IMSA 2022: ROLEX 24 at Daytona GTD epilogue
GTD PRO
The race in GTD PRO was very intense with the top 3 ending within 5 sec. We saw a frantic battle between #9 Pfaff and #2 KCMG Porsche through the last couple of hours. Vanthoor (#2) took over Jaminet (#9) with five minutes to go between turns 1 and 4. In the very last lap, Jaminet took P1 again in Turn 1. Vanthoor knew he couldn’t get by on top speed but relied on his KCMG Porsche’s braking and turning strengths to try an ultimate overtake of Jaminet in the Le Mans’ chicane. Both made side-on contact, Vanthoor went into the grass causing a half spin.
The battle was also in the pits where the mechanics competed in speed of execution
The door was open for Matthieu Jaminet to win the class with Pfaff Motorsport Porsche #9 co-driven by Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.
#62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo of Alessandro Pier Guidi, Davide Rigon, Daniel Serra and James Calado took the opportunity to end P2. Note that the Risi Ferrari was on the GTD PRO lead under the previous yellow but pitted under the final yellow giving back the lead to Porches #9 and #2.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.
Vanthoor, who shared the KCMG Porsche with Patrick Pilet, Dennis Olsen and Alexandre Imperatori, ultimately ended up 3rd.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.
The Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F of Jack Hawksworth, Ben Barnicoat and Kyle Kirkwood ended 4th, less than 3 sec. behind the KCMG Porsche. Note that with 15 min. to go, Hawksworth lost his P3 to Pier Guidi driving #62 Ferrari.
GTD
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.
In GTD, Zacharie Robichon, R. Lietz, R. Hardwick and Jan Heylen kept the lead for #16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R despite losing their comfortable, close to one min. advance, with FCY. This gave Richard Lietz a third Rolex 24 win in the 11th start.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.
J. Potter, A. Lally, S. Pumpelly and J. Adam ended 2nd with their #44 Magnus racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.
M. Skeen, J. Davidson, S. McAleer and S. Andrews ended 3rd with their #32 Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.
The last two won a podium seat as Niklas Nielsen (#21 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3) got a drive-through penalty for making a pass under yellow ruining his effort to challenge the leading Ferrari. He ended 4th, with S. Mann, L. Perez Companc and T. Vilander also at the wheel.
