot Challenge season-opener, although its full-season plans are unclear at this point.

The Ohio-based team is not listed to take part in this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 pre-season test, which is not mandatory for Pilot Challenge teams.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John