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Tower Motorsports Stripped of Rolex 24 LMP2 Victory: Team Denies Wrongdoing, Bourdais Slams IMSA Ruling

Harry Stone by Harry Stone
January 30, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Tower Motorsports Stripped of Rolex 24 LMP2 Victory: Team Denies Wrongdoing, Bourdais Slams IMSA Ruling

In a stunning post-race shakeup, Tower Motorsports has been stripped of its LMP2 class victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona following a failed post-race technical inspection. IMSA ruled that the No. 8 ORECA 07 had excessive skid block wear, a violation of the FIA Technical Regulations, effectively demoting the team to last place in class just 48 hours after celebrating their win.

Team Manager Rick Capone released a strong statement contesting the ruling, insisting that the violation was unintentional and that the excessive skid block wear occurred naturally due to the grueling demands of endurance racing.

“Tower Motorsports is deeply disappointed by IMSA’s decision to penalize our No.8 LMP2 entry following post-race technical inspection at the 24 Hours of Daytona,” Capone stated.
“Our team strongly contests this ruling and maintains that we did not intentionally violate any technical regulations.”

Skid Block Controversy: Technical Failure or Rule Violation?

At the heart of the controversy is the wear on the skid block—a crucial part of a car’s underbody that ensures legal ride height and prevents excessive ground clearance manipulation. IMSA regulations state that a skid block cannot wear beyond five millimeters over the course of the race. According to IMSA’s findings, Tower Motorsports exceeded that limit, leading to their disqualification.

The team, however, argues that the issue was not a deliberate attempt to gain an advantage but rather an unintended consequence of the intense nature of endurance racing.

“The No.8 car has consistently passed technical inspection throughout the event and in previous competitions without issue. We firmly believe that this outcome does not reflect any wrongdoing or competitive advantage on our part,” Capone added.

Tower Motorsports’ Protest Denied by IMSA

Tower Motorsports filed a formal protest, hoping for leniency or a discretionary ruling, but IMSA denied the appeal and upheld the disqualification. While acknowledging the difficult position IMSA was in, Capone made it clear that the team does not agree with the final verdict.

“While we respect the regulatory process, we are extremely disheartened by this decision. We remain committed to upholding the integrity of the sport and will review all possible options in response to this penalty.”

Sebastien Bourdais Speaks Out: “Racing Can Be Cruel, But Governing Bodies Can Be Worse”

Four-time INDYCAR champion and former Rolex 24 winner Sebastien Bourdais, who was part of the Tower Motorsports lineup, did not hold back in his response to the penalty. He revealed that the excessive skid wear was the result of a suspension failure, not a deliberate technical violation.

“Racing can be cruel, but governing bodies can be far worse,” Bourdais wrote on social media.
“The rear third damper that controls rear ride height failed, allowing the rear to come down too much, subsequently over-wearing the rear skid. In recent memory, IMSA always used common sense when enforcing rules that were breached by technical failure. Unfortunately, not today.”

Bourdais expressed frustration over the ruling, particularly with how it paints the team as rule-breakers despite a technical malfunction being the likely culprit.

“Making them look like cheaters makes me sick as they always operate by the book. I sure hope we get a chance to win more races in the future!”

What’s Next for Tower Motorsports?

While IMSA’s ruling is final, Tower Motorsports could pursue further legal action or a formal appeal to the FIA, but success in overturning the decision is unlikely. The ruling also raises questions about how IMSA applies its regulations—should technical failures be treated differently from deliberate infractions?

For now, the revised results mean Tower Motorsports is relegated to the bottom of the LMP2 class, and another team will inherit the prestigious Rolex 24 victory. However, the debate over IMSA’s decision will rage on.

One thing is for certain: Tower Motorsports, its drivers, and its fans will feel the sting of this ruling for a long time.

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