An incredible start to the season marks this first weekend in orange-green colors; in fact, after the epic victory in the GTD (Gran Turismo Daytona) category in 2018, Orange1 Team GRT confirmed itself as the winner of the 2019 edition, conquering a further record that enters the history of world Motorsport: in fact no team has ever won the legendary two consecutive times American competition by waving the Tricolor.
A 57th edition of the famous endurance race in the difficult Daytona International Speedway, interrupted twice with a red flag due to the prohibitive weather conditions and which made this victory even more incredible and deserved.
Despite exiting the top ten with a puncture four hours from the finish, the rookie huracan GT3 Evo # 11 masterfully driven by Mirko Bortolotti, Rolf Ineichen, Rick Breukers and Christian Engelhart started the race in fifth position and in the first hours he lost positions due to a penalty of over 3 minutes inflicted on Breukers, who succeeded Ineichen at the wheel. The latter recovered to 11 positions and then left his team mates Bortolotti and Engelhart the long night in Daytona. Two hours from the end, Bortolotti fighting for the top positions, was involved in a collision that caused a puncture and yet another return to the pits. All to be redone, with Engelhart forced to recover a lap behind the leader of the race. The German driver was the protagonist of a splendid comeback in the rain. Recovering from eleventh position to take the lead. About two hours from the end, the red flag was displayed again and the race was suspended for the second time due to the asphalt conditions. After waiting for an improvement until the last one, the race direction finally decided to suspend the 24 Hours. Allowing Orange1 Team GRT to close the race in first position.
This 2019 was an exciting and hard-fought race with the indomitable spirit that brings us back to our first victory in 2018, when even starting from the last position the team recovered and conquered the first historic podium. Armando Donazzan President Orange1 declares: “There are no words to describe the emotions that this race made us experience; a second historic victory and an incredible success achieved by an incredibly united and determined teamwork with one goal in mind, to win! My heartfelt thanks go to Gottfried Grasser and the Team, to all the drivers and to Lamborghini. I am also happy to have shared this adventure with our American partners and customers present at the event; we are proud to bring the Italian flag not only in business but also in the values and passion for motorsport. We increasingly want to communicate corporate values through this exciting sport and in fact this year we will be present in America with the entire IMSA championship where we will combine the passion for engines with business relationships.