Ford breaks Porsche's streak at Lime Rock Park

The Lime Rock Park event will have offered un fantastique duel entre Porsche et Ford for the overall victory of this round IMSA reserved for GTLM and GTD.

Dominators in qualifications, the 911 RSR n°911 from Pilet – Tandy and n°912 from Vanthoor – Bamber appeared to be in a position of strength but were unable to do anything in the last hour against the No. 67 Ford GT – Chip Ganassi Racing from Westbrook – Briscoe.

Starting again behind the Pilet – Bamber tandem after his last stop, Richard Westbrook did everything to break the series of five consecutive victories of the 911 RSR, by being engaged on a different strategy from the Porsches, with an additional stop but fresher tires.

Author of a small off-track excursion, with some damage to the left front, Patrick Pilet seemed in difficulty to maintain control of the race against Earl Bamber, the latter finally finding the opening at the start of the race. last half hour, not without contact between the two 911s.

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The New Zealander then built a small lead of 2″ over Pilet, himself holding off the two Fords of Westbrook and Hand. But twenty minutes from time, Patrick Pilet went wide in the last corner and gave up two places to the Ford GTs.

Enough to allow Westbrook to start hunting Bamber. Ford driver Chip Ganassi Racing will wait until the last seven minutes to finally find the fault and fly to victory, the first for the blue oval manufacturer in GTLM this year in IMSA.

Ford also retains its crown at Lime Rock Park, the No. 66 of Hand – Müller having won in 2018, before completing the podium this year behind Westbrook – Briscoe and Vanthoor – Bamber.

Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy finished 4th with the #911 911 ahead of the two #7 Corvette C3.Rs of Garcia – Magnussen and No. 4 from Gavin – Fässler. The two BMW M8 – Team RLL follow in the standings.

Overall, however, the Vanthoor – Bamber tandem retains control of the championship.

In GTD, Dennis Olsen offers success to Porsche and Pfaff Motorsports, having taken control of the event in the last minutes in the No. 3 Acura NSX GT86 – Meyer Shank Racing of Farnbacher – Hindman and resisting until when crossing the finish line.

Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley place the No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M3 GT96 on the class podium.

Discover the full report of the Lime Rock Park IMSA event, in AUTO issue 2226hebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.