Luca Mars
| Luca Mars | |
|---|---|
 Mars at Watkins Glen in 2024 | |
| Nationality |  American |
| Born | March 7, 2006 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge career | |
| Debut season | 2023 |
| Current team | KohR Motorsports |
| Racing licence |  FIA Silver |
| Car number | 59 |
| Starts | 13 |
| Wins | 7 |
| Podiums | 10 |
| Poles | 4 |
| Fastest laps | 5 |
| Best finish | 1st in 2024 |
| Previous series | |
| 2023 2023 2022 2021 2020 | GT4 America Series IMSA SportsCar Championship Trans-Am Series Mazda MX-5 Cup F2000 Championship Series |
| Championship titles | |
| 2024 | IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge |
Luca Mars (born March 7, 2006) is an American racing driver who most recently competed in the 2024 GT World Challenge America driving for Racers Edge Motorsports.[1] He is the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge GSX champion.[2]
Career
[edit]Mazda MX-5 Cup
[edit]In 2021, Mars joined the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup driving for Copeland Motorsports. He would have a best finish of third at Mid-Ohio and finished sixth in the championship.
Michelin Pilot Challenge
[edit]2022
[edit]In 2022, Mars would move over to sportscar racing to compete in the 2022 Michelin Pilot Challenge driving the No. 60 Ford Mustang GT4 for KohR Motorsports.[3] He would be joined by Nate Stacy to drive the car. For the final two races of the season at Virginia International Raceway and Road Atlanta, Mars would join teammates Billy Johnson and Bob Michaelian in the No. 59 Ford Mustang GT4.[4] Mars finished the final race at Road Atlanta on the podium in third alongside Johnson and Michealian.
2023
[edit]On January 4, 2023, it was announced that Mars would return to the series to compete in the 2023 Michelin Pilot Challenge driving the No. 59 Ford Mustang GT4 for KohR Motorsports.[5] He would be joined by Bob Michaelian as his teammate. Midway through the season, Mars joined Van der Steur Racing to compete in the TCR only event at Lime Rock Park, where he finished fifth.
2024
[edit]Mars returned to the series for a third season once again driving the newest Ford Mustang GT4 alongside Bob Michaelian.[6] He and Michaelian would have a season best finish of third at Virginia International Raceway and the pair finished 14th in the championship.
IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge
[edit]2023
[edit]Alongside his Michelin Pilot Challenge campaign, Mars would enter the Sebring races in the 2023 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge in the No. 59 Ford Mustang GT4 for KohR Motorsports.[7] He would have mixed fortunes with a win on his debut in race one, but retiring the following race.
2024
[edit]In 2024, Mars returned to the series for a full season campaign once again driving the No. 59 Ford Mustang GT4 for KohR Motorsports.[8] He would go on to have his most successful season with 6 wins, 4 poles, and 9 podiums to clinch the championship before race 12 at Road Atlanta.[2]
Racing record
[edit]Career summary
[edit]| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | F2000 Championship Series | John Walko Racing | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 143 | 7th |
| 2021 | Mazda MX-5 Cup | Copeland Motorsports | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3210 | 6th |
| 2022 | Trans-Am Series | Race for RP | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 12th |
| Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | KohR Motorsports | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1530 | 17th | |
| 2023 | Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | KohR Motorsports | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1730 | 16th |
| IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3 | JDC–Miller MotorSports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 42nd | |
| IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - GSX | KohR Motorsports | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 480 | 25th | |
| GT4 America Series | JTR Motorsports Engineering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 21st | |
| Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR | Van der Steur Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 260 | 28th | |
| 2024 | IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - GSX | KohR Motorsports | 11 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3210 | 1st |
| Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | KohR Motorsports | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1610 | 12th | |
| GT World Challenge America - Pro | Racers Edge Motorsports | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 192 | 3rd |
Complete Mazda MX-5 Cup results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Copeland Motorsports | DAY 1 13 |
DAY 2 9 |
SEB 1 26 |
SEB 2 7 |
STP 1 5 |
STP 2 4 |
MOH 1 7 |
MOH 2 3 |
ROA 1 12 |
ROA 2 8 |
LGA 1 9 |
LGA 2 4 |
ATL 1 7 |
ATL 2 4 |
6th | 3210 |
Complete Michelin Pilot Challenge results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | KohR Motorsports | Grand Sport | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.2 L Voodoo V8 | DAY |
SEB 13 |
LGA 12 |
MOH 4 |
WGL 8 |
MOS |
LIM 17 |
ELK 19 |
VIR 22† |
ATL 3 |
17th | 1530 | |
| 2023 | KohR Motorsports | Grand Sport | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.2 L Voodoo V8 | DAY 23 |
SEB 17 |
LGA 20 |
DET 16 |
WGL DNS |
MOS 13 |
ELK 2 |
VIR 5 |
IMS 10 |
ATL 4 |
16th | 1730 | |
| Van der Steur Racing | Touring Car | Hyundai Veloster N TCR | Hyundai 2.0 L Turbo I-4 | DAY |
SEB |
LGA |
WGL |
MOS |
LIM 5 |
ELK |
VIR |
IMS |
ATL |
28th | 260 | ||
| 2024 | KohR Motorsports | Grand Sport | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | DAY 8 |
SEB 23 |
LGA 14 |
MOH 8 |
WGL 19 |
MOS 11 |
ELK 4 |
VIR 3 |
IMS 12 |
ATL 19 |
14th | 1920 |
† Mars received a post-race penalty and was moved to the back of his class
Complete IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | KohR Motorsports | GSX | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.2 L Voodoo V8 | DAY 1 |
DAY 2 |
SEB 1 1 |
SEB 2 18 |
MOS 1 |
MOS 2 |
LIM 1 |
LIM 2 |
VIR 1 |
VIR 2 |
ATL 1 |
ATL 2 |
25th | 480 |
| 2024 | KohR Motorsports | GSX | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | DAY 1 1 |
DAY 2 1 |
STP 1 3 |
STP 2 4 |
MOH 1 1 |
MOH 2 3 |
MOS 1 2 |
MOS 2 5 |
VIR 1 1 |
VIR 2 1 |
ATL 1 1 |
ATL 2 DNS |
1st | 3560 |
References
[edit]- ^ Dagys, John (March 25, 2024). "Veach, Mars Form All-New Lineup in Racers Edge Acura – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ a b mrobinson (October 10, 2024). "Aghakhani, Mars Seal VP Racing Challenge Titles in Winning Style". IMSA. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (January 24, 2022). "Former Champ Johnson to Make GS Return in KohR Mustang – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "IMPC Official Entry List.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. August 25, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (January 4, 2023). "Mars, Michaelian Set for Full Season in KohR Mustang GT4 – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "KoHR Field New Mustang GT4 For Mars & Michaelian". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "VPRC Pre-Race Entry List.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. March 11, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Service, IMSA Wire (January 15, 2024). "VP Racing Challenge Ready to Sprint into Second Season – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
External links
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