Stand-out performances and top-8 finish in Imola

Proton Competition made a successful start to their FIA World Endurance Championship campaign at the 6 Hours of Imola (19 April) with two points-paying finishes. With new driver line-ups and new upgrades for the pair of Ford Mustang LMGT3, the task for Christian and Michael Ried’s team was to start the season on the front foot.

One driver who undoubtedly did that was Stefano Gattuso in the #88 Ford Mustang LMGT3. The Italian’s weekend began well in qualifying, as he made it through to the top-10 Hyperpole shoot-out at the first time of asking.

The 41-year-old began the race in similar form, putting together a flawless double stint and made rapid progress through the highly competitive LMGT3 field. Buoyed by a partisan home crowd of over 90,000, Gattuso moved from ninth to third in the first hour – and then into the lead after a safety-car interruption.

“Starting in ninth on the grid and handing over the car at the sharp end of the field was an incredible feeling,” Gattuso said. “Even though I was managing the tyres, the pace was there and I felt very comfortable in the car. The team did a fantastic job with the car, and it was a great way to start the season.”

Fellow countryman Giammarco Levorato took over in the middle stint, with scorching temperatures making tyre management and consistency essential. After an unfortunately timed safety car relegated the Mustang down the field, debutant Logan Sargeant fought well as wet weather arrived to bring the car home in eighth position for a solid points haul.

For Sebastian Priaulx, Ben Tuck and Eric Powell in the #77 Ford Mustang LMGT3, the Imola weekend was all about finding a rhythm as a new driver line-up. While Powell and Priaulx were driving the car for the first time in the FIA WEC, upgrades compared to last season meant that Tuck also had to grow accustomed to changes. The trio rose to the challenge and mastered the conditions well, crossing the line in tenth in class.

“After practice we really nailed the set-up and got the car in a really nice window,” said Tuck. “The evo package is really nice to drive, so thanks to Ford and Multimatic for that. We executed the race perfectly really, with a great strategy and solid pace from all of the drivers, so I’m happy with the tenth-place finish. I was right behind the two cars ahead at the line so with another lap we might have gathered more points.”

The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship is the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on the weekend of 7 to 9 May. Before that, the team is in action at the next round of the European Le Mans Series at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet on 1 to 3 May.

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Copyright: Proton Competition (Paola Depalmas)