Aussie Champion Claims Podium In Daytona IMSA Debut
2026 daytona elantra n tcr 06
The two-time TCR Australia champion turned up at Daytona, did not get lost, and then proceeded to finish on the podium in his first North American outing. Sharing a Hyundai Elantra N TCR in the four-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge opener, the Australian driver brought the car home third in class and 27th overall after a race that was equal parts chess match and bar-room brawl.
Lead Changes, Restarts And A Lot Of Nerve
After qualifying in the front half, the crew sliced through traffic early and took the class lead on lap two. The Australian then took over for the middle stint and was the standout rookie, holding the lead for most of his hour at the wheel. He executed decisive overtakes on restarts, managed tyre life like a man who understands consequences, and generally looked like someone who belongs behind the wheel of a race car rather than piloting a shopping trolley.
Two Laps To Go And The Circus Descends
The finale was brutal theatre. The sister car stalked the leader and, as faster GT4 traffic swarmed through, the leading TCR runners found themselves in a pocket of chaos. With two laps remaining the lead changed hands, and on the final lap a rival squeezed through to take second. After four hours the top three were separated by less than one second. If you did not have a heart monitor by then, you must be a robot.
International Form Carried Over
This result is the coup de grace to a strong run of international form. The driver arrived in Florida off the back of a season that included multiple wins on the TCR World Tour and a victory at the notorious Guia Race in Macau. That experience showed. He slotted into an established championship-winning programme, repaid the faith with composed stints, and left Daytona with a trophy and a lot more respect.
The Little Monster Under The Bonnet
The Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR, marketed in some regions as the Elantra N TCR, remains one of the sharpest tools in the touring car shed. It is a front-wheel-drive racer powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that puts out roughly 257 kilowatts and about 450 newton-metres of torque. The package uses a six-speed sequential transmission with paddle shift, weighs in at around 1,265 kilograms including driver, and runs adjustable MacPherson front suspension with a multi-link rear. In short, it is brutally effective, links closely to the road car, and keeps winning in series from Europe to North America.
Daytona does not hand out podiums for politeness. You have to take them, and in this instance the young Australian took one, smiled a lot, and proved that the global touring-car circus ought to be paying attention.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
