[VIDEO] Ferrari and BWM Sandbagging at the Rolex 24? IMSA Strips Manufacturers Points

By
Keith Cornett
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[VIDEO] Ferrari and BWM Sandbagging at the Rolex 24? IMSA Strips Manufacturers Points


Whoa, this is interesting news coming from IMSA on Friday regarding the Rolex 24 and teams accused of sandbagging!

IMSA has penalized Ferrari and BWM’s GTD Pro and GTD class manufacturers points and Michelin Endurance Challenge points for violating the new balance of performance system which first went into effect for the Rolex 24. Both manufacturers will also be fined $25,000.

The new system has the manufacturers working with IMSA officials to determine and declare their own performance parameters that IMSA uses to create a competitive equivalency within the class. ISMA has determined that BWM and Ferrari “demonstrated performance in the Daytona 24 Hour Race exceeded IMSA’s expectations as shared in the GT Manufacturers Technical Working Groups.”

Ferrari finished first in GTD Pro while the BMW was third at the Rolex 24. That means Ferrari loses 350 points in GTD Pro and 320 in GTD while BMW loses 300 points in GTD Pro and 250 in GTD. Ferrari and BWM will also lose 15 Michelin Endurance Cup points for GTD Pro as well.


With those penalties assessed, Porsche now moves into the Manufacturers Lead and Corvette takes the lead in the Michelin Endurance Cup. Mercedes-AMG is the Championship points leader in GTD.

While that’s a significant loss of points for the manufacturers, what about the individual teams/drivers who benefited from their cars which “exceeded IMSA’s expectations.” Shouldn’t there be an adjustment there as well? IMSA says they are the final authority on the subject and decisions about BoP are not subject to appeal.

Here’s Off in the Esses to discuss IMSA’s penalty against Ferrari and BMW:


Source:
Sportscar365.com

Related:
Corvette Racing at Daytona: It’s a New Era!
[VIDEO] Pratt Miller Motorsports Recaps the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona
Corvette Racing at Daytona: Rolex 24 Final Report

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11 COMMENTS

  1. On the fence with this one. It is as if they were given a performance correction, but still ran faster than predicted. Not 100% sure if this is entirely on the OEMs, unless there was something contradictory in the data indicating sandbagging. Maybe a full explanation is in order.

    Let’s just be glad the Corvettes or Cadillacs haven’t been targeted, because if we did, we would hear Laure Klauser parroting pre-canned talking points about how “we tried our best, but the lessons learned will be carried over into production cars”, right?

    Oh, wait…

  3. The manufacturers are now supplying their OWN BoP adjustments. They are then responsible for operating within a prescribed performance window. They obviously were sandbagging and it’s of their own doing.

  4. All the cars involved should be disqualified from everything associated with the 2024 24 HRs of Daytona Race. Obviously had they been running with the correct amount of BOP their finishing positions would have been different. Their drivers are part of each teams build & any actions taken against their team should be directed toward their standings also. These races are run as ‘TEAM’ driven events so everything affecting & reflecting against a team should be directed to every team member!!!!!!!!!!

  5. I remember a few years ago when the GTLM Ferrari had some BoP changes the week between the ROAR and the 24 that negatively affected them.
    The Ferrari team manger said during an interview … “We showed too much during the ROAR!”
    And there you have it.

  7. The whole BOP spoils IMSA. Impossible to understand, BOP should be eliminated. Give a formula and let them race.

  10. Reminds of the Ford GT sandbagging to get the anniversary win at Le Man. Nobody cared back then, expect for Corvette Racing fans

  11. Concerning the penalizing of the drivers and teams, I believe they should be penalized as well. They have to be cognizant of what’s happening. And they should be stripped of their finish positions. I would think that would get everyone’s attention, not just those specific teams. Pour les encourengement de l’autres (something like that), right?

Comments are closed.