VDS Panis Racing's No.48 car wins the chaotic ELMS 4 Hours of Imola

Written by Ghazlan Atqiya Firmansyah

The race-winning No.48 VDS Panis Racing (pictured in Barcelona) | Credit: Panis Racing

The No.48 VDS Panis Racing took the overall victory of the 4 Hours of Imola, a race marred by incidents. It was a tough day at the office for the No.18 IDEC Sport, the LMP2 championship leaders.

The opening phase

The third round of the European Le Mans Series got underway at 12:00 local time today at Imola Circuit in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. The No.25 CLX Motorsport LMP2 led the field away from pole position ahead of four hours of racing.

The marshals immediately gave a yellow flag at the start after the No.68 M Racing LMP3 spun and collided with the No.88 Inter Europol. No.59’s Racing Spirit of Léman (RSL) found itself at the lead of the LMGT3 while the pole-sitter No.63 went all the way down to eighth.

There was contact between the No.50 AF Corse with the No.85 Iron Dames, which caused the latter to spin, but they managed to stay on the track and resume.

The No.85 Iron Dames Porsche (pictured on Friday) | Credit: FocusPackMedia - Marcel Wulf

The No.50 car overtook the No.29 RSL entering lap 4. The No.4 DKR Engineering car can be seen entering the garage with a power steering issue, which was explained by driver Antti Rammo.

The race directors announced they are reviewing the incident between the No.50 and No.85 at 12:11. The fight for second place in the LMP2 heats up with the No.9 Iron Lynx-Proton defending its position from the No.43 and No.34 duo from Inter Europol Competition.

The No.43 successfully took second place at turns 2 and 3. At 12:15, a double yellow was thrown at turn 18. The No.23 United Autosports found itself beached in the gravel, shortly before the race directors neutralised the field with a full-course yellow (FCY) a minute later.

At 12:20, the race directors removed the full-course yellow, and we got underway once more with the No.43 Inter Europol leading the race after the restart.

No.99 AO by TF’s P. J. Hyett challenged the No.16 Georgios Kolovos for third-place in the LMP2 Pro/Am. At 12:24, the race directors declared the track was now wet, allowing the teams to put on the wet tyres.

On lap 13, Célia Martin in the Iron Dames recovered from the earlier incident with the No.50 and overtook the No.55 Spirit of Race for third in LMGT3.

On lap 16, the No.24 Nielsen Racing LMP2 overtook No.25 APR for second. After overtaking the No.9 Iron Lynx, the No.48 VDS Panis endured a barrage of attacks from the former, but held on firm to third.

There was a huge LMGT3 pileup at the Tamburello Corner, with the No.63 Iron Lynx colliding into No.86 GR Racing and collecting the No.57 Kessel Racing and LMP2’s No.28 IDEC Sport in the process. The safety car was immediately deployed, and all the cars involved in the incident retired.

The No.63 Iron Lynx Mercedes (on Friday) | Credit: FocusPackMedia - Marcel Wulf

The red flag was thrown out at 12:44, and everyone was directed to stop before the finish line due to the time needed for the marshals to clear the carnage. While the race was paused, the clock continued to run.

All the cars pulled up to the left side of the finish line, and the LMP2 cars had their doors opened in the event if the crew members were allowed to assist the drivers.

The red armband mechanics were allowed by the race directors to enter the grid, although what they can do is limited. For starters, driver change is prohibited. The race was scheduled to resume under safety car at 13:05.

Mechanics were then cleared to enter the grid, and a handful of drivers left their cars to stretch their legs, have refreshments and consult with their teams, although they must remain within the vicinity of the car. Tyre change is not allowed, however.

The race-leading No.43 Inter Europol car was under investigation for FCY infringement, with the race remaining under red flag.

The second hour

After 60 minutes, the No.43 Inter Europol leads the No.24 Nielsen Racing and No.25 APR in LMP2. The No.27 Nielsen Racing tops the LMP2 Pro/Am. The No.17 CLX Motorsport and the No.50 AF Corse were the leaders of the LMP3 and LMGT3 classes, respectively.

Race control then announced that the race would be extended by the duration of the red flag. Then, cars No.30, 37 and 47 were investigated for red flag infringement.

