Imola, Italy – The iconic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, known for its rich history and challenging layout, hosted the third round of the European Le Mans Series.
The week-end kicked off on Thursday with productive test sessions where both our #19 and #8 cars demonstrated strong performance, securing P4 in their respective categories.
Friday brought intense Italian summer heat and challenging conditions for the team. During the long runs in practice, both the LMP2 with Matt Bell, Tony Wells, and Nelson Piquet, and the LMP3 with Gillian Henrion, Julien Gerbi, and Bernardo Pinheiro were able to place P6. The Bronze Test came in the afternoon, with Wells showcasing impressive pace to place the car in P3, while Gerbi in the sister car finished P5 in the highly competitive LMP3 grid. The team’s focus then shifted to the final practice session and qualifying rounds set for Saturday.
In the final practice session, the LMP2 car placed P8, while the LMP3 car showed a competitive edge, securing P3. Qualifying was the day’s highlight, with Tony Wells and Gillian Henrion delivering strong performances to secure P4 and P6 respectively.
Starting from P4 and P6 in the LMP2 and LMP3 classes, hopes were high for a strong finish. The LMP3 car continuously made its way through the field in the 4 hour race. Running strong in P3, Gillian Henrion caught and passed for P2 with only two laps to go, marking the second podium finish for the #8 car this season. The LMP2 car got off to a great start, running competitively in P4. Despite continuous challenges and a penalty, the team was able to defend the position and finish the race with Nelson Piquet Jr. crossing the line, securing valuable championship points. The hunger for a podium in LMP2 Pro/Am continues to grow.
The team now looks forward to the next race at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps after the summer break, eager to build on this week-end’s successes.
