GTLM Leaders Collide After Chaotic Restart

The top two cars in GT Le Mans have both been involved in an accident following the brief resumption of green flag racing in Hour 21 of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

After an extended yellow flag period that was prolonged due to challenging conditions, the race went back to green with Pipo Derani leading overall.

There were multiple spins on the opening lap, but it was the second time through Turn 1 that caught out Ford Chip Ganassi Racing’s Joey Hand and Porsche’s Fred Makowiecki who were first and second in GTLM at the time.

The two went wide entering the first corner and made contact which caused significant damage to both cars, and promoted James Calado in the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE to the lead of the class.

The race stayed green for several laps which Jordan Taylor used to track down and pass Derani and take the lead in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R.

Unrelated spins for Marco Seefried and Romain Dumas a few laps later brought out another full course caution, the 13th of the race.

At the time of the most recent yellow, Taylor led Alexander Rossi in the No. 7 Acura Team Penske entry by three seconds, with Felipe Nasr running third in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi.

Nico Lapierre holds the top spot in LMP2 in the No. 81 DragonSpeed Oreca 07 Gibson with a one lap advantage over the sister No. 18 entry.

In GTLM, Calado holds the top spot over the No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR of Earl Bamber, while Augusto Farfus is third for BMW Team RLL.

The GT Daytona class is led by AJ Allmendinger in the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 Evo, with Jeff Segal and Jeroen Bleekemolen holding second and third for AIM Vasser Sullivan and Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsports, respectively.

Of note, the No. 6 Acura ARX-05 has returned to the track after losing 18 laps for repairs toa suspected sump issue, as reported on IMSA radio.