Tommy Milner didn’t maintain again his frustrations after his remaining stint at Daytona, taking purpose at what he described as unsportsmanlike conduct from the Paul Miller BMW staff.
“That is not what racing is about. It is not what sports activities automobile racing is about,” he informed IMSA Radio. However what occurred? Effectively, with lower than three hours to go within the Rolex 24, Milner was in charge of the GTD Professional Class within the No. 4 Corvette. He was being hounded by Connor De Phillippi within the BMW, nevertheless it was the BMW in entrance of the race chief that proved to be the actual challenge.
Augusto Farfus – operating a number of laps down – was holding up Milner with aggressive blocks that allowed the sister BMW to shut. Race management took discover and issued a drive-through penalty for blocking, nevertheless it was too late. Moments later within the worldwide horseshoe, Farfus’ sluggish entry brought on Milner to make a mistake. His Corvette bobbled and he slammed doorways with De Phillippi, tearing again the left facet of the bumper cowl. Farfus dove to the pits for his penalty on the finish of the lap and an irate Milner opened his window to indicate him the center finger as he raced on.
#48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO: Dan Harper, Max Hesse, Jesse Krohn, Augusto Farfus
Picture by: Andreas Beil
On the following pitstop, the staff tried to tape up the flailing bodywork nevertheless it was left unfinished by the point fueling was carried out. Milner returned to the race in second place, just for the bodywork to peel again once more. Race management issued him a mechanical black flag and he was compelled again into the pits.
Milner informed IMSA Radio that Farfus, the staff and BMW “must be embarrassed for that type of racing. It’s staff racing right here however not like that. You bought a automobile that is laps down, out of the race, who’s solely job is mainly assist a teammate and never like that — lap after lap after lap, blocking, blocking, blocking and ready for me. Like I stated, it is not how sports activities automobile racing must be. It is disappointing. I haven’t got a problem with the No. 1 automobile [De Phillippi] — these guys are in their very own race. It is simply the sister automobile that’s on the market simply to be a nuisance. It is poor sportsmanship, poor driving. Simply embarrassing on their half.”
Milner claims that the No. 48 BMW was timing its pitstops to make sure they got here out simply forward of Milner and that it occurred twice. “Their solely aim is to race soiled. Once more, it is simply disappointing. It is not how this type of race ought to go.”
Moments later, his fury was interrupted by cheers in his pitbox. A full-course yellow had simply come out, respiration new life into their 24 shot. Milner concluded by noting that he wasn’t a very religious particular person, however hoped karma would assist to settle the rating.
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