BMW and Walkenhorst on top at the Indianapolis Brickyard

Rare European team to have made the trip across the Atlantic for this first edition of the 8 Hours of Indianapolis in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, Walkenhorst Motorsport did not provide details. Pole position and victory for the BMW M6 GT3 n°34 from the trio Farfus – Catsburg – de Phillippi, and even doubled for the formation of Henry Walkenhorst, with the n°35 of Pittard – Tomczyk – Yelloly.

A second victory in the history of Walkenhorst Motorsport in IGTC, after his triumph in the 24 Spa 2018 Hours. And a success which did not take long to take shape, after a start to the race marked by violent showers and the logical intervention of the safety car.

The weather forced the teams to adjust their strategy, with Walkenhorst among the first to return to the pits to put on rain tires. Quite the opposite of K-Pax Racing and the No. 3 Bentley Continental GT7 of Jordan Pepper, author of quite a balancing act on slick tires during this first phase, before in turn putting on rain tires.

Having taken the lead, the Bentley was however quickly eliminated from the race for victory after contact with a GT4, the right rear of the Continental having been too damaged. Disillusionment for the Pepper – Gounon – Soulet trio, winners at Bathurst and who could logically aim for the pass of two. A 10th place in the IGTC ranking will conclude the event for K-Pax.

It will then be an almost domination of the BMW M6 GT3, only disturbed by the Acura NSX GT3 Evo n°30 – Team Honda Racing of Farnbacher – van der Zande – Cameron, which will be delayed in the pits and will not be able to compete with the mounts of the Walkenhorst Motorsport. The Acura, however, completes the podium.

BMW also won in GT4 with the M4 GT4 – Bimmerworld of Bill Auberlen, Chandler Hull and James Clay ahead of another M4 GT4, that of the ST Racing trio Jon Miller – Samantha Tan – Nick Wittmer.

Discover the report of the 8 Hours of Indianapolis in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, in issue 2281 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.