Taylor Hagler makes GT4 Europe debut, joins W&S Motorsport

After her Nordschleife journey, two-time IMSA TCR champion is set to return to Europe for more racing: Taylor Hagler will make her GT4 Europe debut W&S Motorsport in a three-race programme.

A proven race winner and two-time champion in TCR, Taylor Hagler is no stranger to GT racing as well, having contested the 2021 GT World Challenge America season with the Racers Edge Motorsports' Acura NSX GT3 - claiming 3 class victories and 8 podiums in her rookie season in GT3 machinery.

Hagler, 27, then returned to defend the title in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge - becoming the first ever driver, alongside teammate Micheal Lewis, to be crowned back-to-back.

Steadily part of the Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai North America's line-ups, Hagler embarked on a journey overseas to race in Europe for the first time earlier this year: as part of a Hyundai factory effort, Hagler prepared for her first 24 Hours of the Nürburgring - one of the toughest races on the planet.

In her quest to learn the almost-25 km long track, Hagler and her teammates had to travel back and forth from the US to Germany, in order to participate in informative classes, Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) races and a specific qualifying race ahead of their entry into the ADAC TotalEnergies 24 Hour event. The Texan completed the selected NLS rounds that granted her Nürburgring permit, a necessary license to race at the legendary circuit.

Last weekend, Hagler finished second in the TCR class in the prestigious race, with Hyundai Motorsport claiming a dominant 1-2 in class.

Such a great accomplishment will be followed by even more outings in Europe, as Taylor Hagler is now set make her GT4 European Championship debut, in a W&S Motorsport entry: she will get behind the wheel of the #442 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, alongside Gustavo Xavier, for three rounds of the continental GT4 series.

Hagler, who replaces Charles Dawson after a qualifying accident in Monza, will take on Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France, Spa Francorchamps - in the support round to the 24H of Spa - and Misano, as she is exploring more opportunities in Europe.

With W&S Motorsport, Hagler will have the chance to prove herself in the highly competitive GT4 Europe field, in an important step for her racing career as she prepares for more competitions in Europe.

“I am looking forward to joining W&S Motorsport for the next rounds of the GT4 European Series", Hagler stated. "This year has been my first experience racing in Europe, and it’s great to be able to add some more great events and tracks to the calendar."

"The team has a lot of experience with Porsche cars and we will be working to quickly get up to speed in Paul Ricard.”

“We are very happy to welcome Taylor to the team and are sure that we will achieve strong results together", added Daniel Schellhaas, Team Principal at W&S Motorsport. "Thanks to her experience, she ideally complements our line-up and I am looking forward to racing with her."

Her first race weekend will be on 3-4 June, at the former home of the French Grand Prix.