The 2021 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar finale ended in a very controversial fashion. At the Road Atlanta race track, Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor were competing for the championship. They were up against former F1 driver Felipe Nasr, and Pipo Derani at the race when the incident took place. Needless to say, NASCAR driver Ryan Vargas had front row seats for the show.
The incident took place at the final turn of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans and the two battled for the title. Apparently, Taylor skidded off course while trying to overtake Nasr. As he drove through the grass, the American driver managed to regain control of his Wayne Taylor Racing Acura and rejoin the track. However, the excursion was enough to see the Brazilian overtake and beat him to the line.
FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP!
LAST LAP DRAMA FOR THE DPI TITLE!👀#PetitLeMans | @IMSA pic.twitter.com/ebc2RiVd5U
— Ryan Vargas (@RyanVargas_23) November 14, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In the end, Nasr could only muster second behind Mazda’s Oliver Jarvis, Harry Tincknell and Jonathan Bomarito. On the bright side, Nasr and Derani’s efforts brought the title to Action Express. After snatching pole, the Brazilian duo duelled with the Wayne Taylor Racing pair. The stakes were such, that the title would go to the first car across the finish line.
#ExceedingTrackLimits much? 🤷🏻♂️. I might have to watch that again…. Nope… I’ve been a racer too long, I’m going out on a limb here… limits were broken and there are rules at #TopGunMaverick, they exist to protect you and… opposie. Tangent shift. https://t.co/U4o6TaFPcG
— Jack Lawrence XXX (@JackLawrenceXXX) November 14, 2021
“It’s the championship and I’m always going to go for it,” Taylor said. “I should have gone full throttle earlier in the gravel. I race hard and I expect everybody to race me the same way I race them.”
Vargas was not the only NASCAR driver to react to the move
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Of course, there were several fans who did not appreciate the corner-cutting tactics. However, they were vindicated when Nasr and company won the title, as the driver was leaving Action Express. Even fellow NASCAR driver Chase Briscoe reacted to the blatant corner cut. He asked whether the driver received a penalty for the offense. Meanwhile, Vargas himself had a great view of the incident.
Did he get a penalty for getting pushed off and cutting the corner? https://t.co/snXS4qCbtS
— Chase Briscoe (@ChaseBriscoe_14) November 14, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
One thing is for sure, the driver and all the other spectators had a good time at the race. Many also insisted that they enjoyed the season finale, as five classes had their title deciders at this race.
READ MORE: How a Tweet Led to NFL Superstar Alvin Kamara’s Partnership with NASCAR Driver Ryan Vargas