The 2024 TC America season was a display of fierce competition, strategic racing, and standout performances across all classes. From start to finish, manufacturers battled it out, vying for supremacy in the TCX, TC, and TCA categories. Each class told a unique story, with exciting duels, dominant runs, and heroic drives shaping the outcome of the championships. Ultimately, BMW, Hyundai, and MINI emerged as the Manufacturer Champions, thanks to the relentless efforts of their teams and drivers.
TCX Class: A Tight Battle Between BMW and Acura
It was an intense showdown in the TCX class between BMW and Acura, with multiple different teams representing either side. Competitors utilized the BMW M2 CS (Cup) and the newly introduced Acura Integra Type S as their machinery of choice.
Notably, Carrus Callus Raceteam and Skip Barber Racing played pivotal roles in this fierce competition, as drivers Chris Walsh and Celso Neto engaged in a back-and-forth battle, trading wins and consistently pushing their machines to the limit. Walsh’s early season dominance gave BMW a crucial lead, but Neto’s resurgence in the latter half of the year saw Acura claw back, narrowing the points gap between the represented manufacturers.
In the end, BMW managed to maintain their advantage, concluding the 2024 season with a total of 308 points, narrowly edging out Acura, who finished with 294 points.
TC Class: Hyundai’s Dominance Secures Championship Glory
It was a different story in the TC class, as Hyundai were utterly dominant in their championship pursuit. Represented by a large fleet of Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC cars, they scored maximum points across nearly every single round of the season.
With a tally of 329 points total, they were sizably ahead of their competitor, MINI, who finished with 255 points. MINI JCW Team fielded two competitive MINI JCW TC Pro entries, but despite their best efforts, they were unable to match the sheer consistency and pace of the Hyundai fleet.
“Hyundai gives us so much,” said Jeff Ricca from Ricca Autosport. “To be able to give them a Manufacturer Championship in return is a really nice way to end the season. It just goes to show that they are standing by the right team.”
The mutual support and synergy between the manufacturer and the team were evident to all, serving as a key factor in their success.
TCA Class: MINI’s Perfect Season
While MINI fell short in the TC class, they found their redemption in the TCA category, executing a flawless campaign to secure the Manufacturer Championship. Scoring a perfect 350 points, MINI’s performance in the TCA class was unmatched.
Several drivers opted for the MINI JCW, with the MINI JCW Team delivering consistently strong results across the season. Leading the charge was PJ Groenke, the 2024 Driver Champion, who claimed an impressive eight race wins. Groenke’s achievements not only highlighted his driving skill but also underscored the reliability and performance of the MINI JCW cars.
