{{Short description|American racing driver (born 2006)}} {{BLP sources|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox racing driver |name= Luca Mars |image=File:KohR Mustang WGI24 01.jpg |wins=0 |titles=IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge |prev_series_years=2023–24<br/>2023<br/>2023<br/>2022<br/>2021<br/>2020 |prev_series=IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge<br/>GT4 America Series<br/>IMSA SportsCar Championship<br/>Trans-Am Series<br/>Mazda MX-5 Cup<br/>F2000 Championship Series |year=2024 |best_finish=14th |fastest_laps=0 |starts=29 (30 entries) |nationality={{flagicon|USA}} American |car_number=28 |current_team=RennSport1 |first_year=2022 |current_series=Michelin Pilot Challenge |birth_place=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |birth_date={{Birth date and age|2006|03|07}} |title_years=2024 |podiums=4 |former_teams=KohR Motorsports, Van der Steur Racing |poles=1 |caption=Mars at Watkins Glen in 2024 |racing_licence=12px FIA Silver }}
'''Luca Mars''' (born March 7, 2006) is an American racing driver who competes in the 2025 Michelin Pilot Challenge for RennSport1.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2025-01-03 |title=Heylen, Mars Confirmed in RS1 Porsche – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/heylen-mars-confirmed-in-rs1-porsche/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He previously competed in the 2024 GT World Challenge America driving for Racers Edge Motorsports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2024-03-25 |title=Veach, Mars Form All-New Lineup in Racers Edge Acura – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/world-challenge-america/veach-mars-confirmed-in-racers-edge-acura/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He is the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge GSX champion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=mrobinson |date=2024-10-10 |title=Aghakhani, Mars Seal VP Racing Challenge Titles in Winning Style |url=https://www.imsa.com/news/2024/10/10/aghakhani-mars-seal-vp-racing-challenge-titles-in-winning-style/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=IMSA |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Mazda MX-5 Cup === {{unreferenced section|date=January 2026}} 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2022-01-24 |title=Former Champ Johnson to Make GS Return in KohR Mustang – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/former-champion-johnson-to-make-gs-return-in-kohr-mustang-gt4/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2022 |title=IMPC Official Entry List.pdf |url=http://results.imsa.com/Results_NoticeBoard/22_2022/16_VIRginia%20International%20Raceway/15_Entry%20List/IMPC%20Official%20Entry%20List.pdf |access-date=December 12, 2024 |website=results.imsa.com}}</ref> Mars finished the final race at Road Atlanta on the podium in third alongside Johnson and Michealian.{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}
==== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2023-01-04 |title=Mars, Michaelian Set for Full Season in KohR Mustang GT4 – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/mars-michaelian-confirmed-for-full-season-effort-in-kohr-mustang/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}
==== 2024 ==== Mars returned to the series for a third season once again driving the newest Ford Mustang GT4 alongside Bob Michaelian.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KoHR Field New Mustang GT4 For Mars & Michaelian |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/01/09/kohr-field-new-mustang-gt4-for-mars-michaelian.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}}</ref> He and Michaelian would have a season best finish of third at Virginia International Raceway and the pair finished 14th in the championship.{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}
=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2023 |title=VPRC Pre-Race Entry List.pdf |url=http://results.imsa.com/Results_NoticeBoard/23_2023/05_Sebring%20Prologue/15_Entry%20List/VPRC%20Pre-Race%20Entry%20List.pdf |access-date=December 12, 2024 |website=results.imsa.com}}</ref> He would have mixed fortunes with a win on his debut in race one, but retiring the following race.{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}
==== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=IMSA Wire |date=2024-01-15 |title=VP Racing Challenge Ready to Sprint into Second Season – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/vp-racing-sportscar-challenge/vp-racing-challenge-ready-to-sprint-into-second-season/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />
== Racing record ==
=== Career summary === {{update section|date=May 2026}} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center" !Season !Series !Team !Races !Wins !'''Poles''' !F/Laps !Podiums !Points !Position |- !2020 | align="left" |F2000 Championship Series | align="left" |John Walko Racing |4 |0 |0 |0 |3 |143 |7th |- !2021 | align="left" |Mazda MX-5 Cup | align="left" |Copeland Motorsports |14 |0 |0 |0 |1 |3210 |6th |- ! rowspan="2" |2022 | align="left" |Trans-Am Series | rowspan="1" align="left" |Race for RP |1 |1 |0 |1 |1 |29 |12th |- | align="left" |Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | align="left" |KohR Motorsports |8 |0 |1 |0 |1 |1530 |17th |- ! rowspan="5" nowrap="" | 2023 | align="left" nowrap="" | Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | rowspan="2" align="left" | KohR Motorsports |9 |0 |0 |1 |1 |1730 |16th |- | align="left" |IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - GSX |2 |1 |0 |1 |1 |480 |25th |- | align="left" |IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3 | align="left" |JDC–Miller MotorSports |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |8 |42nd |- | align="left" | GT4 America Series | align="left" | JTR Motorsports Engineering |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4 |21st |- | align="left" | Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR | align="left" | Van der Steur Racing |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |260 |28th |- ! rowspan="3" |2024 | align="left" | IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - GSX | rowspan="2" align="left" | KohR Motorsports |11 |6 |4 |4 |9 |3210 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |'''1st''' |- | align="left" | Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS |10 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1920 |14th |- | align="left" | GT World Challenge America - Pro | align="left" | Racers Edge Motorsports |13 |0 |8 |0 |1 |192 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |'''3rd''' |- ! rowspan="2" |2025 | align="left" | Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | align="left" | RennSport1 |1 |0 |1 |0 |1 |320* | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |'''2nd*''' |- | align="left" |GT4 America Series - Silver | align="left" |van der Steur Racing | | | | | | | |- !2026 | align="left" |Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | align="left" |Turner Motorsport | | | | | | | |} <nowiki>*</nowiki> Season still in progress.
