HART will make its return to IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition full-time next year, having announced a Honda Civic Type-R TCR entry for Ryan Eversley and Chad Gilsinger.

The Honda of America Racing Team, comprised of staff from Honda’s Ohio operations in manufacturing and R&D, most recently competed in the series in 2016 with ST-class Honda Civics.

The largely volunteer crew took part in selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races this year with an Acura NSX GT3.

Eversley and Gilsinger, who shared driving duties of the GT Daytona class entry, will again team up but in the TCR entry, a car which Eversley took to the Pirelli World Challenge TCR title with RealTime Racing this year.

“I am honored to return to HART for 2019 and to be back full-time in the IMSA series,” said Eversley. “This is an all-volunteer team and that creates such a competitive and special atmosphere.

“Chad and I work really well together and have similar driving styles, so we will be competitive in our Honda Civic Type R TCR.”

In honor of its 30th year of racing, HART will run the No. 89, in an ode to the year of its founding in 1989.

The HART Civic Type R TCR will feature the team’s traditional red, white and black colors, with a custom livery designed and manufactured by Aero Paint Technologies.

“We are looking forward to running a full season in our new Honda Civic Type R TCR,” said Gilsinger.

“HART has had great success in the past with the Civic platform and with Ryan coming off a PWC Championship in the exact same car, I think our outlook is very positive.”

“The competition in this series is strong and our team is excited for this new challenge.”