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L1 champion mikhail goikhberg 2014
Mikhail "Misha" Goikhberg (born 24 November 1986) is a Russian-born Canadian race car driver, currently competing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with JDC-Miller Motorsports.
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Early career
Goikhberg's first foray into driving happened in 2003 at the Russian track of Nevskoye Kolzo (The Neva Ring) with a Lada Cup Car under guidance of experienced Russian race car driver Aleksandr Lvov. Goikhberg completed several seasons of regional karting in Canada, followed by enrollment into Skip Barber Racing School in 2008.
Open Wheel competition
2009 saw Goikhberg competing with Brian Graham Racing in Ontario Formula Ford, where he finished 5th and 2nd amongst rookies. In 2010 Goikhberg signed with his current team JDC Motorsports, with which started a multi-year relationship. He competed in USF2000 claiming 3rd spot at the end of the year having won at Laguna Seca. In 2011 he drove a limited campaign in the Star Mazda Championship. Due to lack of sponsorship he only ran the rounds in Mosport and Sonoma.
Sportscar Racing competition
In 2012 Goikhberg and JDC Motorsports decided to move into sportscar racing teaming up for a full season in the IMSA Prototype Lites Championship. The Russian driver 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. 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. 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 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 scored two victories, winning the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the Long Beach Grand Prix. Goikhberg finished the 2016 season in 3rd position in the driver standings and has moved up to Prototype class for 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.