Mason Filippi

Mason Filippi (born April 23, 1998) is an American auto racing driver who currently competes in the TCR class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge for Copeland Motorsports. He previously raced for Bryan Herta Autosport, finishing the Michelin Pilot Challenge in second place in 2019 and third in 2020. Filippi also piloted touring cars in the TC America Series and the Pirelli World Challenge from 2017 to 2019, finishing in the top five of the standings each season. Prior to racing touring cars, he drove Spec Miatas, competing in the Global MX-5 Cup and the Teen Mazda Challenge and winning the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race in 2015 and 2016.

Mason Filippi
NationalityAmerican
Born (1998-04-23) April 23, 1998
Michelin Pilot Challenge career
Debut season2019
Current teamCopeland Motorsports
Co-driverAJ Muss
Former teamsBryan Herta Autosport
(with Curb-Agajanian)
Starts20
Wins3
Podiums6
Fastest laps1
Best finish2nd in 2019
Finished last season3rd (2020)
Previous series
2016
2016–2018
2019		Global MX-5 Cup
Pirelli World Challenge
TC America Series

Early life and education

Mason Filippi was born on April 23, 1998.[1] He grew up in Alamo, California[2] and attended high school at Berean Christian High School in nearby Walnut Creek.[3] He studied at Diablo Valley College and Arizona State University.[2]

He was gifted his first dirt bike at age 4, his first go-kart at age 11, and his first Mazda Miata at age 14. He earned his provisional license at age 15 after attending the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) driver's school.[4]

Career

After receiving his full competition license from the SCCA, Filippi began entering races in the San Francisco region (SFR) and was named the 2014 SCCA SFR Rookie of the Year.[4] In 2015, he won the National Auto Sport Association's Teen Mazda Challenge West Coast title. His victory in that Spec Miata series led to his appearance as one of nine finalists in the 2015 Mazda Road to 24 Shootout.[3] Later in 2015, Filippi was on the Grip Racing team that won the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race in the E1 class.[5] In 2016, he and his team repeated as winners of that race in the E1 class.[6]

Global MX-5 Cup

Filippi joined the Winding Road team[7] for the 2016 season of the Global MX-5 Cup. He drove the number 2 car in the Spec Miata series, competing in six out of the twelve races and finishing in 34th place in the standings with 125 overall points.[8] His best finish in a race was 14th place, which he achieved at both the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca[9] and Watkins Glen International.[10]

Pirelli World Challenge/TC America Series

Filippi first entered the Pirelli World Challenge in 2016, racing in the final four events of the season in the TCA class for Atlanta Motorsports Group. He finished in the top ten in each of his races with his highest finish (fifth) coming at Laguna Seca. He placed 14th in the overall standings with 296 points for the 2016 season.[11][12]

For the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge, Filippi joined Winding Road Team TFB and began competing in the TC class.[13] He drove the number 12 BMW M235iR. That year, he competed in all twelve races,[14] earning his first Pirelli World Challenge victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in round four. He also achieved the fastest lap in that race.[15] Including that event, Filippi finished in the top ten in nine races that season. He finished fifth in the overall standings with 173 points.[14]

Filippi remained with Team TFB for the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge, and he also joined the TCR class racing in the number 12 Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR. In August 2018, however, Filippi announced that he would be joining RealTime Racing for the final four races of the season, opting to drive the number 44 Honda Civic Type R TCR.[16] He had his best finishes of the season in that car, coming in third and second respectively at the final two races of the season at Watkins Glen. He finished fourth in the overall standings with 183 points.[17]

For the 2019 season, the Pirelli World Challenge was rebranded as the TC America Series.[18] Filippi returned to Team TFB at the beginning of the season, driving the number 12 Hyundai Veloster N TCR in the TCR class. At the season's first two races at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Filippi came in first, achieving the initial race's fastest lap, as well.[19] Because of scheduling conflicts with the Michelin Pilot Challenge season, Filippi did not compete in the next four races on the TC America Series schedule. In May 2019, it was announced that he would return to the TC America Series as a member of the Copeland Motorsports team. He continued driving the Hyundai Veloster N TCR[20] and went on to win four additional races that season. With 187 points, he finished third in the overall standings despite competing in only ten of the 16 races that year.[21]

