GTD pole-sitting entry sustains significant accident with Lucas Auer transported to local hospital…
Auer lost control of the GTD class pole-sitting No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo after drifting off line into the grass in Turn 1, slamming heavily into the pit exit wall to bring out a red flag.
Lucas has been transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, with no other details available atm.
The car sustained extensive front-end damage in the crash,
Unclear at this stage whether they had to cut the roof off the car to extract Auer
Hopefully nothing serious injury wise for Auer and that the car can be rebuilt in time.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
“Lucas Auer, driver of the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, has been admitted to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.”
“According to attending medical personnel, Auer has sustained significant fractured lumbar injuries in an incident earlier Thursday near the end of the first official IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice session of the 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona.
“Auer has been awake and alert since the incident and has been communicating with family back home in Europe and his Winward Racing teammates here in Daytona Beach.
“Everyone at Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and Winward Racing wishes Lucas a full and rapid recovery.
“Winward Racing will compete in this weekend’s race and a replacement tub is presently on its way to Daytona International Speedway from the team race shop in Texas.
“A replacement driver for Auer is currently being finalized.”
Wishing Lucas Auer all the best for a full and speedy recovery.
The Winward Racing entry, which competes in the GTD class, had qualified on the class pole for the Rolex 24 with a 1:46.093s at last weekend’s Roar Before The 24.
Matt Campbell ended the opening day in Daytona fastest for Porsche, though Cadillac and Acura also topped sessions during Thursday’s running.
Practice in Daytona continues on Friday with a fourth session for teams, ahead of the race itself beginning at 13:40 local time on Saturday.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Lucas Auer is either currently undergoing surgery on his broken back, or is about to, (Scheduled for today anyway). Best wishes for a successful surgery.
The Winward spare Mercedes tub has arrived in Daytona from Texas and is now being hastily assembled to enable the #57 to take part in the race..... they have applied for "hardship laps" to check systems on the car out of session, prior to the race, given they will clearly not be able to run in final practice and there is no official warm up or pre race running
scheduled after final practice finishes shortly..
Daniel Morad is to replace Lucas Auer in the #57 Winward Racing AMG GT3.... Morad won the GTD class at Daytona in 2017 amongst other successes.(2022 Indianapolis 8 Hour win in a Mercedes AMG with Craft-Bamboo Racing.)
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Late call up for an Aussie (albeit US based) for the Daytona race this weekend.
United States-based Australian, James Davison, will step into the #32 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo entry in GTD, replacing Guy Cosmo who this week unexpectedly parted ways with the Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports team.
Fellow Australian Scott Andrews as well as Mike Skeen and Stevan McAleer complete the driving line-up alongside Davison.
For any Aussies following the race 1:30 Saturday lunchtime is near enough the local US start time..... thats Sunday 5:30 am AEDT
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Manfred Cubenoggin wrote: ↑1 year ago
I just checked Daytona Beach for today's weather forecast. Temps seem good with just about zero chance of precipitation.
Thanks Manfred
Im not wanting to be getting up at 5:00 am to be stuck with an endless run of yellows so good news re the weather. Doesnt guarantee we wont get yellows but reduces the risk with decent weather..
It just seems wrong to be getting up at 5:00am to watch a race on TV / Computer. I have no problem with getting up at 5:00 then driving 250 k's to Winton (slightly less for Phillip Island) which is odd because its no real effort to get out of bed put the coffee on and settle in front of the TV
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Manfred Cubenoggin wrote: ↑1 year ago
I just checked Daytona Beach for today's weather forecast. Temps seem good with just about zero chance of precipitation.
erwin greven wrote: ↑1 year ago
Good weather expected.
Brian Redman: "Mr. Fangio, how do you come so fast?" "More throttle, less brakes...."
