The Intercontinental GT Challenge finale was a rollercoaster of emotions for Alexander Rossi and his teammates, Nick Yelloly and Dries Vanthoor. The trio had been leading the race comfortably until disaster struck with a pedal box failure during a pitstop. The resulting slow pitstop cost them crucial seconds and forced their shorter co-drivers to adapt their driving style. Despite their best efforts, the M4 finished second, just 12.8 seconds behind the winners. It was a bitter pill to swallow as victory seemed within their grasp.
Rossi reflected on the weekend, acknowledging that despite the disappointment, there were many positives to take away from their performance. “At the end, it was a great weekend for us,” he remarked. “The target was to make it to the podium and we were very strong, very fast. We had a close to perfect race.” It is clear that Rossi and his team put in a tremendous effort, showcasing their skill and determination throughout the event.
The pedal box issue during the pitstop was a pivotal moment in the race. Rossi expressed his frustration, knowing that they had come so close to victory. “We could have also won and have been in P1,” he lamented. “So, in the end, we are a little bit upset because we felt the taste of the victory but we had an issue with the pedal box and lost crucial seconds at the pitstop.” It is understandable why Rossi and his team feel disappointed, as they were agonizingly close to claiming the top spot on the podium.
Despite falling short of their ultimate goal, Rossi expressed his satisfaction with the overall season. “This is a great shame because in the end we missed it by 12 seconds so it could have been a fantastic battle to the last lap,” he acknowledged. “But anyway, it’s great, the car was very strong, the teamwork was as always very good and I enjoyed it a lot to race with Dries and Nick.” The season may not have ended with a first-place finish, but Rossi can take pride in the fact that the team secured their sixth podium of the year and showed significant improvement throughout.
While Rossi’s team experienced disappointment, GruppeM Racing’s Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, and Mikael Grenier emerged victorious in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. It was a bitter pill to swallow, watching their competitors celebrate on the top step of the podium. Jules Gounon claimed the Intercontinental GT Challenge title with a third-place finish, adding salt to the wound for Rossi and his team.
The race was not without its share of drama and danger. Three separate single-car accidents occurred, involving Shaun Balfe’s McLaren and the Porsches of Stephen Grove and Stefano Borghi. These incidents serve as a reminder of the risks involved in motorsport and the importance of safety precautions.
Rossi and his teammates faced disappointment in the Intercontinental GT Challenge finale. Despite a strong performance and a near-perfect race, a pedal box failure during a pitstop cost them the victory they so desired. However, they can take solace in their overall season achievements and the improvements they have made. The bitter taste of defeat will undoubtedly fuel their determination to come back stronger in the future.
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