Dunlop Top-Six in Monza ELMS Race
- Second consecutive close-race – 2.245 seconds separated top two after 4 hours
- Oreca 1-2 in LMP2
- Ferrari 458 fitting GTE winner for JMW Motorsport in car’s final race
- Tyre choice a big part of race strategy with both LMP2 options capable of treble stints
G Drive Racing won the 4 Hours of Monza in Italy today with JMW Motorsport taking the GTE class win. The second round of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) saw tyre strategy a critical part of the event after teams were split for qualifying choices. Both classes saw teams also split over race choices, with both options selected in each category.
The close six-second finish of Silverstone was more than halved today when G-Drive Racing crossed the line just 2.245 seconds ahead of Dragonspeed’s fellow Oreca after four hours of racing. High Class Racing was only a further five seconds behind in a Dallara. The pole-sitting number 39 Graff Oreca finished fourth. The close racing showed, with the top-six, all on Dunlop tyres, finishing within one minute and six seconds of the flag dropping. The tyres showed no issues in the heat, with both options performing well and proving capable of at least triple stinting.
The GTE class, all running on Dunlop tyres, also had a close finish, with JMW Motorsport taking a fitting win under eight seconds ahead of the Aston Martin Vantages of TF Sport and Beechdean AMR respectively. The Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 was leading by over 30 seconds at the two hour point when it retired with a mechanical issue. The older model, the Ferrari 458, was competing in its final race and has had close associations with Dunlop - JMW Motorsport took the first ever win for a Ferrari 458 in 2011(on Dunlop tyres) and went on to feature the Dunlop Art Car designs for several years.
Mike McGregor, Manager Testing & Track Support, Dunlop Motorsport
“The last races have been a good build-up to prepare for the Le Mans 24 Hours in just 34 days. From what we’ve seen so far this season we’re going to have some very exciting racing. The feedback on both options in both classes was good which also bodes well for the big race. It was a shame about Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin retiring from a very strong lead but it was a great way for JMW’s Ferrari 458 to bow out.”
The European Le Mans Series continues with the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring on Sunday 23rd July, however many of the teams will be competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours on 17th/18th June.