Eduardo ‘Dudu’ Barrichello voiced frustration following Sunday’s Michelin GT Problem, calling a vital late-race drive-through penalty in opposition to co-driver Tom Gamble “a bit too harsh” after contact whereas battling for the GTD class victory.
With simply six minutes remaining within the GT-only function at Virginia Worldwide Raceway, Coronary heart of Racing’s #27 Staff Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo was locked in an intense duel for the lead with Philip Ellis within the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. Ellis made a deep dive into Flip 3 to briefly declare the lead, however discovered himself on the surface of Gamble by way of the subsequent advanced of corners, the place the 2 GTD contenders collided.
Though Gamble surrendered the place again to Ellis a number of corners later, IMSA Race Management issued a drive-through penalty to the the #27 entry. After the race, the 24-year-old Brazilian mirrored on the frantic ultimate minutes and the tire degradation situations.
“It’s troublesome to inform as a result of the deg is so excessive and the automobiles get actually tough to drive ultimately,” Barrichello mentioned. “After all on the finish of the race, you’re actually attempting to go for it. It’s elbows out.
“I feel Tom realized his transfer was most likely not the very best, so he gave up the place, which suggests he tried to do a good play. However we nonetheless obtained a drive-through, which I feel is a bit too harsh. The opposite automotive didn’t even go off observe. I do know it wasn’t the precise transfer however while you’re attempting to do a good play and also you let the opposite automotive by, I feel it’s best to simply proceed racing as a result of the #57 would have most likely simply pulled away anyhow as a result of they have been a bit too fast. I don’t agree with the penalty.”
The penalty relegated Barrichello and Gamble to a fourth-place end, delivering a heavy blow to the championship marketing campaign. Barrichello entered the weekend because the GTD factors chief, however leaves VIR third within the championship standings, now trailing new leaders – and two-time defending class champions – Ellis and Russell Ward by 56 factors.
The end result marks a continued tough patch for the Coronary heart of Racing crew following a formidable begin to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. The group haven’t stood on the rostrum within the final 5 rounds, with a runner-up in early Might at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca the newest.
“It’s clearly troublesome on the minute,” Barrichello mentioned. “We’ve been struggling simply to discover a rhythm once more. Initially of the season we did a great job and obtained a few podiums at Daytona and Sebring and Laguna, whatnot.
“We’re struggling on the minute with quite a lot of penalties coming our method. It’s troublesome to say what’s incorrect, actually, as a result of loads has been incorrect the previous few rounds. We thought that this spherical might have been it. Not even a win, however a podium would have been good to lastly get again right into a rhythm. It’s not our time and we’ll simply need to regroup and take a look at subsequent time.”
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