Mikhail Goikhberg

Mikhail “Misha” Goikhberg (born 24 November 1986) is a Russian born Canadian race car driver, currently competing in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with JDC-Miller MotorSports.

Biography

Early career

Goikhberg's first array into driving happened in 2003 at the Russian track of Neskoye Kolzo with a Lada Cup Car under guidance of experienced Russian race car driver Alexandr Lvov. Goikhberg completed several years of years of regional carting in Canada, followed by enrollment into Skip Barber Racing School in 2008.[1][2][3]

Open Wheel competition

2009 saw Goikhberg compete in Ontario Formula Ford with Brian Graham Racing where he finished 5th and 2nd amongst rookies.[4] In 2010 Goikhberg signed with his current team JDC MotorSports, which started a multi-year relationship.[5] He competed in USF2000 claiming 3rd spot at the end of the year having won at Laguna Seca.[6] In 2011 Goikhberg drove a limited campaign in Star Mazda due to lack of sponsorship, only running the rounds in Mosport and Infineon Raceway.

Sportscar Racing competition

In 2012-2014 Goikhberg and JDC MotorSports decided to move into Sportscar racing teaming up for a full season in the IMSA Prototype Lites Championship. He won 2 rounds and finished 2nd overall in 2012, followed by a 3rd overall finish in 2013, and finally claimed the championship in 2014 in a commanding fashion winning 9 rounds including 6 pole positions.[7] Goikhberg won the $100000 Mazda Road to the 24 scholarship and moved up to the Tudor United SportsCar Championship with JDC-Miller MotorSports in 2015.[8][9] 2015 was a challenging rookie year for Goikhberg, who finished 4th overall in the driver championship claiming 3 podiums at Daytona, Detroit and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

In 2016 sophomore campaign Goikhberg teamed up with Stephen Simpson as his full season teammate. Driving again for JDC-Miller MotorSports in the Prototype Challenge category of the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship the pair has already scored two victories, winning the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona[10][11] and the Long Beach Grand Prix.[12][13]

References

  1. Altemus, Jim. "Letters from Homestead". skipbarber.com. Skip Barber Racing School. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  2. Altemus, Jim. "Mont Tremblant Race weekend". skipbarber.com. Skip Barber Racing School. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  3. Altemus, Jim. "Homecoming weekend at Sebring". Skipbarber.com. Skip Barber Racing School. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
  4. "Ontario Formula Ford 2009 Standings". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  5. "JDC Motorsports enters USF2000 National Championship with three-car line-up". Flagworld.com. Flagworld. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  6. "Championship class driver Goikhberg wins second USF2000 non-points race Sunday". Flagworld.com. Flagworld. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  7. "Goikhberg takes Prototype Lites championship". Motorsport.com. motorsport.com. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  8. "Next generation of young talent to begin quest for title this week at Sebring". motorsport.com. motorsport.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  9. "Goikhberg Earns Entry Into 2015 TUDOR Championship". Racer.com. Racer. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  10. Kelly, Paul. "GOIKHBERG, KOCH STAND ATOP ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA PODIUM". InsideTrackNews.com. Inside Track News. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  11. Kats, Rachel. "JDC-Miller MotorSports scores breakthrough win at Daytona International Speedway". swnewsmedia.com. Savage Pacer. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  12. Embury, Matt. "IMSA: Taylor, JDC, Porsche North America Win At Long Beach". onpitroad.com. OnPitRoad. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  13. "Taylor brothers and Chevrolet go back-to-back in IMSA SportsCar race at Long Beach". Autoweek.com. autoweek. Retrieved 17 April 2016.

External links

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