=== Complete Mazda MX-5 Cup results === (key) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" ! Year ! Entrant ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! Rank ! Points |- ! 2021 ! Copeland Motorsports | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | DAY<br />1<br>{{small|13}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | DAY<br />2<br>{{small|9}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | SEB<br />1<br>{{small|26}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SEB<br />2<br>{{small|7}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | STP<br />1<br>{{small|5}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | STP<br />2<br>{{small|4}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MOH<br />1<br>{{small|7}} | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | MOH<br />2<br>{{small|3}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ROA<br />1<br>{{small|12}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ROA<br />2<br>{{small|8}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LGA<br />1<br>{{small|9}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LGA<br />2<br>{{small|4}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ATL<br />1<br>{{small|7}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ATL<br />2<br>{{small|4}} ! 6th ! 3210 |}
=== Complete IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge results === (key) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" ! 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 | style="background:#;"| DAY<br/>1<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;"| DAY<br/>2<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''SEB<br/>1''<br>{{small|1}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SEB<br/>2<br>{{small|18}} | style="background:#;"| MOS<br/>1<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;"| MOS<br/>2<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;"| LIM<br/>1<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;"| LIM<br/>2<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;"| VIR<br/>1<br>{{small|}} |style="background:#;"| VIR<br/>2<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;"| ATL<br/>1<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;"| ATL<br/>2<br>{{small|}} ! 25th ! 480 |- | 2024 ! KohR Motorsports ! GSX ! Ford Mustang GT4 ! Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''DAY<br/>1''<br>{{small|1}} | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''DAY<br/>2'''<br>{{small|1}} | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| STP<br/>1<br>{{small|3}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| STP<br/>2<br>{{small|4}} | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | MOH<br/>1<br>{{small|1}} | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | MOH<br/>2<br>{{small|3}} | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MOS<br/>1<br>{{small|2}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MOS<br/>2<br>{{small|5}} | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''VIR<br/>1'''''<br>{{small|1}} | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''VIR<br/>2'''''<br>{{small|1}} | style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ATL<br/>1<br>{{small|1}} | style="background:#FFFFFF;"| ATL<br/>2<br>{{small|DNS}} ! style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st ! style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 3560 |}
=== Complete Michelin Pilot Challenge results === (key) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" ! 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 | style="background:#;" | DAY<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SEB<br>{{small|13}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LGA<br>{{small|12}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MOH<br>{{small|4}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | WGL<br>{{small|8}} | style="background:#;" | MOS<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | LIM<br>{{small|17}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | '''ELK'''<br>{{small|19}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | VIR<br>{{small|22†}} | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | ATL<br>{{small|3}} ! 17th ! 1530 |- ! rowspan="2" | 2023 ! KohR Motorsports ! Grand Sport ! Ford Mustang GT4 ! Ford 5.2 L Voodoo V8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | DAY<br>{{small|23}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SEB<br>{{small|17}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | LGA<br>{{small|20}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | DET<br>{{small|16}} | style="background:#FFFFFF;" | WGL<br>{{small|DNS}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MOS<br>{{small|13}} | style="background:#DFDFDF;" | ELK<br>{{small|2}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | VIR<br>{{small|5}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | IMS<br>{{small|10}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ATL<br>{{small|4}} ! 16th ! 1730 |- !Van der Steur Racing !Touring Car ! Hyundai Veloster N TCR ! Hyundai 2.0 L Turbo I-4 | style="background:#;" | DAY<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | SEB<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | LGA<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | WGL<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | MOS<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LIM<br>{{small|5}} | style="background:#;" | ELK<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | VIR<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | IMS<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | ATL<br>{{small|}} ! 28th ! 260 |- ! 2024 ! KohR Motorsports ! Grand Sport ! Ford Mustang GT4 ! Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | DAY<br>{{small|8}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SEB<br>{{small|23}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LGA<br>{{small|14}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MOH<br>{{small|8}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | WGL<br>{{small|19}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MOS<br>{{small|11}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ELK<br>{{small|4}} | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | VIR<br>{{small|3}} | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | IMS<br>{{small|12}} | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | ATL<br>{{small|19}} ! 14th ! 1920 |- !2025 !RennSport1 !Grand Sport !Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport !Porsche MDG 4.0 L Flat-6 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" | '''DAY'''<br>{{small|2}} | style="background:#;" | SEB<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | LGA<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | MOH<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | WGL<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | MOS<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | ELK<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | VIR<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | IMS<br>{{small|}} | style="background:#;" | ATL<br>{{small|}} ! style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd* ! style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 320* |} † Mars received a post-race penalty and was moved to the back of his class
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Season still in progress.
== References ==
<references />
== External links == {{Commons category}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mars, Luca}} Category:2006 births Category:Living people Category:Racing drivers from Pittsburgh Category:GT World Challenge America drivers Category:Michelin Pilot Challenge drivers Category:WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers Category:JDC Motorsports drivers Category:Trans-Am Series drivers Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge drivers Category:GT4 America Series drivers Category:Mazda MX-5 Cup drivers Category:24 Hours of Daytona drivers Category:Turner Motorsport drivers