GTP Title-Contending Porsche Taken Out in Multi-Car Crash

Image: IMSA

Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet have likely been taken out of championship contention after getting collected in a multi-car accident in the second hour of the Motul Petit Le Mans.

Tandy’s No. 6 Penske Porsche 963 and the No. 70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo of Brendan Iribe were tagged by a spinning Charlie Scardina in the No. 023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3, who had initial contact by the No. 20 High Class Racing Oreca 07 Gibson of Dennis Andersen in Turn 10a.

Significant damage was sustained to both the Porsche and the McLaren, with Tandy resisting to leave the cockpit of the Porsche, in an effort to get the car back to the pit lane.

Andersen was handed incident responsibility and a stop-and-hold plus 120-second penalty as a result.

Even if the No. 6 Porsche returns to the track, Tandy and Jaminet’s title hopes are likely over given the number of GTP class teams in mathematical contention for the championship.

“Just another 5 mm on either side of the LMP2 to touch the GT, or if I was a tenth behind or a tenth in front, they wouldn’t have caught the rear,” Tandy told IMSA Radio.

“I’m fine, the car will drive. We had a medical light that goes off in the car that triggers in a warning situation, which didn’t go off. The hybrid system was safe, so I was trying to get the car pulled out onto the grass so I could bring it back to pit lane.

“But there was a lot going on, with two cars stuck together. So I can understand the track workers’ situation. They’re obviously there to make sure we’re safe and everyone else is safe, first and foremost.

“It’s the tent now, full of gravel. I think it’s repairable – whether it’s worth doing anything, I don’t know.

“You get good days, you get bad days. It makes it bitter.

“We should have come here and won the championship by starting the race, effectively, if things could have gone differently in other situations.

“We gave it our best shot and that’s all we can do.”

The No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport Acura ARX-06 of Louis Deletraz took over the lead of the race in the pits, with Sebastien Bourdais’ No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac V-Series.R needing a longer stop for full energy replenishment.

GTD Pro was led by the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD of Antonio Garcia, who was ahead of the GTD class-leading No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Russell Ward.

Ben Keating and Cameron Shields led LMP2 and LMP3, respectively, with the race still under the third full course caution.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John