Copeland Confirms Move to IMSA; Debut at Road Atlanta

Photo: Copeland Motorsports

Copeland Motorsports will make the switch to IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition next year, with the newly crowned TC America TCR championship-winning squad set for its series debut in next weekend’s Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Tyler Maxson, who turns 16 next Tuesday, will pair up fellow 16-year-old Tyler Gonzalez in a single Hyundai Veloster N TCR for the two-hour race.

Maxson and Gonzalez spent the year in SRO America competition, with Maxson scoring 11 wins en route to the TCR championship while Gonzalez raced in the TCA category, claiming three class wins and multiple poles in a Bryan Herta Autosport-built Hyundai Veloster Turbo.

“The rumors are true and Copeland Motorsports will be making the switch to the IMSA program in 2021,” said team owner Dean Copeland.

“We have worked hard behind the scenes putting the necessary pieces of the puzzle together. Pairing the two Tyler’s together was a no brainer for us as they are both special drivers and have had success separately in 2020.”

Maxson, who won nine consecutive TCR races this year to kick off the TC America season, said a move to Pilot Challenge has been a goal of his “all season long.”

“I was able to take in an IMSA event a few weeks ago and the professionalism of the series and the intense competition just confirmed my goals,” he said.

“To be partnered with Tyler Gonzalez and the Copeland Motorsports crew keeps a consistent group together as we take on a new series next weekend.”

Gonzalez added: “When the opportunity to compete on the Petit Le Mans weekend was presented, it was an offer that I could not refuse.

“I was able to get behind the wheel of a TCR car at some of our recent events and understand what is needed to succeed.

“The Maxson family have been friends of the family for quite some time, so making this step with them is something that I think we are both ready to do.”

Copeland is targeting to run a minimum of two Hyundai TCRs in the series next year.

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