Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Grabs Last Gasp Second Place in GTE Pro at Le Mans 24 Hours
The # 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT of Andy Priaulx (GB), Harry Tincknell (GB), and Pipo Derani (BRA) got hold of the runner-up area in the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours at the end of the last lap. Last minute has a hard time for the second-placed Corvette offered Tincknell the chance to strike and take the place just as the chequered flag dropped.
In a door-to- door battle of manufacturers through the complete 24-hours, the # 67 staff that won the FIA World Endurance Champion season-opener at Silverstone showed their mettle once again with solid approach and an unbelievable initiative from the whole group.
" That was a remarkable race," Priaulx said. "It was a faultless race with irreproachable pit stops. These people (the Ford Chip Ganassi Competing team) are worthy of a medal as yet once more they have actually climbed to the difficulty. It was a back-breaking race; we had to hammer out every lap, every rest stop, every minute of the 1 Day. Everything had to be perfect and it was. Watching Harry at the end was nail-biting so when we saw the Corvette appear in Harry's views we understood he would get the job done and take second.
All four Ford GTs ended up the Le Mans 24 Hr, which was one of the most harsh 24-hour races at the Circuit de la Sarthe for several years. In 2014's race-winning # 68 Ford GT returned in 6th place, adhered to by the # 69 car in 7th and the # 66 in tenth place.
" Wow, what a race," said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. "It was a hard one, yet everybody stayed with it. This verifies that you have to stay with it right till the very end. To take 2nd put on our 2nd time below is outstanding. First is always best however we'll take this due to the fact that it's a wonderful outcome for this group. It was big for us in the WEC championship so it's not just a great finish, but it's additionally wonderful for the championship we intend to win this year."
All four of the group's Ford GTs revealed pledge early, leading laps at the 14km/8.5- mile. Circuit de la Sarthe. Then, as dusk fell, the challenges came rapidly and with little caution. The # 66 Ford GT was leading the classification four hour in with Billy Johnson (US) behind the wheel after Stefan Mcke (GER) began 8th, however 10 hours later on a rear suspension problem sent their team-mate Olivier Pla (FRA) into the crushed rock and the # 66 to the rear of the pack.
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The # 68 struggled in certifying and aligned 12th on the grid. Although it led briefly thanks to a cost by Dirk Mller (GER) and showed pace, a collection of pit lane difficulties maintained the team from showing its actual guarantee.
" Congratulations to the # 67 staff for a wonderful second-place coating," Mller said. "We understand just how it feels to earn it on the platform. It's a fellow feeling. We were struck with many things throughout the race. Joey did an excellent job and certainly Tony Kanaan. (Adding him to the lineup) was such a thrill. We arrived right here on Tuesday early morning and from that moment on it all went so quickly. He gave whatever for us and we made a good team.
Kanaan, who competed at this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona with Tincknell and Priaulx, made an easy shift right into the car at Le Mans.
Of the two full-time IMSA SportsCar Championship cars (# 68 and # 69), it was # 69 that actually showed pledge going into race day. It qualified highest among the Ford Chip Ganassi Competing Ford GTs in fifth place and although starting vehicle driver Richard Westbrook reported understeer, still appeared to be a platform competitor. It wasn't long, though, before the # 69 had to pit to deal with a tail light concern - an issue that would resurface again the following day and prevent the progress of Westbrook, Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon.
The following race for the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team is in 2 weeks' time at Watkins Glen in the United States
