Story by Ayrton Houk
This week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was another big step forward in my experience in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series with CSM Motorsport and the No. 3 Aston Martin.
Every experience in this car has taught me something new, and Road Atlanta was no different. I’m learning more about how the Aston likes to be driven and continuing to adjust my driving style from open-wheel racing to sports cars. That transition takes time, but I can feel myself becoming more comfortable and more consistent with every session.
Finding More Pace
There was a bit of a gap in Thursday’s schedule, with Practice 2 in the morning and qualifying later that afternoon. The time between sessions gave me a great opportunity to really dig into the data with my engineer and talk with the other drivers about the car and strategy.
We focused on the areas where the data showed I could find more pace and worked on translating that into my driving. I qualified the car P19, but the entire 31-car field was extremely tight and competitive, so every tenth of a second made a difference.
I was happy with the work we put in to maximize what we had and continue getting the most out of the Aston.
One of the biggest challenges I’m enjoying about this transition is learning how differently a heavy sports car needs to be driven compared to a light, nimble open-wheel car. I’ve spent years developing my instincts in formula cars, so now I’m working to retrain those instincts and understand what the Aston needs from me. The data and strategy work are areas I’m already very comfortable with. The challenge is using that information to adjust my driving and find the best way to get the most out of a completely different type of race car.
Getting Better in the Driver Change
One area where my co-driver, Ismaeel, and I have been making noticeable progress is our driver change.
We’ve been working on shortening the time it takes and finding ways to make every step more efficient. Getting out of the car, getting the other driver in, attaching the seat belts and making sure everything is done correctly all takes coordination.
We’re getting more comfortable with the process each weekend and finding little ways to make it smoother and faster. Those small improvements can make a big difference during a race.
Making Connections
The weekend also gave me plenty of opportunities to meet new people and reconnect with old friends.
One of my favorite parts of racing in IMSA is the community around the paddock. There are always people to meet, conversations to have and familiar faces to catch up with. It’s been great getting to know more people as I continue getting deeper into the IMSA world.
A Fan Walk Pit Stop Demo
As always, the Fan Walk was another crazy fun part of the weekend.
This time, IMSA used the CSM No. 3 Aston Martin and our team for a pit stop demonstration during the Fan Walk. Getting to see the fans up close and watch our crew go through a live pit stop was really cool. The fans seemed to love it, and it was another reminder of what makes IMSA so unique.
The access fans have to the teams, drivers and cars is pretty incredible. Being able to interact with them throughout the weekend is something I really enjoy.
Race Day
We qualified P19 and finished P16 after both Ismaeel and I put together solid stints.
With all 31 cars running so competitively, there wasn’t much room for error. We focused on racing smart, making the most of the car and bringing it home clean, and we were able to do that.
A huge congratulations to Morgan Burkhard and Zach Veach for bringing the No. 2 car home P8 after dealing with a mechanical black flag early in the race. It was a great recovery by the team.
Grateful for the Opportunity
I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to dip my toe into sports cars this year and learn more about this type of racing and the Aston Martin.
Each race is another opportunity to apply what I’ve learned, refine my approach and continue getting more out of the car. I’m happy with the progress we’re making and looking forward to carrying that momentum into the next event.
A huge thank you to the entire CSM Motorsport team for giving us a great car all weekend and for continuing to help me improve.
I also want to thank everyone who continues to support me and follow along with this journey, especially:
My family
Even when people can’t be at the track, knowing that so many people are following along and supporting me from home means a lot.
Up Next
We are heading back to my home track, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for the SRO Pirelli GT4 America event October 10–11.
Since SRO is a different series than IMSA, our No. 3 wasn’t available, so we had to come up with a new number for the car. The team decided 007 was the only fitting option for an Aston!
I’m looking forward to being back at Indy and putting everything I’ve learned to work.
If you’re coming to the track, suite tickets for the Wings and Wheels Foundation Turn 2 Suite are available for $125 per person, per day on Friday and Saturday. The suite includes food and drinks, plus one of the closest viewing spots to the action on track.
Even better, your purchase helps support me and the other Wings and Wheels Foundation driver ambassadors. I’d love to see some familiar faces there and share the Indy weekend with you!
For more information about purchasing suite tickets, email director@teamWWF.com.
Story and pics copyright © 2026 Ayrton Houk Racing. All rights reserved. Shared by permission for editorial.
