Craft Bamboo Racing’s Raffaele Marciello was able to hold off a late charge from AF Corse’s Antonio Fuoco on the final lap Saturday (Oct. 8) to win the Intercontinental GT Challenge Indianapolis 8 Hour at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for himself and teammates Daniel Juncadella and Daniel Morad. The race also doubled as the season finale for Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS.
“We knew our car really strong. Daniel [Morad] did an amazing job at the beginning and also Dani [Juncadella]. They put the car in front, so I did almost nothing,” Marciello told SRO America’s Amanda Busick after the race. “I had to fight with Antonio [Fuoco], but I’ve known him a long time and it was a nice battle. I’m really happy.”
Winward Racing’s Russell Ward started from pole after teammate Jules Gounon set a track record in qualifying Friday. It did not take long for him to fall into the clutches of Conquest Racing’s Alessandro Balzan. The veteran racer stalked Ward until he made his move 16 minutes in to take the lead.
The field was jumbled due to a red flag in qualifying that resulted in a number of strong teams not making the Pole Shootout. Craft Bamboo’s Mercedes started 15th with Morad driving. AF Corse’s Daniel Serra started 18th. When the green flag dropped, both Serra and Morad were on the move. In just 15 minutes, Serra drove all the way up to fifth overall. Morad was not far behind.
K-PAX Racing’s No. 1 Lamborghini with Marco Mapelli at the wheel was strong early on. Mapelli was able to run down Balzan and take the lead away late in the first hour. Once in the lead, Mapelli pulled away. Meanwhile, Serra was able to get to second overall before the first stops.
As the race wound on, it became an AF Corse versus Craft Bamboo Racing duel as the rest of the field dropped away. Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS Pro champion Andrea Caldarelli suffered a left rear tire failure right at the halfway point. He pitted for tires and to put Mapelli back in the car.
Unfortunately, the issues were not fixed. Mapelli’s Lamborghini was intermittently smoking afterwards. That ultimatlely resulted in another tire failure exiting turn 14 just after halfway. The failure pitched him into the SAFER Barrier, then back across the track and into the inside wall on the frontstretch. That put Mapelli out on th spot and brought out the race’s first safety car period. Mapelli was very upset about the crash, blaming…
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