RECAP: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120 – 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

Written by: 

Brian Fisher

Published: July 15, 2025 at 13:15

 | Updated: September 10, 2025 at 01:24

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120 – 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

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On Saturday, the two-hour GS/TCR support race was decided by fuel strategy and a home-country celebration. In Grand Sport (GS), CarBahn with Peregrine Racing turned a one-stop plan into a 1–2 finish. After Sean McAlister’s 58-minute opening stint stretched the BMW’s fuel load further than expected, teammate Jeff Westphal inherited the lead under caution. A massive 22-minute yellow (caused by a four-car crash on the Andretti Straight) further bunched the pack. Westphal emerged cleanly on the restart and pulled away, winning by 5.603 seconds. It was his sixth career Pilot Challenge victory (second of 2025). Second place went to the Auto Technic Racing BMW of Stevan McAleer/Austin Krainz (number 27), who moved up after officials penalized another competitor, Stephen Cameron Racing Ford Mustang (number 19). Gregory Liefooghe/Sean Quinlan took third in the number 13 car. Westphal reflected that fuel saving was “absolutely essential” and that a bit of luck fell their way. GS championship leaders Jan Heylen/Luca Mars (Porsche number 28) finished ninth, retaining a comfortable points cushion after the unexpected race developments.

In TCR, it was “Happy Honda Homecoming.” The Montreal Motorsports Group’s Honda Civic FL5 (number 93, Karl Wittmer/LP Montour) prevailed in a battle among Canadian teams. Wittmer’s father, LP, leapt to the lead early, then traded it with Sam Baker (Audi number 52) on lap 9. When the Honda pitted early, it looked risky, but fate intervened: with 40 minutes remaining, a heavy crash between Baker’s Audi (number 52) and Mark Wilkins’s Hyundai (number 33) on the backstraight (also eliminating two GS cars) brought out a long yellow. The caution neutralized the field, allowing Wittmer to regroup. On the restart, he drove perfectly to hold off Tyler Gonzalez/Eric Powell (number 99 Gonzalez Racing Hyundai) and Ryan Eversley/Celso Neto (number 7 Audi). Wittmer/Montour’s number 93 Honda won by 2.149 seconds, giving both drivers their second straight win and a tie for the TCR points lead (after late issues dropped rivals Harry Gottsacker/Mason Filippi’s car to eighth). Montour expressed his satisfaction, saying, “It means a lot… to secure back-to-back wins… for my friends and family” on home soil.

Key Takeaways:

  • BMW one-two in GS: CarBahn’s Westphal/McAlister in the number 39 BMW took an impressive win, with McAleer/Krainz second.
  • Luck under yellow: A four-car pileup on the straight led to a 22-minute caution, which played perfectly into BMWs’ fuel strategy.
  • Canadian Honda triumph: MMG’s Wittmer/Montour earned a historic TCR win for Canada by 2.149 seconds after rivals collided under caution.
  • Championship shakeup: The late TCR incident created a tie at the top of the standings between MMG’s Honda teams.

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