IMSA 2022: GTD @ ROAR
The 100-minute Qualifying race for next week’s Rolex 24 Race at Daytona International Speedway saw the duo Andrea Caldarelli and Mirko Bortolotti win the Motul Pole Award and the right to start upfront in class at the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan 29.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
Caldarelli, driving the #63 factory-backed team TR3 Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3, started fourth, and together with Bortolotti, they progressively reached the front of the race after Bortolotti swept past Alessio Picariello’s #79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 GT3R in Turn 6, with just 14 minutes remaining. Together with their fellow Lamborghini drivers Marco Mapelli and Rolf Ineichen, they will start upfront in class on Saturday.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
The #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Mathieu Jaminet and Felipe Nasr ended third in the GTD race but will start from P2 since car #79 was assessed a post-race time penalty. Mathieu Jaminet led GTDPRO at the start, and the #9 Pfaff Motorsport continued to lead with Felipe Nasr in the driving seat but succumbed to the #79 Porsche 30’ before the end, and #63 Lamborgini with 19 minutes remaining.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
Two GTD were following: #57 Winward Racing’s Mercedes led in the hands of Russell Ward and Lucas Auer kept upfront chased by John Miller and Kenny Habul in the #59 Crucial Motorsport McLaren 720S, who ended 4th of combined GTD classes.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
#15 Proton USA Mercedes driven by Dirk Mueller and Austin Cindric ended 5th of both classes (third inGTDPRO), after sister #79 Porsche’s penalty.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
#79 Porsche, despite crossing the finish line second in class, was classified 6th of combined classes (4th GTDPRO) as the team was penalised with a post-race time penalty equivalent to a drive-through for failing to adhere to minimum tire pressures, despite a strong race by Alessio Picariello and Julien Andlauer.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
The third WeatherTech Racing car – Jules Gounon and Marco Engel’s #97 Mercedes AMG GT3 - ended 7th of combined classes (5th GTDPRO).
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
Ross Gunn and A. Riberas of Heart of Racing ended 8th of combined classes (6th GTDPRO) with their #23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
Ben Barnicoat and K.Kirkwood with their #12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F ended 9th of combined classes (7th GTDPRO) in front of sister #14 driven by F. Montecalvo and T. Bell, who got on the GTO podium with P3 of the class.
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
The pair of Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD cars finished 8th and 9th
📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROAR before the 24 in Daytona 2022.
Despite starting in pole position and battling upfront before the first pit stop, Alex Imperatori and Patrick Pilet of KCMG finished 10th in class after their #2 Porsche 911 GT3R had fuel problems.
