Mitchell bags a podium place at race in Detroit

In a dramatic final six minutes in downtown Detroit the duo, who started 10th on the grid, took the chequered flag in second position.

The result also marked the first Pro Class top three for the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3 on only its third competitive race.

Mitchell, in his first full season racing the No9 Lithia & Driveway Temerario GT3 prepared by Pfaff Motorsports, said: “That was simply unbelievable, what a brilliant race.

“We never quite hit the sweet spot with the car through the free practice sessions and qualifying, and we were disappointed to only qualify 10th for the race.”

Mitchell took the first stint, sensibly staying out of trouble on the tight, unforgiving circuit, which in places is barely two cars wide.

By the time he pitted after 30-minutes to hand over to fellow Lamborghini works driver Caldarelli, Mitchell had climbed to sixth place, including clocking a fastest time of 1min 11.116secs.

The Italian rejoined in eighth and set about reeling in the cars ahead of him. With 30-minutes remaining the #9 car was back to sixth, 5.8secs behind the #1 BMW in fifth.

Eight minutes later the gap was just 0.6s, then with 19-minutes to go there was a safety car period for debris on-track

No sooner had the race gone green again, there was another safety car period to recover more debris following another incident.

With only six minutes remaining, the race went green again with the top six in GTD Pro cars running nose-to-tail.

At the end of the first racing lap, the second-placed #14 Lexus had to serve a drive-through penalty, promoting the #9 Lamborghini to fifth.

Caldarelli was put under immense pressure by the #64 Ford, and with three minutes remaining there was drama.

Heading into turn three the second-placed #4 Corvette collided with the third-placed #15 Lexus which carried on wide, but retained third.

In that split second, Caldarelli also dived down the inside of the #1 BMW to take fourth, and more was to come.

The #4 Corvette was immediately delivered a drive-through penalty for blocking, promoting the #9 Lamborghini to third.

Then on the final lap, the #15 Lexus slowed with damage and the Lambo took the chequered flag in second, just 1.9secs off the win.

Mitchell said: “That was an absolutely chaotic, but brilliant finish, we managed to stay out of trouble and avoid the carnage throughout the race, and in the end the result came to us. “It’s fantastic to deliver the first Pro Class podium for the Temerario GT3, and personally it’s great to be on the podium with Andrea and the Pfaff Motorsports crew in only my fourth race.

"We all persevered right through the weekend, and ultimately bagged our first podium. I’m so happy!”

Mitchell returns to IMSA action in the last weekend in June when the championship heads to Watkins Glen International in New York State.