The No. 2 Cadillac racing team fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing and driven by Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Neel Jani overcame several late-race setbacks to take the overall victory at the IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring that concluded on March 19th, 2022.
The Cadillac DPi-V.R race car was under Bamber’s control as the clock counted down. During the last 75 minutes of the race, he was involved in two consecutive incidents. Bamber had replaced fellow driver Alex Lynn, at which point the No. 2 team had a 30-second lead over the No. 5 JDC Miller MotorSports Cadillac piloted by Trisan Vautier, Richard Westbrook, and Loic Duval in second place. The No. 5 Cadillac was under control of Westbrook at the time.
However, on the out lap, Bamber tapped the No. 13 AWA Duqueine D08 LMP3 car driven by Kuno Wittmer, resulting in Bamber being forced to serve a drive-through penalty, surrendering the DPi class lead to the No. 5 Cadillac racing team. After serving the penalty, Bamber set after Westbrook and regained the lead with 45 minutes left on the clock. Almost immediately after Bamber made the pass, he collided with No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 driven by Simon Mann and spun out.
Bamber collected the No. 2 Cadillac quickly after hitting the No. 21, and set out after the No. 5 Cadillac. With 45 minutes remaining, Bamber passed Tristan Vautier, who’d assumed control of the No. 5 Cadillac for its last hour. Bamber and the No. 2 machine didn’t look back and finished the race with a 7.2-second lead over Vautier.
“It was some of the best driving I’ve done and some of the worst at the same time, all in about one and a half hours,” Bamber said. “I’m just really happy that we could recover and get back to the front.”
The IMSA WeatherTech Championship season continues on April 8th – 10th, 2022, when the endurance circuit visits Long Beach for the Acura Grand Prix.
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George
3/21/22. 2 days ago, I was notified by the sales manager of the local Cadillac dealership, that the CT5V Blackwing that ordered last fall, would be delivered in about 3 weeks. I had been led to believe it would be delivered in November. Perhaps things are looking up.
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