IMSA: MSR Acura wins Petit Le Mans crashfest
The fans were robbed from a race to the finish as the race finished under the caution with Colin Braun leading in the #60 MSR Acura GTP.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
Co-driving with Helio Castroneves and Tom Blomqvist, Braun was holding off the #01 Ganassi Cadillac GTP driven by Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais, but two late cautions meant the race finished under caution at 50 mph.
Due to so many cautions, the #60 Acura was able to come from 2 laps behind to win the crashfest. IMSA prefers to call that action-packed.
The cars took the checkered flag, parading behind the pace car under a full course caution following a fire for the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Jan Heylen shortly after a restart with five minutes to go.
The pain was finally over.
By finishing 2nd, Renger van der Zande gave Cadillac the manufacturers’ championship.
Harry Tincknell was third in the #59 Proton Competition Porsche GTP ahead of the #7 Penske Porsche 963 GTP, and Mike Rockenfeller (and co-drivers Tijmen van der Helm and Jenson Button) rounded out the top-5 in the #5 JDC-Miller Motorsports Porsche 963 GTP.
The #31 Cadillac Action Express Team driven by Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken were 6th and locked up the Driver’s championship for Derani and Alexander Sims, winning the title by 21 points over Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport’s Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque.
The race was a real crashfest with over 12 caution periods and Felipe Albuquerque in the hospital after an incident between Derani and the No. 10 WTR Andretti Acura of Albuquerque with 1 hour to go that resulted in the Portuguese driver in Turn 1 barriers while battling for second.
LMP2
The No. 52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca 07 Gibson of Ben Keating and Paul-Loup Chatin were crowned LMP2 class champions with a third place class finish alongside Alex Quinn.
CrowdStrike by APR’s Ben Hanley, Nolan Siegel and George Kurtz, meanwhile, took the category victory in this race.
LMP3
LMP3 race honors went to the No. 30 Jr III Racing Ligier of Garett Grist, Dakota Dickerson and Bijoy Garg.
GTD Pro
The GTD Pro class champions both dropped out of the race early.
Vasser Sullivan’s Hawksworth and Barnicoat in their No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 retired from the lead when Barnicoat spun at Turn 3 on cold tires and struck an advertising board.
WeatherTech Racing won the GTD Pro class at Motul Petit Le Mans after Mercedes-AMG factory driver Daniel Juncadella held off Porsche ace Kevin Estre at the end of the ten hours.
GTD
The GTD class champions also dropped out of the race early.
Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow secured the GTD crown before heading to Road Atlanta.
Their race ended when co-driver Corey Lewis hit the back of the Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06, causing steering rack damage to the No. 1 BMW M4 GT3.
In this race the GTD class was won by the Forte Racing powered by US RaceTronics Lamborghini driven by Loris Spinelli, Misha Goikhberg and Patrick Liddy, which finished 20th overall.
Race Results
|
Pos |
Pic |
No. |
Class |
Drivers* |
Team |
Car |
Laps |
Behind/Gap |
|
1 |
1 |
60 |
GTP |
T. Blomqvist / C. Braun H. Castroneves |
Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian |
Acura ARX-06 |
