The last reentry into the race resulted in a dramatic collision between GTP drivers Kevin Estre and Jack Aitken in the final moments of the Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix held at Road America.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the six-hour competition of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, Estre, at the wheel of the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, and Aitken, driving the #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, were locked in an intense battle for second place. On the final reentry into the race, the two vehicles collided severely entering the first turn, causing them to end up in the outside barriers, prematurely ending their races.
This collision allowed Filipe Albuquerque to secure victory with the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac. Following the incident, Estre and Aitken were classified in eighth and ninth positions, respectively, within the GTP category.
Despite the results, the final classification is still not official, as IMSA has announced that it is conducting a thorough review of the first-turn incident before finalizing the standings.
Reactions from the drivers
Estre and Aitken have shared their perspectives on the “Crash that made them abandon the podium.” Estre described the incident as a product of competitive strategy: ‘It was a shame, as we fought for a podium until the last moment. On the reentry, the #31 tried to overtake on the left side at the first corner. I could have left a bit more space, but he could have also backed off. I don’t think there is total blame on anyone.’
On the other hand, Aitken has been more critical of what he sees as overly aggressive behavior from other drivers: ‘It’s a shame because, despite not being at our maximum potential, we managed to fight for the win and a good result. What the other drivers around us displayed exceeded the limits. Now we’ll have to pick up the pieces and dive into the last two races with more strength.’
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_74c1984991feb3f15dc8d8f665d4a85e56828b9b