Amidst the emotional rollercoaster of the GTD PRO championship battle, the No. 19 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 of Franck Perera, Jordan Pepper, and Mirko Bortolotti clinched a victory at the 2024 Petit Le Mans with a commanding 2.361-second lead over Risi Competizione. While the Iron Lynx Lamborghini appeared to cruise to victory, the real drama unfolded in the GTD PRO title fight.
AO Racing’s championship hopes were thrown into jeopardy when Laurin Heinrich’s No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R suffered a severe electrical malfunction, impacting its steering and shifting capabilities. This issue resulted in a lengthy pit stop, dropping the team six laps behind and turning what had seemed like a sure path to victory into a tense battle for survival.
Iron Lynx: A Strong and Steady Victory
The Iron Lynx Lamborghini was a top contender throughout the race. In the final stages, Jordan Pepper had to fend off Risi’s Daniel Serra in the No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3 after a late restart to secure the victory. It marked Pepper’s first IMSA win, a long-awaited result for the Iron Lynx team, who had endured two tough seasons.
“It’s been a tough two years for us. We’ve shown good potential but never managed to get the result we got today,” said Mirko Bortolotti. “To finally be back on the top step of the podium in IMSA is an amazing feeling.”
The Iron Lynx team’s strength was evident in its long-run pace, with strategic calls from the pit wall proving decisive. Pepper explained, “We were strong over the distance, and that made the difference today.”
GTD PRO Championship Drama
While the battle at the front was intense, the championship storyline in GTD PRO stole much of the attention. AO Racing came into the race with a comfortable 104-point lead over Ross Gunn and the Heart of Racing (HoR) team. However, the electrical issues with the No. 77 Porsche turned the championship into a nail-biter.
For much of the race, Gunn and the HoR Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo ran in second and third place, knowing that a second-place finish would hand them the championship. Despite setting the fastest lap of the race, Gunn fell short of securing the necessary points, finishing in third place. The title ultimately went to Laurin Heinrich and AO Racing by just four points.
“It’s a sad day not to win the championship, but we’ve improved so much, and I’m proud of that,” said Gunn, reflecting on how close they came to a title victory.
Conquest Racing Shocks GTD Field
In the GTD class, Conquest Racing’s No. 34 Ferrari 296, driven by Albert Costa Balboa, Manny Franco, and Cedric Sbirrazzuoli, secured a surprise victory after a late-race caution reshuffled the field. Costa took advantage of the situation to overtake Loris Spinelli’s Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracan and claim the win, a major achievement for the rookie team in its debut IMSA season.
For Manny Franco, with just three years of racing experience, the victory was a validation of his rapid rise through the ranks. “Winning at Petit Le Mans is a huge deal for me and the Conquest team,” said Franco.
Championship Crowns for Winward Racing
Winward Racing claimed the GTD championship with Russell Ward and Philip Ellis, while also taking the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup title with the help of Indy Dontje. Despite the drama surrounding the Roval, Winward’s consistency throughout the season paid off, allowing them to clinch the title with a strong performance.
“This is the end goal—you want to win races, you want to be competitive, and today we did that,” said Ward. “It’s been difficult, but this result makes all those long nights worth it.”
As the IMSA season wrapped up, the 2024 Petit Le Mans delivered unforgettable moments filled with triumph, heartbreak, and plenty of twists, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what’s to come in 2025.
