Following a long break, the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and Cetilar Racing are back this week for the fourth and last event of the Michelin Endurance Cup season.
The all Italian team – that claimed an epic GT Daytona victory at the Twelve Hours of Sebring and a fourth position in the most recent round in Watkins Glen with Roberto Lacorte, Giorgio Sernagiotto and Antonio Fuoco – is now set for the 25th edition of Motul Petit Le Mans with a revised lineup.
Aboard of the #47 Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 run by AF Corse, young racer Ulysse De Pauw will share driving duties with Lacorte and Sernagiotto. The Belgian – who turned 21 early this month – replaces Fuoco due to a clash.
Despite his age, De Pauw was crowned Sprint Cup champion in the Silver class of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by Aws and took a victory two weeks ago driving an AF Corse’s Ferrari 488 GT3 in Valencia and another one in the Brands Hatch opener. Like Lacorte and Sernagiotto, he makes his debut on the 2,54 mile Road Atlanta track (Georgia), where both Italian racers completed a test session a few days ago.
In the GTD class Lacorte and Sernagiotto are currently fifth, ten points behind the leaders Brendan Iribe/Ollie Millroy/Jordan Pepper (McLaren). The Petit Le Mans will assign points after each of three four-hours fractions.
“We thought the Glen was the most exciting and representative track of the USA motorsport. Then we descovered Road Atlanta, that is more difficult, with very fast bends and risky zones”, Lacorte said. “This track is the higher expression of the American philosophy. That means we must be careful as mistakes are not allowed here. This is a risky and tortuous track, where traffic is very difficult to manage. Due to strategic decision and our collaboration with Ferrari, at this event De Pauw takes the place of Antonio Fuoco. I want to welcome Ulysse, a very young driver with an excellent palmarès.”
“For all of us it represents a new challenge on a track that does not forgive, with poor escapes, and where we have to face the local drivers”, Sernagiotto added. “We have a well balanced car. The feeling is very good and I’m very happy Ulysse join us. He is a very promising driver. I say him welcome in the Cetilar Racing family.”
“I’m super happy to join Cetilar Racing for this mythical race”, De Pauw explained. “After a succesful European season, I can’t wait to race for the first time in America. I’m going to give my absolute best to help Roberto and Giorgio to bring home a strong result. Big thanks to Cetilar Racing for this amazing opportunity”.
The Road Atlanta event kicks off on Thursday with three free practice sessions. Qualifying is scheduled on Friday, whilst the warm-up session will start on Saturday morning. The Motul Petit Le Mans will commence on Saturday too, at 12.10 local time, to finish 12 hours later.
Source. Cetilar Racing/Photo. Fabio Taccola
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