Milner: Farfus Blocking “Not What IMSA’s About”

Photo: Peacock

Tommy Milner said the blocking incident with Paul Miller Racing’s Augusto Farfus in the Rolex 24 at Daytona is “not what IMSA’s about” after the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports driver suffered damage in a battle for the lead in GTD Pro.

Milner, piloting the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, was engaged in a battle with the No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Connor De Phillippi when the pair encountered Farfus, driving the sister No. 48 BMW.

The team’s second car had been heavily delayed after it was caught up in a multi-car incident in the eighth hour, after which it had been repaired and returned to the track, although numerous laps down.

Milner found himself sandwiched between the two Paul Miller cars, with the No. 1 machine consistently less than a second behind.

Race control intervened not much later, handing Farfus’ No. 48 BMW  a drive-through penalty for blocking Milner.

However, contact occurred on the following lap when Milner made contract with De Phillippi’s No. 1 car (who was attempting a pass on the outside) in the International Horseshoe while attempting to clear Farfus, who appeared to be slowing on the apex.

While the resulting blow caused rear left bodywork damage to the No. 4 Corvette, Milner maintained a narrow lead over De Phillippi and showed his frustration with Farfus’ actions by waving his middle finger out the window of his Corvette as the Brazilian took to pit lane to serve his penalty (pictured above).

De Phillippi was ultimately able to split back past the Corvette after it stopped for fresh tires and bodywork repairs.

“That kind of racing is not what IMSA’s about,” Milner told IMSA Radio’s Nick Daman after his stint. “It’s not what sports car racing is about.

“First and foremost, the driver should be embarrassed. The team should be embarrassed. BMW should be embarrassed for that kind of racing.

“It is team racing here, but not like that when the other car that’s laps down, out of the race, whose only job is to basically help the teammate and not like that. Lap after lap after lap. Blocking, blocking, blocking. Waiting for me.

“It’s not how sports car racing should be. It’s disappointing. I don’t have an issue with the [No.] 1 car. Those guys are in their own race.

“It’s just the sister car that’s out there just to be a nuisance. That’s poor sportsmanship, [and] poor driving. Just embarrassing on their part.”

Farfus, in a statement issued by BMW about the incident, said: “The situation with the Corvette and our sister car was very difficult.

“My intention was to support my teammate in the sister car in the fight for victory. I was aware that it was hard racing.

“The situation that led to the collision between the Corvette and Connor De Phillippi behind me was very unfortunate – but I had nothing to do with it directly. I stayed on my inside line.”

Speaking after the race, BMW M Motorsport director Andreas Roos also commented on the situation.

“I think this, at the end, it’s customer racing,” said Roos. “But to be honest, I don’t want to even go into detail into this because at the end it’s a give and take.

“Because what happened at the end I think in both directions it went not the way we would like to see the racing on the track.

“I think everybody has to take his points back home and hopefully next time we do it better.”

Jonathan Grace contributed to this report