Memo Gidley and Matteo Malucelli were taken to the hospital


Two drivers that were involved in a horrific accident in the opening hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona are awake and alert, following a statement released by IMSA.

Memo Gidley and Matteo Malucelli have both been admitted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. following a heavy impact that destroyed both cars late in the third hour.

Malucelli’s No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia reported a loss of drive and slowed coming out of the first horseshoe. He was hit in the rear by the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP of Gidley, who was going in excess of 120 mph.

The impact sent the Italian’s Ferrari into the air, with extensive front-end damage sustained by the Riley-chassied DP. Gidley was extricated from the car by the local safety team, which cut off the roof of the car.

The race was red-flagged for more than 1 hour as a result, and resumed just past the four hour mark.

IMSA has yet to release further information on the extent of the drivers’ injuries, if any. Stay tuned for the latest developments.

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