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

In January 2019, it was announced that Filippi would join Bryan Herta Autosport (with Curb-Agajanian) to compete in the TCR class of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in the number 21 Hyundai Veloster N TCR with co-driver Harry Gottsacker.[22] Both Filippi and Gottsacker were rookies on the series.[23] The duo appeared in the top ten in each of the ten races that season and finished on the podium in three races,[24] including first place at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. That victory came after the number 89 car, which finished ahead of Filippi, was disqualified for failing to give one of its drivers the minimum drive-time.[25] Filippi and Gottsacker finished in second place in the overall standings with 268 points.[24]

For the 2020 Michelin Pilot Challenge season, it was announced that Filippi would stay with Bryan Herta Autosport (with Curb-Agajanian) but would become Michael Lewis' co-driver in the number 98 Hyundai Veloster N TCR.[26] The pair came in fourth in the season's first race at the Daytona International Speedway.[27] The next race in the series was scheduled for March 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, Filippi competed in the IMSA iRacing Pro Series[28] before the Michelin Pilot Challenge returned in July 2020.[29] Filippi and Lewis secured two victories in the 2020 season, one at Virginia International Raceway and the other at Road Atlanta. They finished in third place overall with 273 points.[24]

For the 2021 Michelin Pilot Challenge season, Filippi is part of the Hyundai USA/ Bryan Herta Autosport Team Driver to drive for Copeland Motorsports in the TCR class. He will drive the number 51 Hyundai Veloster N TCR with co-driver AJ Muss.[30]

Racing record

Career summary
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2015 25 Hours of Thunderhill Grip Racing 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
2016 Global MX-5 Cup Winding Road 6 0 0 0 0 125 34th
Pirelli World Challenge (TCA class) Atlanta Motorsport Group 4 0 0 0 0 296 14th
25 Hours of Thunderhill Grip Racing 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
2017 Pirelli World Challenge (TC class) Winding Road Team TFB 12 1 0 1 1 173 5th
2018 Pirelli World Challenge (TCR class) Team TFB
RealTime Racing		 12 0 0 0 2 183 4th
2019 TC America Series (TCR class) Team TFB
Copeland Motorsports		 10 6 5 4 7 187 3rd
Michelin Pilot Challenge† (TCR class) Bryan Herta Autosport (with Curb-Agajanian) 10 1 0 0 3 268 2nd
2020 Michelin Pilot Challenge* (TCR class) 10 2 0 1 3 273 3rd

† With co-driver Harry Gottsacker
* With co-driver Michael Lewis

Complete 25 Hours of Thunderhill results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Class
Pos.
2015[31] Grip Racing Chuck Hurley
Mark Drennan
Eric Sidebotham
Andrew Newell		 BMW 330i E1 615 1st
2016[32] 677 1st

Complete Global MX-5 Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Points
2016[8] Winding Road LAG
1
14		 LAG
2
32		 WGL
1
14		 WGL
2
31		 ROA
1
DNP		 ROA
2
DNP		 MOS
1
17		 MOS
2
29		 VIR
1
DNP		 VIR
2
DNP		 ATL
1
DNP		 ATL
1
DNP		 34th 125

Complete Pirelli World Challenge results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Points
2016[12] Atlanta Motorsports Group Mazda MX-5 TCA AUS
1
DNP		 AUS
2
DNP		 MOS
1
DNP		 MOS
2
DNP		 LIM
1
DNP		 LIM
2
DNP		 ROA
1
DNP		 ROA
2
DNP		 UTA
1
8		 UTA
2
7		 LAG
1
6		 LAG
2
5		 14th 296
2017[14] Winding Road Team TFB BMW M235iR TC VIR
1
16		 VIR
2
14		 MOS
1
13		 MOS
2
1		 LIM
1
5		 LIM
2
6		 UTA
1
8		 UTA
2
5		 AUS
1
6		 AUS
2
5		 LAG
1
6		 LAG
2
4		 5th 173
2018[17] Team TFB (races 1–8)
RealTime Racing (races 9–12)		 Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR (races 1–8)
Honda Civic Type R TCR (races 9–12)		 TCR AUS
1
9		 AUS
2
7		 VIR
1
4		 VIR
2
13		 LIM
1
5		 LIM
2
5		 POR
1
6		 POR
2
10		 UTA
1
10		 UTA
2
6		 LAG
1
3		 LAG
2
2		 4th 183