397 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
01 |
GTP |
S. Bourdais / R. van der Zande S. Dixon |
Cadillac Racing |
Cadillac V-Series.R |
397 |
0.452 0.452 |
|
3 |
3 |
59 |
GTP |
H. Tincknell / G. Bruni / N. Jani |
Proton Competition |
Porsche 963 |
397 |
1.077 0.625 |
|
4 |
4 |
7 |
GTP |
M. Campbell / F. Nasr / J. Newgarden |
Porsche Penske Motorsports |
Porsche 963 |
397 |
1.825 0.748 |
|
5 |
5 |
5 |
GTP |
T. van der Helm / M. Rockenfeller J. Button |
JDC Miller MotorSports |
Porsche 963 |
397 |
2.165 0.340 |
|
6 |
6 |
31 |
GTP |
P. Derani / A. Sims / J. Aitken |
Whelen Engineering Cadillac Racing |
Cadillac V-Series.R |
397 |
2.927 0.762 |
|
7 |
7 |
25 |
GTP |
S. van der Linde / C. De Phillippi N. Yelloly |
BMW M Team RLL |
BMW M Hybrid V8 |
397 |
4.275 1.348 |
|
8 |
8 |
24 |
GTP |
P. Eng / M. Wittmann / A. Farfus |
BMW M Team RLL |
BMW M Hybrid V8 |
397 |
4.839 0.564 |
|
9 |
1 |
04 |
LMP2 |
G. Kurtz / B. Hanley / N. Siegel |
Crowdstrike Racing by APR |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
391 |
6 Laps 6 Laps |
|
10 |
2 |
35 |
LMP2 |
J. Falb / G. van der Garde / J. Pierson |
TDS Racing |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
391 |
6 Laps 0.996 |
|
11 |
3 |
52 |
LMP2 |
B. Keating / P. Chatin / A. Quinn |
PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
391 |
6 Laps 6.586 |
|
12 |
4 |
88 |
LMP2 |
F. Perrodo / M. Vaxiviere / E. Collard |
AF Corse |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
390 |
7 Laps 1 Lap |
|
13 |
5 |
18 |
LMP2 |
D. Merriman / R. Dalziel C. Rasmussen |
Era Motorsport |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
383 |
Not Running |
|
14 |
6 |
20 |
LMP2 |
D. Andersen / E. Jones / A. Fjordbach |
High Class Racing |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
381 |
16 Laps 2 Laps |
|
15 |
1 |
30 |
LMP3 |
D. Dickerson / B. Garg / G. Grist |
Jr III Racing |
Ligier JS P320 |
379 |
18 Laps 2 Laps |
|
16 |
2 |
13 |
LMP3 |
O. Fidani / M. Bell / L. Kern |
AWA |
Duqueine D08 |
379 |
18 Laps 1.419 |
|
17 |
3 |
74 |
LMP3 |
G. Robinson / F. Fraga / J. Burdon |
Riley |
Ligier JS P320 |
379 |
18 Laps 7.924 |
|
18 |
1 |
79 |
GTDPRO |
D. Juncadella / J. Gounon / M. Engel |
WeatherTech Racing |
Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps 9 Laps |
|
19 |
2 |
9 |
GTDPRO |
K. Bachler / P. Pilet / K. Estre |
Pfaff Motorsports |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
370 |
27 Laps 0.980 |
|
20 |
1 |
78 |
GTD |
M. Goikhberg / L. Spinelli / P. Liddy |
Forte Racing Powered by USRT |
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 |
370 |
27 Laps 1.979 |
|
21 |
2 |
96 |
GTD |
P. Gallagher / R. Foley / M. Dinan |
Turner Motorsport |
BMW M4 GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps 5.873 |
|
22 |
3 |
77 |
GTD B |
A. Brynjolfsson / T. Hindman / M. Root |
Wright Motorsports |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
370 |
27 Laps 0.526 |
|
23 |
3 |
62 |
GTDPRO |
A. Pier Guidi / D. Serra / D. Rigon |
Risi Competizione |
Ferrari 296 GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps 0.588 |
|
24 |
4 |
92 |
GTD B |
D. Brule / A. Udell / J. Andlauer |
Kellymoss with Riley |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
370 |
27 Laps 1.938 |
|
25 |
5 |
27 |
GTD B |
R. De Angelis / M. Sorensen / I. James |
Heart of Racing Team |
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps 2.798 |
|
26 |
6 |
32 |
GTD |
M. Skeen / M. Grenier / K. Koch |
Team Korthoff Motorsports |
Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps 0.872 |
