The Maranello Motorsport Ferrari entry took a big hit on just the second corner of Sunday’s Bathurst 12 Hour and, with it, went the winning hopes for Perthville’s Grant Denyer.
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Mika Salo was behind the wheel of the Ferrari when it took a shunt from Nick Percat in his Lamborghini, but the Maranello Motorsport entry was able to roll back around to pit lane.
The 2014 12 Hour-winning Ferrari had suffered suspension damage in the incident and, following repairs, the car re-entered the race many laps down.
Denyer managed to enjoy a stint behind the wheel of the Italia 458 before the damage was too much to risk driving on, and he pulled out for good just 63 laps into the race.
“The car was a little bit tricky all weekend. We were all having trouble getting it to go quick and making it easier to drive,” Denyer said.
“Unfortunately on the first lap of the race it was ruined for us. Mika Salo was hit from behind and that broke some suspension componentry. We got it fixed and we went back out there and I did a double stint, but the gremlins caught up with us and finally it was terminal.
“It was ludicrous, really. It’s the second corner of a 12 Hour race and someone’s trying to lunge under drivers, under brakes, in the cold and dark. It’s a bit silly. It was a V8 Supercar driver who should know better.
“It’s wonderful to share a car with an ex-Formula One Ferrari driver but then suddenly he gets turned around on turn two. It was just problematic from then on.”
It continues a tough run for the Maranello garage in the 12 Hour after the car was involved in a crash during last year’s practice and failed to line up for the race.
Denyer was still thankful to earn a Class A drive in the endurance race for the first time.
When Scott Pye’s FIA driver classification was raised from Silver to Gold it pushed the Maranello team over the two-Gold maximum limit per team.
With Denyer having Australian GT Championship experience in the team’s car, he was the logical choice for a replacement.
Attention will now turn back to the championship for Denyer in the Ferrari.
“We had a superb year. Finishing second was unreal. Winning races all year was such good fun. Hopefully we can get back in the car and take the championship out this year,” he said.
“[The 12 Hour] is kind of like the hero event, though. This is the one that you want to set the tone for the year. I’m disappointed, but that’s Bathurst, isn’t it?”