Taylor Hagler to take on the Nürburgring 24H
Two-time IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge champion Taylor Hagler is set to make her first start in European racing and it will be at one of the most legendary races on the planet: the Nürburgring 24 Hours, in a manufacturer-effort for Hyundai Motor America.
Taylor Hagler has repeatedly made history Stateside in the last couple of years, having been crowned champion in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in the TCR class in both 2021 and 2022. Alongside Bryan Herta Autosport teammate Michael Lewis, Hagler showed perfect consistency, scoring 15 podiums across the two seasons and two race wins.
Currently the highest-ranked female driver worldwide on the TCR World Ranking, Hagler's rise in sports car racing also included an outstanding rookie season in GT3 machinery, where she became Pro-Am vice-champion in GT World Challenge America in 2021.
One of Hyundai Motor America's top drivers on the IMSA platform, Taylor Hagler will now have the chance to represent the brand in its manufacturer one-car effort at the legendary 24 hours of the Nürburgring Nordschleife - widely considered the most challenging racetrack in the world.
Hyundai Motor America will in fact partner with Hyundai Motorsport GmbH and Target Competition to field a Hyundai Elantra N TCR, with a star studded line up: Taylor Hagler will share the wheel with IMPC teammate Michael Lewis, Mason Filippi and Harry Gottsacker.
The manufacturer had in fact intended to enter the ADAC TotalEnergies 24 Hour race in 2020, prior to the pandemic, and will now join the European TCR field.
All four drivers will have to gain the Nürburgring permit - having never raced before at the 25,378 metre-long racetrack. This means that Hagler and teammates will have to take part in informative classes, Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) races and a specific qualifying race before the main event.
“I look forward to representing Hyundai USA in an international program for the first time in Germany,” said Taylor Hagler.
“We will have the opportunity to sample a wide range of the race-prepared versions of the N vehicles as we work to qualify for the race. It will be a busy spring balancing the logistics of our IMSA and Nürburgring 24 schedules and spending time on the simulator to prepare for the race!”
The upcoming months will in fact be very busy for Hagler, who will have to complete six trips to Germany in between her IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge rounds. Immediately after the chequered flag at Sebring next weekend, Hagler and her teammates will embark on the first flight and will race at the NLS 1 race, in specially prepared Hyundai i30 N streetcars.
They will also have to enter NLS2 and NLS3, on April 1 and April 15 respectively. One week later, the Nürburgring 24 Qualifying race will take place, with the main event scheduled for May 18-21.
The race is one of Europe's crown jewel events, attracting the top teams and drivers in touring cars and GT endurance racing, as well as over 200,000 fans in attendance.