The No. 33 Bryan Herta Autosport Elantra Will Feature a Yellow-and-White Scheme Adorned with Colorful Children’s Handprints
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The championship-leading car in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Touring Car (TCR) class is taking on a new look this weekend for a very important reason.
The No. 33 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Hyundai Elantra N TCR is shedding its normal light blue and orange livery for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 240 in favor of a yellow-and-white paint scheme adorned with multicolored children’s handprints. It’s all to honor the 25th anniversary of the Hyundai Hope On Wheels program raising funds to find a cure for childhood cancer.
The handprints symbolize the program’s fight against pediatric cancer and hope for a cure. Eleven-year-old Raynie Clark, Hyundai Hope On Wheels national youth ambassador, will attend Saturday’s four-hour race on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course and become a member of the BHA team for the weekend. Clark’s name will be added on the No. 33 car alongside the names of drivers Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker. In addition, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will donate $100 to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis for each lap led by any of the seven Hyundai entries in the race.
“We’re honored to represent Hyundai Hope on Wheels with a special livery at our home race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said Bryan Herta, co-owner of Bryan Herta Autosport. “We look forward to welcoming special guest Raynie Clark as our honorary co-driver alongside Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker in the No. 33 Elantra N TCR car.
“Hyundai Hope on Wheels has special meaning to us at BHA,” Herta added. “The No. 33 car number is in honor of Reese Imhoff, who was a friend to our team and sadly lost his battle with a rare bone cancer, osteosarcoma. The number 33 was Reese’s lacrosse (jersey) number and we still run that number in his honor along with ‘Reese is a Beast’ decals on all our entries. What Hyundai Hope on Wheels does to help fight these childhood diseases and their families when they need it most continues to inspire us to do better in our own lives.”
Wickens, Gottsacker and the No. 33 BHA Elantra hold a 50-point lead in the TCR standings heading into this weekend. Other Hyundais entered are the Nos. 1 and 98 BHA Elantras, the Nos. 70 and 74 from Deily Motorsports, the No. 91 from van der Steur Racing and the No. 99 of Victor Gonzalez Racing Team. Saturday’s race streams live on Peacock (in the U.S.) and IMSA.com starting at 4:30 p.m. ET.