Accident Sidelines Performance Tech at Roar

The first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship test session at the Roar was halted temporarily by a single-car accident involving the No. 38 Performance Tech Oreca FLM09 Prototype Challenge machine driven by reigning IMSA Lites champion Clark Toppe.

A little over an hour into the session, Toppe spun in the bus-stop chicane and made contact with the wall.

Performance Tech team principal Brent O’Neill said the contact caused significant damage.

“The biggest thing is it broke the gearbox,” O’Neill told Sportscar365. “The gearbox, some suspension bits, and the bodywork. We have all of the other parts to fix the car, but the gearbox is a bit of an issue.”

The team has ordered a replacement gearbox from Xtrac in Indianapolis and hopes it will arrive by Saturday morning.

Toppe, along with co-drivers James French and Pato O’Ward all turned laps in the session, although fourth driver Kyle Masson did not.

O’Neill indicated the plan is to get the car back together and on track in time for night practice on Saturday, but admitted the damage posed a significant challenge for the team.

“It’s a big setback,” he said. “You’re here to test, so now we’re going to miss two or three sessions, so it puts you a little behind.

“Hope we can get a gearbox and get it back together.”