Cetilar Racing returns to the track for the last leg of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship
3 MIN
After a long break, the Michelin Endurance Cup series of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship returns to the track this week, for the fourth and final appointment of the season, and with it also the Cetilar Racing team.
With a memorable victory under their belt this year in the GT Daytona during the 12 Hours of Sebring and an excellent fourth place in class in the most recent round of the Watkins Glen with Roberto Lacorte, Giorgio Sernagiotto and Antonio Fuoco, the all-Italian team is tackling the 25th edition of the Motul Petit Le Mans with a new entry.
Alternating behind the wheel of the Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 no. 47 as ever managed by AF Corse, in addition to Lacorte and Sernagiotto is the young Belgian Ulysse De Pauw. After his 21st birthday in early September, in the race, Ulysse will be covering for Fuoco who had a previous engagement.
Despite his young age, De Pauw is the new Sprint Cup champion in the Silver class of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by Aws, and also recently won the absolute victory two weeks ago with an AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 on the circuit in Valencia, his second win this year after the first appointment in Brands Hatch. Like Lacorte and Sernagiotto, it will be his début on the 2.54 mile track in Road Atlanta (Georgia),on which the two Italian drivers have already had a test session in the past few days.
In the GTD class standings, Lacorte and Sernagiotto are currently in fifth place, just ten lengths behind the leaders Brendan Iribe-Ollie Millroy-Jordan Pepper (McLaren). And here the points will be allocated at the end of each four-hour fraction of the 12-hour race.
“We thought that the Glen track was the most thrilling and representative of the US racing world, or at least until we discovered Road Atlanta, an even tougher track with fast bends and very risky stretches demanding a frenzied rhythm,” – commented Lacorte – ” For me this track is the maximum expression of the stars-and-stripes car racing philosophy. But this means that we have to be very careful, because every mistake is paid for dearly, even more so than on other circuits. A very winding track with many risks, and so very difficult for the traffic too. We will be joined in this race by De Pauw, as for strategic reasons of cooperation with Ferrari, Antonio Fuoco can’t make it. I would like to welcome Ulysse, a very young guy but with an exceptional record.”
“For us all this is another new challenge, on an unforgiving track with non-existent escape routes, and where standing up to the American drivers adds even more difficulty,” -added Sernagiotto – “We have a well-balanced car. Generally there’s a very good feeling, and I’m really pleased to see Ulysse here; he’s a very promising young driver who we would like to welcome into the Cetilar Racing family.””.
“I’m really pleased to join the Cetilar Racing family and take part in this legendary race,” – explained De Pauw – “After a successful season in Europe I can’t wait to start this new adventure in the States, where I will be racing for the first time. I’ll try to give it my all, and help Roberto and Giorgio to bring home a major result. A big thanks to Cetilar Racing for this fantastic opportunity.”
The weekend in Road Atlanta began today with three free practice sessions. Tomorrow, Friday, will see the qualifying rounds, while the warm-up will begin as usual on Saturday morning. Finally, the Motul Petit Le Mans will set off on Saturday at 12:10 p.m. local time (6:10 p.m. in Italy), and will end 10 hours later.