Aitken Takes Lead from Blomqvist in Third Hour

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Jack Aitken took the lead of Motul Petit Le Mans in the third hour following a hard-fought battle in the opening stages of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale.

The Action Express Racing driver got around the pole-sitting No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 on Lap 85 through traffic and extended into a five-plus second lead prior to the second round of scheduled pit stops.

It came after two earlier yellows, the first for debris from the No. 52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca 07 Gibson after contact from the No. 99 AO Racing entry of PJ Hyett that resulted in Rao going off-course and into an advertising banner in Turn 14.

The fourth caution was the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Lin Hodenius, which lost its left-rear wheel and and stopped on track.

The field then slowed under the race’s fifth yellow near the end of the third hour when AJ Muss spun his No. 021 Triarai Competizione Ferrari 2096 GT3 in Turn 5 and was collected by the No. 8 Tower Motorsport Oreca of Sebastian Alvarez.

Of note, the No. 93 MSR Acura dropped a lap down when Nick Yelloly pitted on Lap 64 to change the steering wheel after battling shifting-related issues.

LMP2 was led by the No. 11 TDS Racing Oreca of Mikkel Jensen after contact between his co-driver Steven Thomas and the then class-leading No. 43 Inter Europol Competition machine of Jeremy Clarke.

No action was taken by race control for the incident.

The No. 2 United Autosports Oreca of Juan Manuel Correa, meanwhile, went off-course on his out lap in Turn 7, damaging the nose of his car that saw him limp back to the pits for repairs.

The car also received a drive-through penalty for a previous pit lane infraction.

Other cars to have received penalties included the No. 63 Lamborghini SC63 of Romain Grosjean, who was deemed to have blocked the No. 43 Inter Europol Oreca, as well as a blocking penalty for the GTD pole-sitter Lorenzeo Patrese.

GTD Pro at the three-hour mark was led by the No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Connor De Phillippi, after power-related issues for the sister entry that was driven by Neil Verhagen at the time.

The No. 023 Triarsi Ferrari led the GTD class, meanwhile.

Source: Sports Car 365