INDIANAPOLIS – Michael Johnson Racing has partnered with Bryan Herta Autosport to compete in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge next year.
Drivers Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson will share the seat of the No. 54 Hyundai Veloster N TCR race car.
“I’m very excited to be partnering with Bryan Herta Autosport for the 2021 season,” said Johnson. “Aligning our teams is the next step in my career and I couldn’t be more thrilled to work with everyone and go for a championship.”
Universal Coating, an industry leader in specialty and high-tech coating services, will remain as the primary sponsor of the red-and-white decked No. 54 Veloster.
“We are excited to be working closely with MJR this season and Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson,” said team owner Bryan Herta. “We’ve known Michael and Stephen as formidable competitors in the past, and I am excited to see what they do in the Veloster. The #54 Veloster will run under our tent, right alongside our three BHA entries. Together, we’ll work towards our common goal of defending Hyundai’s Manufacturers Championship. They will undoubtedly strengthen Hyundai’s presence in IMSA competition as I expect to see them run up front all season long.”
Paralyzed from the chest down at the age of 12 while racing motorcycles, Johnson has overcome all obstacles to make a name for himself in the sport car racing world. He will pilot his Hyundai Veloster N TCR using a set of complex hand controls.
Johnson and Simpson are no strangers to success in the IMCA Michelin Pilot Challenge. In 2018, Johnson provided one of the most memorable and emotional moments in series history at Lime Rock Park by winning his first professional race. That same year, the team also posted four runner-up finishes, two third-place showings and two fourths.
In 2019, in qualifying for the BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona Int’l Speedway, Johnson made history once again, breaking the TCR course record and securing the pole position. Last season, they recorded another podium finish at Daytona.
“Today marks another milestone for Michael and his MJR program with this announcement,” said Josh Reasoner, Director of Michael Johnson Racing. “Past achievements on the track have paved the way for this partnership and for future success. In 2021, we believe Michael will continue to shatter the norms by showing that his injury cannot hold him back. We are grateful and looking forward to having a close working relationship with BHA. Hyundai’s success in IMSA has been unmatched. The track support that BHA will provide for our Universal Coating No. 54 car will undoubtedly be the same.”
Simpson enters his sixth season co-driving with Michael Johnson in 2021.
“I am excited to continue co-driving with Michael Johnson, especially with our new partnership with BHA and the ultra-competitive Veloster N TCR,” said Simpson. “It’s going to be a new challenge for Michael and me but one that are we very ready for and very much looking forward to. The BHA team and Hyundai have had a great deal of success over the past few years and we look to add to their win record. That is our goal for next year. There is going to be a lot of tough competition in the TCR class, as always, so nothing will come easy. It will require a lot of hard work, but we are up to the challenge and excited about this new chapter. I can’t wait to get started.”