Mars & Michaelian Return to KohR with the New Ford Mustang GT4 – Speedway Digest

KohR Motorsports is excited to announce that Luca Mars and Bob Michaelian will return for the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series! The duo will also reunite with Ford Performance piloting their brand new Mustang GT4 entry starting with the IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Sponsors JOMAC Aluminum Truck Bodies and Cranes, Race for RP and Forgeline Wheels all return for the new season as well fueling the continuity that is shaping the program for 2024.

In addition to the drivers, team and sponsors – the KohR crew returns almost completely intact. The new car, and the excitement surrounding this program, has brought some KohR crew stalwarts back home as well solidifying the effort on both sides of the pit wall.

Dean Martin: “It has been a few years since I’ve been this excited to get back to Daytona. I’m looking forward to having the same great driver lineup we had last year. But this year we’re going to have a better weapon to race with in the new Mustang GT4, and we’ve made improvements within our crew also. I’m counting down the days to Daytona!”

The KohR Motorsports team and drivers had the chance to get a taste of the new machinery at a test at Daytona with Ford in December and couldn’t wait to get their hands on chassis #0001. That test solidified the expectations that everyone in the program was carrying. While the team put together an amazing run over the second half of the season, scoring more IMPC Championship points than all but one competitor, running the oldest car in the field presented some competitive and reliability issues that kept everyone on their toes.

Bob Michaelian: “I am excited to be partnering with Luca for a second straight year in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series. Luca showed amazing growth and maturity as he took on the increased role of being the finishing driver and leading us to a podium and multiple top ten finishes. With the addition of the new Ford Mustang GT4 and the strong leadership of Dean and the KohR Motorsports Group we all have aspirations to make a strong run for the championship.”

For Mars, who has moved quickly up the motorsports ladder, this marks the first time that he has the opportunity to return to a familiar series/team/teammate/role since his karting days. However, the combo that reeled off their first podium (P2) at Road America followed by 3 more top ten finishes to close out the year (P5, P10, P4) isn’t content to just bring the new car to their established program.

Looking to capitalize on the momentum and opportunity, the team will expand their testing/racing program with the 17 year old to include contesting the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge in addition to the IMPC Calendar. They will kick off the IVRSCC series in the new Mustang GT4 at the Roar Before the Rolex 24. While the team is looking to those additional sessions to help with their testing and development program, it is no secret that everyone has their eye on scoring that first win for the new Mustang GT4 as well!

Luca Mars: “Super excited to be back for another year with KohR Motorsports and Bob Michaelian in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in the new Mustang GT4. I’m looking forward to getting the new car on track at The Roar and learning what we can do with it. After our success in the last half of the season last year, I’m really looking forward to getting some podium results and running up front a lot this year!”

For more information about Luca Mars and his motorsports endeavors please visit www.LucaMars.com or contact via [email protected] . For more information regarding KohR Motorsports please visit www.kohrmotorsports.com

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Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.