The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge is one of North America’s premier sports car championships, featuring fierce competition across iconic tracks. Within the series, the TCR (Touring Car Racing) class delivers some of the most intense, door-to-door battles, showcasing factory-built, turbocharged touring cars from top global manufacturers. Designed for close racing and high-performance durability, the TCR class combines cutting-edge technology with thrilling competition, making it a fan favorite and a true proving ground for drivers and teams alike.
TCR (Touring Car Racing) is a globally recognized touring car category, established in 2014 and managed by WSC Group. It was designed to offer a cost-effective, competitive platform for customer racing teams, allowing them to compete at national, regional, and international levels.
TCR cars are based on production models, typically front-wheel drive, and powered by 1.75 to 2.0-liter turbocharged engines. They retain the bodyshell and suspension layout of the production vehicle, with modifications for racing, including upgraded brakes and aerodynamics.
The TCR formula has been adopted worldwide, with over 30 championships across continents, including series like TCR Europe, TCR Asia, TCR Australia, and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in North America.
IMSA—the International Motor Sports Association—is the pinnacle of sports car racing in North America, celebrated for its high-speed, multi-class endurance events that showcase cutting-edge technology, elite driving talent, and manufacturer-backed teams. Its flagship series, the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, along with the Michelin Pilot Challenge, bring together legendary brands like Audi, Porsche, BMW, and Lexus on iconic circuits including Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta.
What makes IMSA so popular is its unique blend of strategy, speed, and accessibility. Fans enjoy open paddocks, thrilling on-track action, and the diversity of GT and prototype classes racing simultaneously. For manufacturers and partners, IMSA offers unmatched brand exposure and technological relevance in a competitive, globally respected motorsport environment.
Baker Racing fields two Audi RS3 LMS TCR Gen 2 machines in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, campaigning under the global Audi Sport customer racing banner and supported closely by NGP Motorsports.
Audi RS3 LMS TCR GEN 2
Purpose-built for TCR competition, the Gen 2 RS3 LMS is a front-wheel-drive touring car that blends factory engineering with race-bred aggression. Under the hood, a 2.0L turbocharged engine produces over 330 horsepower, delivered through a paddle-shifted 6-speed sequential gearbox. Aerodynamic enhancements, FIA-spec safety systems, and a stripped, focused interior make the RS3 LMS a purebred machine designed to battle wheel-to-wheel at the highest level of touring car racing.
Off the track, the Audi RS 3 road car carries that same DNA. With its legendary 2.5L five-cylinder engine, quattro all-wheel drive, and understated design, it’s a street weapon that connects daily driving with race-day spirit.
