IMPC: Maddie Aust adds valuable points with P4 in Sebring
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Maddie Aust continued her impressive start to the 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season with a second consecutive fourth-place finish during the second round of the championship at Sebring International Raceway.
Maddie Aust continued her impressive start to the 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season with a second consecutive fourth-place finish, while Riley Pegram and the Pegram Racing team demonstrated good potential for a top 10 during the second round of the championship at Sebring International Raceway.
Competing in support of the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring, the two-hour endurance contest marked the return of the Michelin Pilot Challenge following the season-opening Daytona round in January, once again delivering intense competition across the TCR field.
Driving the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR alongside Mark Wilkins, Aust arrived at Sebring riding momentum after narrowly missing the podium at Daytona with a fourth-place finish. The young driver immediately reaffirmed her consistency, positioning herself as an early championship contender through another composed and competitive weekend.
Meanwhile, Riley Pegram returned to the #72 Honda Civic FL5 TCR alongside her father Larry Pegram after Honda factory driver Mario Farnbacher had joined the team for Daytona, where the entry had fought for victory. At Sebring, the Pegram Racing duo opted for a different strategic approach aimed at maximizing track position over the long-distance race.
Both female drivers showed encouraging pace from early in the weekend. In the opening practice, Aust set the sixth-fastest time overall in TCR, while the Pegram Racing Honda ranked eighth. The pair repeated similarly solid performances in FP2, with Aust leading the #98 crew and placing eleventh overall.
Both Aust and Pegram took qualifying responsibilities for their respective teams in a tightly contested TCR session. Pegram delivered a strong lap of 2:14.341, narrowly missing a top-ten grid position and securing 11th place. Aust followed closely behind with a 2:14.557, placing the Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai 12th on the grid, setting up a closely matched start.
The race was dramatically interrupted even before reaching full racing speed at the start. As the field compressed approaching the start, an accordion effect triggered a major multi-car incident when the GS-class CarBahn BMW was turned around, collecting multiple GS competitors in a crash involving ten cars.
The TCR field never even received a proper green-flag start before the caution was deployed, immediately neutralizing the race and forcing teams into different strategies far earlier than anticipated.
A lengthy caution period in fact followed as marshals cleared debris and fluids from the front straight, fundamentally reshaping race strategy by encouraging extended opening stints.
Under the safety car, Pegram held 11th position while Aust ran directly behind in 12th, both drivers maintaining clean opening phases despite the disrupted race conditions.
After nearly 30 minutes, racing resumed briefly before another caution for debris further limited green-flag running, allowing most teams to meet minimum drive-time requirements early.
Aust completed a disciplined opening stint and handed the #98 Hyundai to Mark Wilkins, who rejoined in 11th position and quickly advanced to tenth, overtaking Pegram as the race returned to green with 1 hour and 8 minutes remaining.
Pegram, meanwhile, committed to an alternative one-stop strategy, remaining on track longer in an attempt to pit only once. Initially benefiting from track position, Pegram cycled up to seventh. However, shortly after the restart she spun, dropping the #72 Honda back to 14th.
As the race entered its second half, Wilkins executed Bryan Herta Autosport’s strategy perfectly. With 53 minutes remaining, the fuel window now allowed cars to reach the finish, and Wilkins completed his final stop early, committing to a run to the checkered flag.
Riley Pegram later brought the Honda to pit lane to hand over to Larry Pegram, completing their sole scheduled stop and rejoining in 14th position.
As pit cycles played out across the TCR field, the effectiveness of the #98 team’s strategy became clear. Wilkins surged up the order, emerging in fifth place before gaining additional positions when rivals made later stops.
A puncture for championship leader Dupont further reshuffled the order, allowing Wilkins to climb into third place. The Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai now ran just half a second behind second-placed Harry Gottsacker, placing the car firmly in podium contention.
Wilkins pressured Gottsacker over several laps but ultimately could not find a way through. As tyre wear increased late in the race, attention shifted to defense, with teammate Bryson Morris closing rapidly and Wittmer also looming behind.
In the closing minutes, Larry Pegram meanwhile steadily improved his pace, setting personal-best sector times while chasing Daniel Hanley. Gradually closing a 15-second deficit, Pegram caught the #15 Rockwell Autosport Hyundai with just minutes remaining and executed a decisive overtake on the final lap to secure 12th position.
At the front of the TCR battle, a dramatic last-lap fight unfolded between Morris and Wilkins. Morris ultimately found a way past, denying the #98 crew a podium finish, but Wilkins crossed the line fourth, marking the second consecutive P4 finish for the Bryan Herta Autosport entry shared with Maddie Aust.
While narrowly missing the podium again, Aust and Wilkins continued to build a strong championship foundation through consistency: two fourth-place finishes from the opening two rounds place the #98 crew fourth in the standings with 560 points.
Riley and Larry Pegram ultimately produced a finish just outside the top ten in P12, but demonstrated encouraging pace and recovery potential, leaving them 12th in the standings on 390 points after two rounds.
The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season now heads west to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on May 1-2.