Sebastien Bourdais has blasted IMSA’s decision to strip Tower Motorsports of their LMP2 class victory at the 63rd Rolex 24 at Daytona, calling the ruling “cruel” and expressing frustration over the governing body’s lack of leniency.
Tower Motorsports’ #8 Oreca 07, co-driven by Bourdais, Job van Uitert, Sebastian Alvarez, and John Farano, crossed the finish line first in class after a grueling 24-hour battle. But during post-race inspections, IMSA found that the skid block underneath the car exceeded the maximum wear limit of 5 millimeters, violating FIA technical regulations.
As a result, Tower Motorsports was disqualified, handing the LMP2 win to United Autosports USA’s #22 Oreca 07.
Bourdais: “IMSA Used to Apply Common Sense”
Following the ruling, Bourdais took to Instagram to express his anger and disappointment, suggesting IMSA failed to recognize the role of mechanical failure in the infraction.
“Racing can be cruel but governing bodies can be far worse. Tower Motorsports won the Rolex 24 LMP2 class.”
The four-time IndyCar champion went on to explain that a third rear damper failure caused the car’s ride height to drop, leading to excessive skid block wear.
“The third rear damper that controls ride height failed, allowing the rear to come down too much, subsequently over-wearing the rear skid [block].”
Bourdais then criticized IMSA for applying a strict interpretation of the rule, rather than considering the context of the failure.
“In recent memory, IMSA always used common sense when enforcing rules that were breached by technical failure. Unfortunately, not today.”
The veteran driver also defended Tower Motorsports’ integrity, rejecting any suggestion of foul play.
“Making them look like cheaters makes me sick as they always operate by the book.”
Bourdais closed his message by vowing to return stronger:
“I sure hope we get a chance to win more races in the future. Thank you all for your support.”
IMSA’s Perspective: Rules Are Rules
While IMSA’s decision sparked outrage, the sanctioning body stood firm in its stance. The rule regarding skid block wear is not discretionary—it exists to ensure all cars maintain a legal ride height throughout the race.
United Autosports USA benefited from Tower Motorsports’ penalty, securing their first-ever Rolex 24 win in LMP2 just seven months after their Le Mans 24 Hours triumph.
United Autosports CEO Richard Dean acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the situation:
“It’s never nice getting handed the win a couple of days after, but that’s part of it—you’ve got to pass all the necessary tests.”
Should IMSA Have Been More Lenient?
The decision reignites the debate about technical infractions that arise from mechanical failures versus deliberate rule-breaking. Many in the paddock—including Bourdais—believe that IMSA should have used discretion, given that the infraction was caused by a damper failure rather than an intentional rule violation.
🛠️ Arguments in Favor of the DQ:
- Technical regulations exist for a reason—every team must meet the same standards.
- A lower ride height could provide a performance advantage (less drag, more downforce).
- IMSA has consistently enforced skid block wear rules, so making an exception could set a precedent.
⚖️ Arguments Against the DQ:
- The failure was beyond Tower Motorsports’ control—it wasn’t a deliberate setup choice.
- A warning or time penalty might have been more appropriate than an outright disqualification.
- IMSA has previously shown flexibility in enforcing certain rules, making this decision feel harsh.
Regardless, the final result stands, and United Autosports USA enters the history books as the 2025 LMP2 Rolex 24 winners.
🚨 Final Take: Tower Motorsports’ painful loss is a reminder that in endurance racing, winning on track is only part of the battle—passing post-race scrutiny is just as crucial.
For Bourdais and Tower Motorsports, the disappointment will sting for a long time. But in racing, redemption always comes with the next checkered flag. 🏁
