Luca Mars (born March 7, 2006) is an American racing driver who competes in the 2025 Michelin Pilot Challenge for RennSport1. He previously competed in the 2024 GT World Challenge America driving for Racers Edge Motorsports. He is the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge GSX champion.
Career
Mazda MX-5 Cup
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
2022 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. 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. Mars finished the final race at Road Atlanta on the podium in third alongside Johnson and Michealian.
2023 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. 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 Mars returned to the series for a third season once again driving the newest Ford Mustang GT4 alongside Bob Michaelian. 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
2023 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. He would have mixed fortunes with a win on his debut in race one, but retiring the following race.
2024 In 2024, Mars returned to the series for a full season campaign once again driving the No. 59 Ford Mustang GT4 for KohR Motorsports. He would go on to have his most successful season with six wins, four poles, and nine podiums to clinch the championship before race 12 at Road Atlanta.
Racing record
Career summary
SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition2020F2000 Championship SeriesJohn Walko Racing400031437th2021Mazda MX-5 CupCopeland Motorsports14000132106th2022Trans-Am SeriesRace for RP110112912thMichelin Pilot Challenge - GSKohR Motorsports80101153017th 2023 Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS KohR Motorsports90011173016thIMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - GSX2101148025thIMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3JDC–Miller MotorSports10000842nd GT4 America Series JTR Motorsports Engineering20000421st Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR Van der Steur Racing1000026028th2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - GSX KohR Motorsports11644932101st Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS100001192014th GT World Challenge America - Pro Racers Edge Motorsports1308011923rd2025 Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS RennSport110101320*2nd*GT4 America Series - Silvervan der Steur Racing2026Michelin Pilot Challenge - GSTurner Motorsport * Season still in progress.
Complete Mazda MX-5 Cup results (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 DAY1 DAY2 SEB1 SEB2 STP1 STP2 MOH1 MOH2 ROA1 ROA2 LGA1 LGA2 ATL1 ATL2 6th 3210
Complete IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge results (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 DAY1 DAY2 SEB1 SEB2 MOS1 MOS2 LIM1 LIM2 VIR1 VIR2 ATL1 ATL2 25th 480 2024 KohR Motorsports GSX Ford Mustang GT4 Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 DAY1 DAY2 STP1 STP2 MOH1 MOH2 MOS1 MOS2 VIR1 VIR2 ATL1 ATL2 1st 3560
Complete Michelin Pilot Challenge results (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 Rank Points 2022 KohR Motorsports Grand Sport Ford Mustang GT4 Ford 5.2 L Voodoo V8 DAY SEB LGA MOH WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR ATL 17th 1530 2023 KohR Motorsports Grand Sport Ford Mustang GT4 Ford 5.2 L Voodoo V8 DAY SEB LGA DET WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS ATL 16th 1730Van der Steur RacingTouring Car Hyundai Veloster N TCR Hyundai 2.0 L Turbo I-4 DAY SEB LGA WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR IMS ATL 28th 260 2024 KohR Motorsports Grand Sport Ford Mustang GT4 Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 DAY SEB LGA MOH WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS ATL 14th 19202025RennSport1Grand SportPorsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS ClubsportPorsche MDG 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY SEB LGA MOH WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS ATL 2nd* 320* † Mars received a post-race penalty and was moved to the back of his class
* Season still in progress.
References
External links