Dudu Barrichello’s frustration over a drive‑through penalty in the Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway could have cost the Heart of Racing team a place on the podium.
Collision and Penalty at Virginia
With six minutes left, Tom Gamble of the #27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo hit Philip Ellis of the #57 Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo while fighting for the GTD lead. The contact forced Gamble to yield, but IMSA Race Control still imposed a drive‑through penalty on the Aston Martin.
Due to the sanction, Barrichello and Gamble slipped from a potential podium to fourth, preventing the Argentine from retaining his GTD points lead.
Impact on the Championship Campaign
The penalty dropped Barrichello from first into third in the overall standings, behind Ellis and Russell Ward by 56 points. Heart of Racing has yet to finish on the podium in five straight rounds, following podiums at Daytona, Sebring, and Laguna Seca.
Comments from Barrichello
“Tire degradation made the cars sloppy,” Barrichello said. “I thought Gamble knew his move wasn’t the best, so he handed the position back, yet a drive‑through was too harsh. Fair play should continue if the other car doesn’t leave the track.”
He added that the team is chasing a rhythm after high‑point early-season performances and that a podium, even if not a win, would have helped reset their tempo.
With the penalty and the team’s current slide, the next race will be crucial for ensuring Heart of Racing remains a championship contender.
"