Turbulent opening phase at the 24 Hours of Daytona: LMP2 previous year’s winner out, Marschall in hospital, BMW also loses lead lap
The 24 Hours of Daytona 2022 have started. At just under ten degrees, the chilly conditions have claimed a first victim. Dwight Merriman crashed the 18 Era-Oreca (Merriman/Tilley/Dalziel/Chatin). While the driver is okay, a sportsman (popularly known as a track marshal) had to go to hospital for a check-up. He was hit by debris.
Merriman, the amateur driver on the Oreca 07, was on his outlap when he overbraked on cold tyres at the rear behind other cars while braking for the hairpin leading out onto the tri-oval. The 560bhp bolide swerved inwards where it crashed into a sloping tyre pile right in front of the track marshal.
A marshal was caught by debris in the process. According to ‘NBC’, the sportscaster is conscious and “reasonably stable”. However, he has been hospitalised for further investigations. The IMSA added in a press statement, “The sports administrator is going to a nearby hospital for a check. He is conscious and vital signs are stable. “
BMW has to go for repairs
Both RLL-BMWs from GTD Pro also had to come in for repairs. The 24 (Eng/Wittmann/Yelloly/van der Linde) was damaged at the rear in the starting scrum, but according to the team without any outside interference. The BMW M4 GT3 lost eight laps. The car then got rid of its diffuser again, but is still setting competitive times.
The sister car, the 81 (Lux/DeFrancesco/O’Ward/Herta) caught two drive-through penalties for speeding in the pit lane and lost the lead lap for its part. The hope here is also on yellow phases.
And that was a situation with @CetilarRacing and @vassersullivan IMSA IMSApl Rolex24 pic. twitter.com/PyZj71Qs24
– Jędrzej Bocian Rolex24 (@JBocianIMSA) January 29, 2022
For their part, two favourites for the GTD win were robbed of all chances by an accident, which was also likely related to the cool conditions. Roberto Lacorte spun in the 47 Cetilar-Ferrari (Lacorte/Sernagiotto/Fuoco/Rovera) at turn 1, i.e. at the end of the long finishing straight where the tyres were cooling down.
Frankie Montecalvo in the 12 Vasser-Sullivan Lexus (Montecalvo/Telitz/Heistand/Bell) was unable to get out of the way and was hit by the Ferrari rolling backwards. Both cars are currently “behind the wall” in the paddock, as it is called in US jargon. They have already lost so much time that they can no longer win even with yellow phases.
Cadillac leads race
After two hours, all seven DPi cars are still on the lead lap. The Action Express Cadillac 10, which had dropped back from pole position at the start and was only second for a while, but now seems to have found its speed
What a tough start for both @rllracing MOTUL BMW M4 GT3!
Rear damage on both cars but no contact. Still investigating what exactly happened.
Both cars could be repaired, but lost time.@motul @DAYTONA BMWMMotorsport BMWM4GT3 ReadyForM4GT3 pic. twitter.com/Vxa6DscYHa
– BMW Motorsport (@BMWMotorsport) January 29, 2022
There is a Porsche double lead in the GTD Pro. However, numerous manufacturers are able to keep up the pace – even those that were still behind in the qualifying race, such as Corvette and Ferrari.
Still on the lead lap:
DPi: 5
LMP2: 69
LMP3: 36
GTD Pro: 97
GTD: 34
