Luca Mars

Luca Mars
Mars at Watkins Glen in 2024
Nationality	American
Born	(2006-03-07) March 7, 2006 (age 19) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Michelin Pilot Challenge career
Debut season	2022
Current team	RennSport1
Racing licence	FIA Silver
Car number	28
Former teams	KohR Motorsports, Van der Steur Racing
Starts	29 (30 entries)
Wins	0
Podiums	4
Poles	1
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	14th in 2024
Previous series
2023–24 2023 2023 2022 2021 2020	IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge 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 competes in the 2025 Michelin Pilot Challenge for RennSport1. ^[1] He previously competed in the 2024 GT World Challenge America driving for Racers Edge Motorsports. ^[2] He is the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge GSX champion. ^[3]

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. ^[4] 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. ^[5] 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. ^[6] 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. ^[7] 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. ^[8] 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. ^[9] 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. ^[3]

Racing record

Career summary

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 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - GSX		2	1	0	1	1	480	25th
	IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3	JDC–Miller MotorSports	1	0	0	0	0	8	42nd
	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		10	0	0	0	1	1920	14th
	GT World Challenge America - Pro	Racers Edge Motorsports	13	0	8	0	1	192	3rd
2025	Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS	RennSport1	1	0	1	0	1	320*	2nd*
	GT4 America Series - Silver	van der Steur Racing

* 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	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 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	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

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 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
2025	RennSport1	Grand Sport	Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport	Porsche MDG 4.0 L Flat-6	DAY 2	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

1. Dagys, John (January 3, 2025). "Heylen, Mars Confirmed in RS1 Porsche – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
2. Dagys, John (March 25, 2024). "Veach, Mars Form All-New Lineup in Racers Edge Acura – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
3. mrobinson (October 10, 2024). "Aghakhani, Mars Seal VP Racing Challenge Titles in Winning Style". IMSA. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
4. Dagys, John (January 24, 2022). "Former Champ Johnson to Make GS Return in KohR Mustang – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
5. "IMPC Official Entry List.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. August 25, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
6. Dagys, John (January 4, 2023). "Mars, Michaelian Set for Full Season in KohR Mustang GT4 – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
7. "KoHR Field New Mustang GT4 For Mars & Michaelian". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
8. "VPRC Pre-Race Entry List.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. March 11, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
9. Service, IMSA Wire (January 15, 2024). "VP Racing Challenge Ready to Sprint into Second Season – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.