Taylor Hagler To Make IMSA Debut With LA Honda World At Daytona
Rising star Taylor Hagler will co-drive with Honda Performance Development (HPD) driver Ryan Eversley for a full-season campaign in the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. The duo will share the driving duties in a Honda Civic Type R TCR fielded by LA Honda World Racing. The team is the defending TCR winner of the four-hour event, winning with Tom O’Gorman and Shelby Blackstock in 2019. Hagler, a 24-year-old driver from Bulverde,Texas, will make her IMSA debut at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, January 24, 2020.
The IMSA TCR class features internationally-homologated race machines with a growing field of platforms and includes brands like Honda, Audi, VW, Alfa Romeo, and Hyundai. Hagler 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. In 2019, she drove a Honda Civic for X-Factor Racing in the TCA category of TC America. Hagler finished fifth in the championship with two podium finishes, scoring her first professional podium in the opening round at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas. Hagler had the opportunity to test the Honda TCR platform in the run up to the 24H of COTA earlier this year, and is looking forward to growing her competition experience with Honda.
“I am so excited to race in IMSA in 2020 with LA Honda World Racing and Honda Racing HPD,” said Hagler. “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. 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. The team won here last year so there is just a bit of pressure to hit the ground running!”
Eversley has an extensive resume that stretches back to his start in the sport working as a mechanic before he got his first shot behind the wheel. The Atlanta-area driver has diversified his competition portfolio to include everything from race-winning runs behind the wheel of the Acura NSX GT3 to jumping Super Trucks. Eversley also has extensive and recent experience in the TCR ranks as he returns to IMSA for a full season campaign once again.
“I’m happy to be continuing my association with Honda and HPD for my 11th season!” exclaimed Eversley. “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. Taylor and I are ready to go and looking forward to getting the season started in our No. 77 Honda Civic Type R.”
Knowing that she is joining a list of Eversley co-drivers that has included names like Simon Pagenaud, Dane Cameron, and Peter Cunningham, Hagler is looking forward to the opportunity to tap into his strong knowledge of the IMSA circuits as well as his proven pace.
“It is really cool to be paired with Ryan (Eversley),” said Hagler. “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.”
Prior to racing, Hagler spent 10 years in equestrian show jumping competition before trading the horse for horsepower – a natural progression as she and her father are both lifelong sports car racing fans. At Daytona, she will take another big step up sports car racing’s ladder with her debut with LA Honda World in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition.
