Charlie Eastwood Makes History for Corvette and TF Sport
Charlie Eastwood crossed the finish line in the No. 82 TF Sport Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R to seal a landmark victory—the first ever European Le Mans Series (ELMS) win for Corvette and the first GT class triumph for TF Sport since their 2022 victory at the same Imola circuit.
Sharing driving duties with Hiroshi Koizumi and Rui Andrade, Eastwood’s performance marked a significant return to form for TF Sport, who last stood on the top step of the ELMS podium in Imola two years ago.
Overall Victory for VDS Panis Racing
While TF Sport made headlines in LMGT3, the overall race win belonged to VDS Panis Racing. Charles Milesi brought home the No. 48 Oreca 07-Gibson in style, securing the French team’s first win of the 2025 season with an 8.8-second gap to their closest rivals.
More TF Sport Glory in LMP2 Pro/Am
TF Sport’s banner day didn’t end there. In LMP2 Pro/Am, the No. 99 AO by TF Oreca, driven by PJ Hyett, Dane Cameron, and Louis Deletraz—fresh off their Le Mans victory—clinched the class win, further cementing a dream weekend for the British squad.
CLX Motorsport Continues LMP3 Dominance
The No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier-Toyota maintained its perfect record in LMP3, claiming victory from pole for the third straight race. Theodor Jensen cruised home a full lap ahead of the No. 31 Racing Spirit of Léman, continuing the team’s unmatched form this season.
Race Recap: 4 Hours of Imola – Drama, Weather, and Strategy
Under steamy skies with 32°C temperatures, 44 cars roared into the opening laps at Imola. Mathias Kaiser in the No. 25 Algarve Pro Oreca led the field into Turn 1, but early skirmishes quickly shuffled the order.
Célia Martin in the No. 85 Iron Dames Porsche climbed to second in LMGT3, only to be spun by Riccardo Agostini’s No. 50 Ferrari. The incident dropped her to fourth, sparking a determined comeback.
Early Incidents and Safety Interventions
The first Full Course Yellow (FCY) came on Lap 10 after the No. 23 United Autosports McLaren found the gravel. Shortly after, a major collision involving four cars—including the No. 86 GR Racing Ferrari and No. 28 IDEC Sport Oreca—brought out a red flag as marshals worked to clear the debris.
Once racing resumed, Oliver Gray in the No. 48 Panis Racing car surged to the lead after a rapid pitstop, overtaking Jamie Chadwick in the No. 18 IDEC Sport Oreca.
Changing Conditions Shake Up the Order
Light rain began to fall mid-race, catching several drivers off guard. The No. 85 Porsche slid into the gravel while leading LMGT3, and the No. 29 TDS Racing Oreca hit the barriers at Turn 14. Multiple FCY periods followed as drivers struggled with the slippery track.
In LMGT3, Rui Andrade (No. 82 Corvette) held off Matteo Cressoni (No. 60 Proton Porsche) in a tight duel—until the Porsche was handed a 10-second penalty, handing the advantage back to the Corvette.
Final Hour: Fuel Gambles and Penalty Drama
As the clock ticked down, more chaos unfolded. The No. 68 M Racing Ligier dropped carbon fiber across the track after a puncture, prompting a Virtual Safety Car and then a Safety Car.
Charles Milesi managed the final stint brilliantly, but a late splash-and-dash fuel stop had everyone on edge. He rejoined just ahead of Tom Dillmann in the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition car, holding on to win by 5.7 seconds.
Final Class Winners and Standings
Overall: No. 48 VDS Panis Racing Oreca – Milesi/Masson/Gray
LMGT3: No. 82 TF Sport Corvette – Eastwood/Koizumi/Andrade
LMP2 Pro/Am: No. 99 AO by TF – Hyett/Cameron/Deletraz
LMP3: No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier – Jensen/Lanchère/Closmenil
The LMGT3 podium was completed by the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari of Conrad Laursen in second, and the No. 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari in third—though the latter’s challenge faded after a late penalty.
Next Stop: Spa-Francorchamps
The European Le Mans Series now heads to the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium for Round 4 on August 22–24. After an action-packed Imola weekend, all eyes will be on whether TF Sport and Corvette can continue their momentum.
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