Gidley, Malucelli Awake and Alert Following Horrific Accident

Photo: Sportscar365

Two drivers that were involved in a horrific accident in the opening hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona are awake and alert, following a statement released by IMSA.

Memo Gidley and Matteo Malucelli have both been admitted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. following a heavy impact that destroyed both cars late in the third hour.

Malucelli’s No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia reported a loss of drive and slowed coming out of the first horseshoe. He was hit in the rear by the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP of Gidley, who was going in excess of 120 mph.

The impact sent the Italian’s Ferrari into the air, with extensive front-end damage sustained by the Riley-chassied DP. Gidley was extracted from the car by the local safety team, which cut off the roof.

As a result, the race was red-flagged for more than one hour and resumed just past the four-hour mark.

IMSA has yet to release further information on the extent of the drivers’ injuries, if any. Stay tuned to Sportscar365 for the latest developments.

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