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Max Verstappen Crashes From Lead, Finishes P4 in Virtual 24 Hours of Daytona
Max Verstappen’s dominant run in the virtual 24 Hours of Daytona was derailed after a crash with lapped traffic, causing his Team Redline entry to drop several laps behind the leaders. Despite the setback, Verstappen and his teammates managed to secure a fourth-place finish in the iRacing event.
Verstappen, partnered with Chris Lulham and Diogo Pinto, started the race in the top-tier GTP class, qualifying third. The team took the lead early on, with Lulham capitalizing on a strong start. They traded positions with Williams Esports during the opening hours, but Verstappen established a commanding lead overnight. However, their run was not without issues, as Verstappen incurred two 40-second penalties for unsafe pit lane entries, which he met with visible frustration.
The turning point came with six-and-a-half hours remaining, during wet and challenging conditions. While overtaking a GTD car at the International Horseshoe, Verstappen appeared to aquaplane, losing grip as he attempted to pass up the inside. Contact with the lapped car sent him sliding into the tire barrier. Although he managed to reverse the car and return to the pit lane for repairs, the incident dropped the #20 BMW three laps behind the leaders.
As the race progressed, the team faced further setbacks, including additional time lost during repairs, which left them eight laps adrift at one stage. Despite their efforts to recover, they were unable to return to the podium positions.
Ferrari’s Esports team clinched victory in the GTP class with their #50 car, showcasing a strong and consistent performance throughout the endurance event. Verstappen, Lulham, and Pinto managed to regain one lap and finished seven laps behind the leaders in fourth place.
The crash marks another dramatic chapter in Verstappen’s virtual racing endeavors, highlighting both the unpredictability of endurance racing and the challenges posed by mixed-class traffic and wet conditions. While Verstappen’s frustrations were evident, his team’s recovery drive underlined their resilience in a highly competitive field.
This virtual Daytona race showcased the intensity and skill required in sim racing, where even the smallest errors can have significant consequences. Fans of Verstappen and Team Redline will now look ahead to their next challenge as they aim for redemption.
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