Richard Westbrook: Sebring final lap battle ended podium fightback

In my mirrors I had the Ferrari of James Calado. I’d managed to edge out a small gap over the last couple of laps which should’ve meant we secured third. Unfortunately I got some GTD traffic in the run to turn five, which allowed him to close up.

In the run to hairpin he was closer still, but not close enough to make a move; or so I thought. I turned in; whack, and James lobbed a move down the inside of me. I got on the grass and had dirt on the tyres, but collected the car and pursued him in the run to turn ten. As I touched the brake, the rear wheels locked because of the dirt on the rubber, and I lost the car momentarily.

We crossed the line fourth, which is no bad result at all. It’s just frustrating to be demoted in that fashion after 12 hours of racing, and annoying also because a Ferrari delivered a similar move on us last year at Sebring too.

I have no issue with James, he’s a good guy and no doubt felt he had a decent opportunity to pass, but it’s not nice to be on the receiving end of contact, and even worse to lose a podium. I’ve been racing in America for nine years now, and that’s what racing is here in the States. You just deal with it and move on...

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