Complete TC America Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points
2019[21] Team TFB (races 1–2)
Copeland Motorsports
(races 7–12, 15–16)		 Hyundai Veloster N TCR TCR AUS
1
1		 AUS
2
1		 STP
1
DNP		 STP
2
DNP		 VIR
1
DNP		 VIR
2
DNP		 SON
1
5		 SON
2
1		 POR
1
1		 POR
2
3		 WGL
1
4		 WGL
2
Ret		 ROA
1
DNP		 ROA
2
DNP		 LVG
1
1		 LVG
2
1		 3rd 187

Complete Michelin Pilot Challenge results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Co-driver Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos Points
2019[24] Bryan Herta Autosport
(with Curb-Agajanian)		 Harry Gottsacker Hyundai Veloster N TCR TCR DAY
5		 SEB
4		 MOH
7		 WGL
8		 MOS
10		 LIM
3		 ROA
1		 VIR
2		 LAG
10		 ATL
4		 2nd 268
2020[24] Bryan Herta Autosport
(with Curb-Agajanian)		 Michael Lewis Hyundai Veloster N TCR TCR DAY
4		 SEB
1
2		 ROA
11		 VIR
1		 ATL
1
5		 MOH
1
5		 MOH
2
4		 ATL
2
1		 LAG
8		 SEB
2
11		 3rd 273

References
  1. "Mason Filippi". International Motor Sports Assocation. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  2. Reiman, Samuel (October 31, 2015). "NINE RACE THEIR WAY INTO MAZDA ROAD TO 24 SHOOTOUT; TWO VIA IRACING". Fox Sports. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  3. Sinclair, Adam (November 3, 2015). "It's high tech versus high school in search of $100,000 prize". Speedway Digest. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  4. "Meet the Contender: Mason Filippi". Racer.com. November 6, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  5. Becker, Brett (February 1, 2016). "Team Grip Racing Wins E1 Class in the 2015 25 Hours of Thunderhill". NASA Speed News. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  6. "THUNDERHILL: Flying Lizard wins second straight 25-hour race". Racer.com. December 4, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  7. "Excess Excitement: MX-5 Cup Race 1 Summary". Winding Road. May 5, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  8. "2016 Championship Standings". Global MX-5 Cup. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  9. "2016 Championship Round 1 & 2 Results". Global MX-5 Cup. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  10. "2016 Championship Round 3 & 4 Results". Global MX-5 Cup. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  11. "MAZDA RACERS READY FOR PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE FINALE". Mazda USA. October 6, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  12. "TCA Driver Championship Points" (PDF). TC America Series. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  13. Martin, Tom (April 5, 2017). "Sexton To Drive Pirelli World Challenge With Winding Road Racing". Winding Road. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  14. "Pirelli World Challenge TC" (PDF). TC America Series. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  15. "Pirelli World Challenge at CTMP TC" (PDF). TC America Series. May 21, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  16. Corghi, Francesco (August 7, 2018). "Mason Filippi approda alla RealTime Racing per correre con la Honda" (in Italian). Yahoo! Notizie. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  17. "Pirelli World Challenge 2018 TCR" (PDF). TC America Series. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  18. James, Richard (October 12, 2018). "World Challenge shuffles names, formats, schedules". Racer.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  19. "Victories for Multiple Manufacturers as TC America Kicks Off at COTA". TC America Series. March 3, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  20. "Mason Filippi returns with debuting Copeland Motorsports". Touring Car Times. May 24, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  21. "TC Drivers Overall - 2019 Standings". TC America Series. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  22. Dagys, John (January 14, 2019). "Hyundai Veloster N TCR Revealed; BHA Names Drivers". SportsCar365. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  23. Cole Smith, Steven (November 27, 2019). "Bryan Herta Autosport sets sights on 24 Hours of Nurburgring". AutoWeek. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  24. "IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Standings". International Motor Sports Association. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  25. "Liddell Storms To Victory In Road America Thriller". Daily Sportscar. August 4, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  26. "Bryan Herta Autosport Announces Three Car Program for 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge". PRNewswire. January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  27. "MICHAEL LEWIS AND MASON FILIPPI EARN SECOND IN RETURN TO RACING". Michael Lewis. January 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  28. Dagys, John (April 23, 2020). "Calado, Cindric Among Additions to IMSA iRacing Pro Series". Sportscar365. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  29. "IMSA season restarts with all-Hyundai podium at Sebring". AutoMobilSport. July 20, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  30. Dagys, John (January 6, 2021). "Copeland Adds Second Hyundai for Olympic Snowboarder Muss". Sportscar365. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  31. "25 Hrs of Thunderhill" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  32. "25 Hrs of Thunderhill" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
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