With the safety car leading the pack, the No.43 Inter Europol entered the pits, followed by a bunch of cars. At 13:15, the race was green-flagged, and the No.18 IDEC Sport led the field. Cars No. 4, 8, 11, 15 and 59 received a drive-through penalty for overtaking under a yellow flag. Meanwhile, the No.48 VDS Panis overtook the No.18 car for the lead at Acque Minerali.

Chadwick in the No.18 car seemed to be struggling with the car around the Acque Minerali, and the No.43 and No.9 car are fancying their chances for second place in LMP2.

At 13:23, the No.50 received an additional 10-second time penalty for its next stop for the earlier incident with the Iron Dames.

The No.48 VDS Panis leads the LMP2 as No.18 IDEC Sport pitted, and Chadwick made way for teammate Daniel Juncadella. Oliver Gray in the No.48 held a comfortable 30-second gap to second place occupied by Jakub Smiechowski in the No.43 Inter Europol.

At 13:47, rain began to pour on some parts of the track, which could shake up the competition on the next few laps it gets heavier. The No.12 WTM by Rinaldi car spun, but thankfully, there was no contact, and it was able to resume.

The No.43 Inter Europol had a little scare as it went straight to the gravel, but the car maintained its second place ahead of the No.47 CLX Motorsport before the latter car took the place.

In the LMP2 Pro/Am, No.99’s Dane Cameron leads the No.3 DKR, but the former had a little touch with Juncadella in the No.18 car as they approached a narrow corner.

Trouble for the leading No.85 Iron Dames, who was leading the LMGT3 class as it found itself in the gravel. The No.82 TF Sport inherited the lead as another full-course yellow was deployed, and the rain got heavier. Martin rejoined the race a lap down in ninth.

Full-course yellow removed at 14:01, and away we go. We had a battle between Spaniards as Juncadella defended his fifth place from Lorenzo Fluxa in the No.25 APR. Meanwhile, the No.99 AO by TF was under attack from the No.3 DKR for the lead of the LMP2 Pro/Am, and traffic at the front adds to their challenge.

The No.17 CLX Motorsport (on Friday) | Credit: FocusPackMedia - Marcel Wulf

The No.17 CLX Motorsport then received a drive-through penalty for causing a collision with the No.68 car. The No.17 car emerged from the pits unaffected by the penalty as it already had a considerable gap from second place.

At 14:15, a full-course yellow was deployed. Pit lane is closed under FCY conditions, and the previous LMGT3 leader, No.82 TF Sport, was already in the pits and switched drivers. Back to racing speed at 14:20 as the rain continues to pour. Juncadella collided with a lapped No.34 Inter Europol, forcing the former to leave the track at the Variante Alta.

The race-leading No.48 VDS Panis outbraked and went off the road after the slick tyres struggled as the rain got heavier. Esteban Masson continues to lead, but the second-placed No.9 car was now 16 seconds behind, benefiting from the lost time.

The No.82 TF Sport Corvette (pictured on Friday) | Credit: FocusPackMedia - Marius Hecker

The third hour

At the halfway mark, our class leaders are the No.48 VDS Panis in LMP2, No.77 Proton Competition in LMP2 Pro/Am, No.31 RSL in LMP3 and No.82 TF Sport in LMGT3.

Shocking for the No.18 IDEC Sport, the LMP2 championship leader, as Juncadella misjudged the Variante Alta corner and collided with the barriers, which brought another FCY. The car took quite a damage on its right front side and pitted for repairs.

On the damp track, No.60 Proton’s Matteo Cressoni battled Rui Andrade in the No.82 car for the lead of the LMGT3. The Corvette can see the headlights of the Porsche flashing behind. Cresonni took the lead a couple of laps later at the Tamburello.

With 80 minutes left, No.51 AF Corse was in pursuit of the No.55 car for third in LMGT3, but there was a yellow flag halting the battle. The No.88 Inter Europol LMP3 car suddenly stopped right before the Acque Minerali.

More drama as the No.68 had a puncture on its right-rear tyre and had damage on the right sidepod as it went off the track. Smoke emerged from the car before it disappeared as the car trekked through half a lap to the pit for repairs.

