Title Drama in LMP2, GTD Pro With Two Hours to Go

Image: IMSA

United Autosports’ bid for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 title suffered a significant setback with two hours remaining in Motul Petit Le Mans as the car was pushed behind the wall with suspension problems, while DragonSpeed also hit trouble in its GTD Pro championship quest.

The No. 22 United Oreca 07 Gibson, in the hands of Rasmus Lindh, had run a largely flawless race and was leading the category until trouble struck approaching the eight-hour mark.

The car was pushed behind the wall with a suspension problem, shattering hopes of the class victory that Lindh’s co-driver Daniel Goldburg needed to have any hope of wrestling the LMP2 title away from AO Racing pairing PJ Hyett and Dane Cameron.

Instead, the No. 11 TDS Racing Oreca of Hunter McElrea was promoted to the lead in class, while the No. 99 AO machine ran second in the hands of Jonny Edgar.

McElrea had drama on his own when he was spun round by the No. 73 Pratt Miller Motorsports Oreca of Pietro Fittipaldi at Turn 7, although he was able to continue but gave the lead to Edgar.

The GTD Pro category also saw significant championship drama in the early darkness hours, with DragonSpeed’s title bid incurring a setback due to a penalty and incident for Albert Costa.

Costa’s No. 81 Ferrari 296 GT3 received a drive-through penalty when a tire was left unattended in the pit box and then made contact with the No. 21 AF Corse machine of Alessandro Pier Guidi at Turn 10.

This has dropped the DragonSpeed machine down the order in the category, with the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R now on course for the championship.

The No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO led the class in the hands of Dan Harper, meanwhile.

In the battle for overall victory, Action Express Racing regained control of the race as Jack Aitken led with two hours remaining.

Aitken ran out front in the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R, having moved ahead of the No. 6 Porsche 963 now in the hands of Matt Campbell.

Although the No. 6 Porsche led the race at halfway, the pole-sitting Cadillac moved back ahead during a round of stops under the sixth caution of the race.

This was triggered when the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW shed bodywork on track after it was hit up the rear by the No. 47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari.

Dries Vanthoor ran third in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 as the eight-hour mark approached, although a round of stops was getting underway.

In GTD, the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari remained out front despite the contact with the DragonSpeed machine.

Source: Sports Car 365