6 Hours of Imola: Toyota back on the winning track
After a disappointing first round for the reigning world champion, Toyota set the record straight at Imola. The race was disrupted by rain and numerous run-offs.
The weather took time to deteriorate but the rain once again played its role well. It disrupted plans and added suspense to a world championship that is not lacking in drama. While Ferrari seemed well on its way to winning this race on its home soil, the engineers completely missed their strategy. The Tifosi are likely to be unleashed on Monday morning in the Italian press, especially since the Scuderia had the best pace at Imola. Thanks to a fired-up Antonio Fuoco, Ferrari nonetheless secured a fourth position.
Also read: The race after 2 hours
This gave Toyota an opportunity to take back the lead in a race marked by numerous off-track excursions. The slippery track caught many drivers off guard, leading to several Full Course Yellow or Virtual Safety Car interventions.
BMW very convincing
At Toyota, the last minutes of the race were far from peaceful. Car number 7, which was leading the race, had to lift and coast to save fuel. Porsche with its #6 and then its #5 managed to close the gap. The German car of Kevin Estre became a real threat. The last 15 minutes were stressful for both the people in the stands and the 73,000 spectators in the Italian stands.
The Tricolore, aboard his Porsche, was putting immense pressure but made a small mistake which relegated him to over a second behind while he was in the Toyota’s exhaust. With his 5-second penalty, his mission had become impossible to achieve.
BMW number 20, at one point in the fight for the podium, ultimately finishes in 6th place. A result that is surely disappointing for the German manufacturer, but is a good sign for the rest of the championship. Especially on a very difficult track where it is hard to overtake, and with a drive through penalty towards the end of the race.
To read also: The race after 4 hours
The two French brands experienced a nightmare race. From the start of the race, the Alpine 36 and a Peugeot were forced off the track by a struggling Isotta Fraschini for 6 hours. This caused significant damage to the hypercars, pushing them back in the rankings. Number 93 still managed to score points with its ninth position in the end. That’s it for the French contingent.
The Iron Dames got off to a quick start.
In the GT3 class, there was frustration among the Iron Dames team with a retirement in the second hour of the race. The pink Lamborghini fell victim to an electronic issue. This marks the first retirement of the day in this race. Later on, the number 88 Mustang from Proton Competition fell apart. The Ford lost its diffuser, forcing it to return to the pits and eventually retire shortly after.
For the leading position, the Porsche from Manthey Racing and the two BMWs from Team WRT fought for the victory. This was played out until the final moments of the race. The victory finally went to the 31 ahead of the 46 of Valentino Rossi. The Porsche completed the podium.
