At turn 4 in the first lap, three crowns granted
The 28th annual Motul Le Mans started with a crash at turn 4 of the very first lap annihilating any chance for Iribe to win the Bob Akin Award, bestowed on the Bronze-rated driver who score highest in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) classe. With four GTD cars out, Philip Ellis, Russell Ward and the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 clinch the driver and team crowns.
Iribe loses Bob Akin Award in crash
Starting at the back of the grid both Iribe and Fedani were even in the Bob Akin Award standing with 2.930 points each. The Motul Petit Le Mans would be decisive for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans invitation linked to the Bob Akin Award.
It didn’t last long to know the winner as Iribe, in the #70 Ferrari, trying to avoid the #34 Conquest Racing Ferrari spunning in the middle of the GTD pack into turn four, hit badly the Ferrari. Both Ferraris were severely damaged and could not restart. Joey Hand (#66 Gradient Racing Ford) and John Potter (#44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin), also suffered terminal damage
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Michelin Raceway. From top left to bottom right: Turn 4 crash
Fidani could avoid the crash and continue the race with the #13 AWA Corvette Z06.R on road for a second 24 Hours of Le Mans in a row, leaving Iribe and his Inception Ferrari #70 in the middle of turn 4.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Michelin Raceway. Fedani with AWA’s #13 Corvette Z06.R was the last car of the pack to leave the scene.
That was the end for the Inception Racing Ferrari 296 #70
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Michelin Raceway. Brendan Iribe’s #70 Inception Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 after the crash.
Philip Ellis, Russell Ward and Winward Racing champions
Russell Ward and Philip Ellis with their #57 Winward Racing only needed to finish 18th or better in the 19-car GTD class. With four GTD cars out of the race, the #57 Winward Racing, Ward and Ellis win the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships for the second time in a row.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Michelin Raceway. #57 Winward Racing
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