Wehlen Cadillac Racing driver Pipo Derani dramatically crashed out from the lead at the 12 Hours of Sebring, after controlling the race in the #31 Cadillac V-Series.R GTP.
After running in the lead at Round 2 of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Pipo Derani endured a dramatic crash into the tyre barrier at Turn 9, causing his red Cadillac to roll-over and rest on its roof after the tyres absorbed a substantial impact.
The causation came when Derani was lapping the #21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 of Miguel Molina, after he moved back to the right (to lap him) and tagged the front-left of the Ferrari.
As a consequence, Derani followed a rapid trajectory off-track and head-first into the tyre wall.
Just prior to the incident, the five-time 12H Sebring winner held a 12-plus-second lead built ahead of second-placed Felipe Nasr in the #7 Porsche Penske 963.
He demonstrated strong pace in a composed, well-handled Cadillac, and now the #31 will not defend its crown as reigning winners from last year’s race.
Derani was assisted by the marshals out of the #31 on his own strength from being upside down.
Both Derani and Molina escaped the incident unscathed as their cars were added to the confirmed list of retirements.
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