On the racetrack at Daytona (California, USA) in the 54 th time held the traditional marathon race. The first came to the finish line of the European car category LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2), leaving out of business in the local pilots from category DP (Daytona Prototype).
Scott Sharp, Johannes van Overbeek, Luiz Felipe Deran and Ed Brown brought his car Honda HPD Ligier JS P2 to victory in the marathon in its category. Earlier LMP2 car did not win the marathon at Daytona. Double victory brought his Corvette Racing team pilots Chevrolet Corvette C7.R category GTLM. Another category of «Gran Turismo» — GTD winning crew on Audi R8 LMS GT3. Russian crews SMP Racing team failed to show good results because of technical problems and prototype BR-01, and for Ferrari 488 GTE.
The first time the system — the performance of the Russian team SMP Racing, which was presented in classes Prototype (P) and GTLM. Each category had only one car, but none of the crew was able to show good results. Behind the wheel of a prototype BR-01 engine Nissan were Mikhail Aleshin, Kirill Ladygin, Nicolas Minassian and Maurizio median.
Rain qualifications held Aleshin gave the team the pole position, they have lost almost immediately. The machine is very lacked speed on the straight, but quite a long time, BR-01 was held inside the circle leader.
Before the race the team had to replace the engine, but others were probably not the best example. However, a 20-minute failure occurred due to malfunctions in the brake system of the rear left wheel. Mechanics had to spend a lot of work to re-release the car to the track. Further problems are reported to have been caused by a problem with the engine.
However, BR-01 race finished behind the leader with 119 laps and on the 9th place in class and 38th overall. The crew SMP Racing Ferrari 488 GTE in the even less fortunate: the race had to finish in the pits early. Broken turbocharger for about five hours before the finish deprived the crew of Victor Shaitar, Andrea Bertolini, James Calado and Gianmaria Bruni to fight for a good result, but perhaps for the podium.
The second point is related to the system with the premiere car Ford GT. After a long absence carmaker brought a new sports car and said about his involvement in a number of competitions, including marathons.
Daytona is the first major test of the new Ford GT it has failed. One of the cars to the finish line is not reached, the other behind the leader in the class by 35 laps. As expected, in such cases, the team speaks of the «great and fast car,» but «it was the first trip.» In fact, we are talking about a variety of issues, some of which team remains to be seen. One of the stated reasons for the failure — a problem with the gearbox. Nevertheless, the team (otherwise — nor how) is optimistic about the marathon «24 hours of Le Mans» to be held in June.
The third moment of the system — the performance of the prototype of custom design and / or layout. «Strange» cars sometimes go on the track racing marathons, but rarely participate in the overall standings.
Nissan has in the past year went to the World Cup endurance racing (FIA WEC) with fireballs nonstandard layout and completely failed season. This example of the negative result of which, however, also experience itself. Daytona viewers saw on the track an unusual arrangement for a prototype or DWC13 Deltawing. Start number he had a «0» (traditionally), but set off he went. Moreover, if it were not for an unfortunate accident, the crew Deltawing could lay claim to the podium.
About three and a half hours after the start of the race in the region of the first turn in the middle of the track is dangerous stopped car team Starworks Motorsport Oreca FLM09 (category Prototype Challenge) under the control of Chris Cumming. There were yellow flags, but the severity of the situation is not removed.
It seemed only a matter of time before one of the pilots did not have time to go round standing in the center of the track the car. And so it happened: this car was Deltawing, driven by Andy Meyrik. There has been a collision, after which no Oreca, no Deltawing continue the race has not been able to. The guide Panoz DeltaWing Racing team told the press that they had problems with the radio. Probably, the pilot was not full information about an obstacle in the first corner.
During the day, marathon racing moments were enough as the safety car trips. There were punched wheel, and «walk» across the lawn, to the fuel before the finish. In each of these categories has its own intrigue, but the finish was especially exciting for the riders in both classes GT. Incredible fight pilots showed two cars Chevrolet Racing (class GTLM) Oliver Gavin and Marcel Garcia. During the last laps the cars were flying side by side, and it was unclear which of them come first.
In parallel, the situation worsened in the GTD, when tanks Lamborghini Huracan Fabio Babini no more fuel. René Rast in the Audi R8 LMS took the lead. Then he began to slow down, but he still had the advantage over him following the Porsche 911 GT3-known Russian fans pilots of Lada Sport WTCC Nicky Katsburga.
After the finish, for unknown reasons, right on the highway stood Corvette DP Max Angelelli. Medics evacuated the pilot for inspection. It is assumed that the pilot had been poisoned by exhaust fumes. It is reported that before the incident, the pilots talked about the smell in the cockpit. But that's just a guess. At the final press conference, the issue was not clarified.
A curious point, «blow up» Twitter, linked to «travel» Patrick Lindsey on Porsche Porsche 911 GT3 R of the track). Probably, the car had problems and the pilot decided to «cut off» the road to the pits through the paddock, located in the center of the ring Daytona race track.
Scenes from the race car to squeeze in humans and conventional machines instantly spread around the world.
Of course, there were plenty of things that can not be listed. One picture sunsets, sunrises over the track which cost, in spite of the appalling quality of the video broadcast online IMSA as a whole. But fans can create a picture of what is happening, including using social networks. Especially active «poster» was a Twitter Porsche, in turn, IMSA also delight fans of operational information and movies. However, the Russians are watching not only the «Formula 1», can not hurt to brush up the English language, to be informed of all developments.
Photo: Tequila Patrón ESM, IMSA, Ford Motor Company, Porsche Motorsport, Park Place Motorsports
