EV Inventory
The Pfaff Difference
Why buy from Pfaff?
Pfaff Means Performance
Pfaff Auto | Blog | Pfaff Motorsports' impressive pace puts podium finish on hold after mechanical issue at Daytona
Pfaff Motorsports' impressive pace puts podium finish on hold after mechanical issue at Daytona
Blog Jan 28th, 2020
CANADIAN PORSCHE TEAM LEADS EARLY PORTION OF 24-HOUR ENDURANCE
CLASSIC BEFORE SURPRISE MECHANICAL FAILURE
DAYTONA BEACH, FL, January 27, 2020 // Coming off an impressive showing in preseason testing and qualifying on pole ahead of last weekend's IMSA WeatherTech season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, Pfaff Motorsports was in a strong position to win the race, until an unforeseen failure required the team to return to the garage for repairs. A mechanical failure in the sixteenth hour ultimately ended the team's hopes of victory in their second appearance at the endurance event.
The team kicked off the weekend with Canadian driver Zach Robichon qualifying the Motul Pfaff Porsche 911 GT3 R nearly a half-second ahead of the closest GTD competitor, maintaining the speed once the green flag dropped on Saturday afternoon for the 24-Hour race.
Co-drivers Dennis Olsen (NOR), Lars Kern (GER), and Porsche factory driver Patrick Pilet (FRA) continued that strong pace through the afternoon and into the night, with the Pfaff team cycling between first and fourth positions, and the GT3 R clocking some of the best times in the field.
Leaving the pits in the early morning hours in eighth position after a pit stop and driver change, Olsen continued to execute the team's strategy until a driveshaft failed in hour 16, while travelling at nearly 270 km/h down the back stretch at the Daytona International road course.
"The car was running perfectly all race," Olsen said, "but then all of a sudden I heard a loud bang and something rattling hard in the back, so I immediately knew something happened."
The Norwegian attempted to return to the pits at 5:16 am; Pfaff technicians immediately brought the car into the garage, working feverishly to disassemble the back end of the Porsche and replace a broken driveshaft.
After confirming no further damage, the car returned to the track nearly 50 laps down, ultimately ending the team's hopes of victory with nearly seven hours remaining.
"Our team's performance was amazing throughout the entire weekend," team manager Steve Bortolotti said. "Unfortunately, we had a mechanical failure on a part that typically doesn't fail. Sometimes you just have bad luck, and it's really unfortunate it happened here."
Pilet, who has raced as a Porsche factory driver since 2009 and won Daytona in the top-spec RSR in 2014, was impressed with the team's performance throughout the last month of testing as well as the race.
"Everything was perfect until the issue we encountered," the Frenchman said. "It's a mechanical sport, so this kind of thing happens sometimes. I'm pretty sure nobody has had an issue like this at the race before – it wasn't a mistake on anybody's part, just a bit of bad luck.
"The car was really a rocket all race long, especially at the moment we needed at the end of the race," Pilet continued. "But my teammates and our pit stops were great. The atmosphere here has been really good and everyone can be really proud of the work here as they look towards the season championship."
Bortolotti finished his driver's comments as the team prepares for round two and the next big challenge of the season, when the team races at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March.
"We'll continue to do a good job of executing and work together to get good finishes as a result of teamwork, so we'll move on from this and continue to look ahead," Bortolotti said.
Pfaff Motorsports returns to action in a little less than two months' time, when it takes part in the 12 Hours of Sebring, part of the SuperSebring weekend with Europe's FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), happening from March 18 to 21.
Stay tuned for further announcements from Pfaff Motorsports regarding the 2020 IMSA racing season. For more news and behind-the-scenes content, follow @PfaffMotorsports, @Pfaff_Porsche, and @PfaffAuto on Instagram, and Pfaff Porsche on Facebook.
Audi Toronto
BMW Markham
Hallmark Toyota Scion
HJ Pfaff Audi
London City Chrysler
McLaren Toronto
McLaren Vancouver
MINI Markham
Page-Post
Pfaff Audi
Pfaff Auto Group
Pfaff Autoworks
Pfaff BMW
Pfaff Leasing
Pfaff Mazda
Pfaff Mercedes-Benz
Pfaff Motorsports
Pfaff Subaru
Pfaff Tuning
Pfaff Volkswagen
Pre-Owned Cars Calgary
Range Rover Calgary
Three Quarter Ton Truck Vancouver
Used Cars Vancouver
Reminder: You grew up dreaming of a 911 Turbo January 1, 2022
Review: Mini Cooper S Electric December 28, 2021
Campbell, Jaminet and Nasr join Pfaff Motorsports for 2022 IMSA GTD Pro entry December 18, 2021
Archives Select Month January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 January 2014 November 2013 September 2013
220 Caldari Rd
Concord, ON L4K 4L1
© 2022 Pfaff Auto. All Rights Reserved. | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Investor Relations | Customer Service | Lithia.ca | Lithia4Kids
By submitting your email address or phone number, you allow us, Pfaff Auto, to include you on our contact lists to send you information about our products, services and promotions. You may revoke consent at any time by clicking on the "Unsubscribe" link in your email.
Pfaff Commercial
Pfaff Harley-Davidson
Pfaff Marine