Edgar becomes LMGT3 champion as Porsche does the double

The Manthey Porsche 911 LMGT3 car of Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Pera and Richard Lietz claimed the final LMGT3 category win of the season, but it was not quite enough to stop TF Sport Corvette driver Jonny Edgar from sealing the class title.

But it was far from straight forward for Edgar or his teammates Nicky Catsburg and Ben Keating, after the latter was given a penalty in the second hour for and infraction under Virtual Safety Car which saw the #33 car drop to outside of the points positions.

However, several penalties for rivals and strong stints from Edgar saw the Corvette ascend the order in the mid-phase of the race and allow Edgar to be the LMGT3 world champion. TF Sport also sealed the teams crown, adding it to their 2022 WEC LMGTE Am title.

The first phase of the race had witnessed Proton Competition Ford Mustangs and the Akkodis ASP Lexus squads’ race closely, with each of those cars taking spells in the lead, only to encounter problems.

The #77 Ford Mustang of Eric Powell jumped the pole-sitting No. 78 Lexus of Tom Van Rompuy after five laps but both of these cars attracted multiple penalties: Powell two drive-throughs for track limits, Van Rompuy for a pair of VSC infringements.

This meant the No. 87 Akkodis ASP Lexus enjoyed a good amount of time in the lead but was then taken by Giammarco Levorato in the #88 Proton Ford Mustang, which had earlier accrued a penalty for power over use, while Clemens Schmid was then instructed to stop his  Lexus on track after debris appeared to penetrate the radiator of his car, causing it to overheat.

The fourth VSC of the race altered the shape of the battle as the two title protagonists — the #92 The Bend Manthey Porsche and the #33 TF Sport Corvette were given an advantage by being the only two yet to make a pit stop.

That put the pair into first and second positions but Ben Tuck went on a spectacular charge in the #77 Proton Ford Mustang and dived through on the Porsche to reclaim the lead in the fifth hour.

However, the American teams’ hopes were permanently dashed when Sebastien Priaulx had contact with the #7 Toyota, causing damage to the Ford Mustang which pitted for repairs.

That pivotal incident put the #92 Porsche, now driven by Lietz — starting his 100th WEC race — in an excellent position to go for the win, and he took the chequered flag just 0.270 seconds ahead of a charging #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage, in which Eduardo Barrichello had again made his mark along with teammates Gray Newell and Jonny Adam.

Ultimately though, all eyes were on the third placed finisher, which was the #33 TF Sport Corvette, as Edgar, Keating and Catsburg combined to ensure that Edgar became the champion and another ultra-successful WEC young ace.

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