Carbon fibre debris caused by the No.68 car was deemed severe enough by race director Eduardo Freitas to deploy the virtual safety car (VSC). Freitas threatened to stop the No.11 Eurointernational car if it did not come to the pits and repair its door.

Louis Delétraz took over the No.99 AO by TF following a stellar performance from Cameron, who kept the lead of the LMP2 Pro/Am during his challenging stint full of battles.

With the blower on at turn 12 to clear the debris, the race was neutralised with the safety car. The safety car was instructed to overtake the cars. Freitas can be heard frustrated on the radio screaming, “Overtake the cars!” to make sure everyone got the message.

The final hour

The final hour began under the safety car with the No.48 VDS Panis leading LMP2, No.99 AO by TF in LMP2 Pro/Am, No.17 CLX Motorsport in LMP3 and the No.82 TF Sport in LMGT3.

With 53 minutes left, the race resumed as the safety car entered the pits. Charles Milesi defended his lead at the restart lap in front of No.43’s Tom Dillmann.

Bent Viscaal in the No.77 Proton Competition challenged the No.99 AO by TF for the LMP2 Pro/Am lead. No.82’s TF Sport already had a six-second gap to the second-placed No.74 Kessel Racing.

The battle for the final podium place in LMGT3 raged on with the No.51 AF Corse defending from fellow Ferrari entrant, Spirit of Race. The No.60 Porsche Proton was in fifth, ready to pounce for the podium as well.

The No.27 Nielsen Racing (pictured on Friday) | Credit: FocusPackMedia - Marcel Wulf

The final 30 minutes began with an FCY after the No.27 Nielsen Racing was in the gravel after multiple contact with several cars at the uphill Variante Alta.

The pole-sitting No.25 APR was in the pits when the FCY was deployed, putting Théo Pourchaire in a good shot for a podium. But the Frenchman has few ways to go since the car was two minutes down. Trouble for the No.3 DKR in the Pro/Am as it was in the gravel at this late hour.

It was a 20-minute sprint to the finish. Capietto in the No.9 car challenged the No.43 Inter Europol for second overall. The grid may have looked different as many cars were yet to pit.

Capietto pitted with 16 minutes left on the clock in a stop that could define a podium position. The No.99 AO by TF also pitted with the No.20 APR, inheriting the LMP2 Pro/Am lead. Unfortunately, the No.9 car had to serve a drive-through penalty for a VSC infringement.

Dillman collided with the No.10 Vector Sport car on its lap into the pits. The No.10 was in the gravel as another FCY deployed to add to the drama.

FCY was removed with nine minutes left; this could be a make-or-break moment for the teams fighting for places. Overall race leader Milesi pitted a minute later for a quick refuel to safely cross the line. He rejoined the race still in the lead.

A surprising investigation at 16:18 as the No.48 VDS Panis was flagged for its refuelling sequence. The team had to keep their heads down and focus on securing the win, regardless of what may happen later.

The No.48 VDS Racing took the chequered flag as the overall winner. AO by TF’s “Spike the Dragon” No.99 took the LMP2 Pro/Am win, the No.17 CLX Motorsport made it three LMP3 victories in a row. No.82 TF Sport took Corvette’s first victory in the European Le Mans Series.

We now need to wait for any penalties that may be imposed after the race.

Race Results - Top 10

1st No.48 VDS Panis Racing - Gray, Milesi, Masson

2nd No.43 Inter Europol Competition - Smiechowski, Dillmann, Yelloly

3rd No.25 Algarve Pro Racing - Kaiser, Fluxa, Pourchaire

4th No.9 Iron Lynx-Proton - Ried, Capietto, Cairoli

5th No.47 CLX Motorsport - Espirito Santo, Fittipaldi, Derani

6th No.99 AO by TF - Hyett, Delétraz, Cameron (PRO/AM)

7th No.77 Proton Competition - Roda, Binder, Viscaal (PRO/AM)

8th No.20 Algarve Pro Racing - Lentoudis, Quinn, Caldwell (PRO/AM)

9th No.29 TDS Racing - Sales, Beche, Novalak (PRO/AM)

10th No.34 Inter Europol Competition - Perino, Simmenauer, Ghitto