It’s IMSA’s own championship Saturday, with the traditional season finale in Atlanta set to serve up a stormer over the next 10 hours of action as we say farewell to Lamborghini’s SC63, set to be retired after this race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A change for the LMP2 lead occurred at the top of the hour, as Hunter McElrea’s #11 took the class lead during the pit stops as Di Resta stepped aside for Rasmus Lindh who took control of the #22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By now the race had settled into a rythm, with each class leader consolidating their advantage over the field as proceedings stabilised properly for the first time all race. Aitken indeed had nearly five seconds of a lead over Colin Braun, and Braun 10 seconds over Phillip Eng who was now aboard the #24. More LMP2 pit stops then occurred as ex-F1 driver Logan Sargeant briefly led in the troubled #52 for PR1\/Matheson motorsports before Lindh took it back after the pit cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime the #43 copped its second drive through penalty of the race for failing to adhere to operational requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The #25 BMW had struggled all day and then received a drive through penalty for running over equipment as it left the pits at the top of the hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More problems then hit LMP2, as the class leading #11 of Hunter McElrea spun out at the chicane after contact with the Riley #74 LMP2 before pitting. The good news for them though was that despite the time loss they still weren’t too far behind the #52 of PR1\/Matheson due to the large gaps in the class. The #74 picked up a drive through penalty, deemed to have caused the strife for TDS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TDS themselves would get a drive through though for failing to adhere to operational requirements just minutes later, allowing the #22 of United Autosports back into the lead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In GTP the lead was also closing up too, as Laurens Vanthoor – now aboard the #6 – had just seven seconds of an advantage over the chasing #31 of Fred Vesti, while the Dane himself was also only mere seconds ahead of the #24 and Heart of Racing’s #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie. GTD Pro was likewise slimming its gaps, as the top three were now covered by just over two seconds. Leading was the #48 of Max Hesse ahead of the championship contending #3 Corvette and its sister #4 machine. The #81 meanwhile was fifth in class, Giacomo Altoe pedalling hard to get back in touch with the Corvette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But all gaps would close just minutes before the hour after contact between the Paul Miller Racing #9 of Connor Di Phillippi and Cetilar Racing’s #47 of Miguel Molina who collided at turn seven, bringing out the FCY. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So with the field neutralised, the order is as follows. GTP is still led by the #6 of Laurens Vanthoor while Fred Vesti’s #31 Cadillac gives chase. Phillip Eng’s #24 BMW is third and Roman De Angelis is now fourth in the #23 Aston Martin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
LMP2 is in the hands once again of Paul Di Resta and the #22 United Autosports crew, with Mikkel Jensen’s #11 TDS holding second place. Third is that of Benjamin Pederson’s #52 PR1\/Matheson machine and Ollie Jarvis is currently fourth with the Era Motorsports #18. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
GTD Pro and GTD are as mentioned previously, with Max Hesse’s lead being cut down completely in the #48. It gives Dani Juncadella’s #3 Corvette a great chance at stamping its intentions right into the heart of the #81, while the #4 sister car will back it up when we return to green flag racing. GTD meanwhile has been dominated by Ferrari thus far, and in this case it’s the #21 AF Corse of Lilou Wadoux ahead of James Calado’s #023 Triarsi Competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n