Inter Europol Competition Secures Victory at Chevrolet Grand Prix

The duo, piloting the #43 ORECA LMP2 07, secured the win by 9.796 seconds in the 2-hour and 40-minute sprint, overcoming a challenging history at the Ontario circuit.

Redemption for the #43 ORECA Team

The win marked a significant turnaround for the team, particularly for Dillmann. During the 2023 edition of the event, Dillmann was involved in a severe crash that resulted in a fractured vertebra and required surgery. Returning to the track, the pair started from pole position and maintained a competitive pace throughout the race. According to IMSA official results, the team utilized a strategic late-race fuel splash to ensure they reached the finish line without sacrificing their track position.

“Coming into this weekend, it didn’t change me. I want to win every race,” Dillmann said following the podium ceremony. He noted that while the previous year’s injury was a difficult experience, the goal remained focused on performance. Crowdstrike Racing by APR’s George Kurtz and Alex Quinn finished in second place, while PJ Hyett and Dane Cameron of AO Racing rounded out the LMP2 podium in third.

Class Victories in GTD Pro and GTD

The GTD Pro class saw Vasser Sullivan continue its strong form as Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth secured their second consecutive victory, following a win at Watkins Glen International. The pair managed the race lead through multiple caution periods, including an early incident involving John Farano of Tower Motorsports and a later crash by Tobi Lutke of TDS Racing.

In the GTD class, Winward Racing’s Russell Ward and Philip Ellis captured the win. The duo navigated a competitive field, with Ellis executing a decisive move on Trent Hindman of Wayne Taylor Racing near the race’s midpoint to seize the lead. From that point, the Winward Racing entry maintained a consistent gap, holding off late-race pressure from the Vasser Sullivan GTD entry driven by Aaron Telitz and Benjamin Pedersen.

Race Dynamics and Strategic Challenges

The 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course presented significant tactical hurdles, including tire management and fuel strategy. Early in the event, the race saw a clean start for the GTD Pro pole-sitter Neil Verhagen of Paul Miller Racing. However, caution flags significantly altered the field’s rhythm.

The race featured several notable incidents:

• John Farano: Went off-course in Turn 3, causing terminal right-front damage to the #8 ORECA.
• Tobi Lutke: Hit the Turn 8 tire barriers, triggering the second full-course caution.
• Robert Wickens: Suffered a throttle spring issue in the pit lane that relegated his DXDT Racing entry two laps down.

As the clock wound down to the final 30 minutes, the field shifted into a rhythm centered on fuel saving. Dillmann maintained a lead of over three seconds as the leaders navigated traffic. By the final 22 minutes, the decision to take a quick splash of fuel proved effective for the leaders, allowing the #43 ORECA to retain its position and cross the finish line first.

Race Results Summary