Maddie Aust joins IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Bryan Herta Autosport in 2025

American driver Maddie Aust will make her IMSA debut in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series, as she joins TCR leading team Bryan Herta Motorsport at the wheel of the #9 Hyundai Elantra N TCR.

Photo credits: Frederick Hardy II / SRO

American driver Maddie Aust will make her IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge debut in a Hyundai Elantra N TCR with Bryan Herta Motorsport, teaming up with Suellio Almeida, a North American Radical Cup Champion and Sim Racer.

Aust transitioned from competitive cheerleading to motorsport, beginning her race car career in 2022 in the F4 US Championship and a part-time campaign in USF Juniors.

The Texan racer scored points with a strong ninth-place finish at New Jersey Motorsports Park and returned to F4 US for the 2023 season opener at NOLA, where she finished just outside the top 10. She then made a full-time move to touring cars, competing in the TC America series on the SRO platform.

Driving a BMW M2 CS, Aust quickly found her footing, earning two podium finishes, a fastest lap, and a pole position at Circuit of the Americas by her second weekend. She followed up with a dominant double victory at VIRginia International Raceway and recovered from a significant accident at Elkhart Lake to secure another podium at Sebring.

In 2024, Maddie joined BSI Racing for her rookie campaign in the Toyota GR Cup North America, also part of the SRO America package. Competing against a packed grid of promising sports car racers, she debuted with a top-20 finish at Sonoma and steadily improved throughout the season.

Highlights included a 15th-place finish at Sebring, a personal best of 14th at COTA, and consistent top-20 results at VIR, Road America, and Barber Motorsports Park, culminating in a 17th-place finish at Indianapolis. She also earned the Best Female Driver Award in the second race at Sonoma and demonstrated steady progress, battling confidently in the midfield.

For 2025, Maddie Aust joins the IMSA paddock in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, and will pilot the #9 Hyundai operated by Bryan Herta Motorsport, partnering with Suellio Almeida, who claimed the North American Radical Cup Championship in his rookie season.

“I’m beyond excited to run this season with Bryan Herta Autosport!" - said Aust. "I believe this is an incredible opportunity and am looking forward to learning a lot from such a successful team both on and off the track. I can’t wait to see what we will be able to accomplish together this year!”

The 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge begins with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test days from January 17-19 at Daytona International Speedway, followed by the season opener—the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona—just one week later.