|
27 |
7 |
97 |
GTD |
B. Auberlen / C. Hull / T. Merrill |
Turner Motorsport |
BMW M4 GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps 0.919 |
|
28 |
8 |
80 |
GTD B |
P. Hyett / S. Priaulx / G. Jeannette |
AO Racing |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
370 |
27 Laps 1.913 |
|
29 |
4 |
23 |
GTDPRO |
R. Gunn / A. Riberas / D. Pittard |
Heart of Racing Team |
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps 0.415 |
|
30 |
9 |
57 |
57 GTD |
R. Ward / P. Ellis / I. Dontje |
Winward Racing |
Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps |
|
31 |
5 |
61 |
6GTDPRO |
S. Mann / M. Molina / J. Calado |
Af Corse |
Ferrari 296 GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps |
|
32 |
10 |
023 |
GTD |
O. Triarsi / C. Scardina / A. Rovera |
Triarsi Competizione |
Ferrari 296 GT3 |
370 |
27 Laps |
|
33 |
7 |
8 |
LMP2 |
A. Balogh / S. McLaughlin / K. Simpson |
Tower Motorsports |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
369 |
28 Laps |
|
34 |
11 |
16 |
GTD |
R. Hardwick / Z. Robichon / J. Heylen |
Wright Motorsports |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
367 |
Not Running |
|
35 |
12 |
83 |
GTD |
R. Frey / M. Gatting / D. Pin |
Iron Dames |
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 |
367 |
30 Laps |
|
36 |
6 |
63 |
GTDPRO |
M. Bortolotti / J. Pepper / F. Perera |
Iron Lynx |
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 |
366 |
Not Running |
|
37 |
9 |
10 |
GTP |
R. Taylor / F. Albuquerque / L. Deletraz |
Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 |
Acura ARX-06 |
365 |
Not Running |
|
38 |
8 |
47 |
GTD |
R. Lacorte / G. Sernagiotto / A. Fuoco |
CETILAR RACING |
Ferrari 296 GT3 |
364 |
33 Laps 1 Lap |
|
39 |
9 |
85 |
LMP3 |
T. Bechtolsheimer / D. Goldburg R. Lindh |
JDC Miller MotorSports |
Duqueine D08 |
359 |
38 Laps 5 Laps |
|
40 |
0 |
93 |
GTD |
A. Harrison / D. Formal / K. Marcelli |
Racers Edge Motorsports with WTR |
Acura NSX GT3 |
355 |
42 Laps 4 Laps |
|
41 |
1 |
66 |
GTD |
S. Monk / K. Legge / M. Miller |
Gradient Racing |
Acura NSX GT3 |
323 |
Not Running |
|
42 |
2 |
12 |
GTD |
F. Montecalvo / A. Telitz / P. Thompson |
Vasser Sullivan |
Lexus RC F GT3 |
304 |
Not Running |
|
43 |
3 |
17 |
GTD |
J. Potter / A. Lally / S. Pumpelly |
Magnus Racing |
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 |
298 |
Not Running |
|
44 |
4 |
8 |
LMP2 |
S. Thomas / M. Jensen / S. Huffaker |
TDS Racing |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
262 |
Not Running |
|
45 |
5 |
5 |
LMP3 |
B. Thienes / J. Woolridge / C. Shields |
Performance Tech Motorsports |
Ligier JS P320 |
221 |
Not Running |
|
46 |
6 |
1 |
GTD |
B. Sellers / M. Snow / C. Lewis |
Paul Miller Racing |
BMW M4 GT3 |
207 |
Not Running |
|
47 |
7 |
6 |
GTP |
N. Tandy / M. Jaminet / L. Vanthoor |
Porsche Penske Motorsports |
Porsche 963 |
196 |
Not Running |
|
48 |
8 |
3 |
GTDPRO |
A. Garcia / J. Taylor / T. Milner |
Corvette Racing |
Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD |
189 |
Not Running |
|
49 |
9 |
14 |
GTDPRO |
Hawksworth / B. Barnicoat/Kyle Kirkwood |
Vasser Sullivan |
Lexus RC F GT3 |
153 |
Not Running |
|
50 |
0 |
17 |
LMP3 |
A. Mantella / W. Boyd / N. Varrone |
AWA |
Duqueine D08 |
118 |
Not Running |
|
51 |
1 |
36 |
LMP3 |
J. Andretti / G. Chaves / G. van Berlo |
Andretti Autosport |
Ligier JS P320 |
85 |
Not Running |
|
52 |
2 |
70 |
GTD |
B. Iribe / F. Schandorff / O. Millroy |
Inception Racing |
McLaren 720S GT3 EVO |
44 |
Not Running |