Close Scrap for The Lead Between the two Porsches Leads to a Stunning Second Hour
- Aug 30, 2015
- 3 min read
The leading Porsche received a five second stop and go penalty for excessive fuel consumption. Porsche said that an error in their engine sensor lead to the technical infringement which lead to the time stop. This added an extra pit stop to the leading Porsche’s race and closed the gap between the two Porsches. #17 looked to be ready to take the lead, with the speed of which Mark Webber had been advancing. But a close call between the two of them saw Porsche #18 just manage to retain the lead, kissing the side of Webber’s #17 as they scrapped for the lead. After the pits, Lieb had a minute lead over the sister Porsche, but he still owed a pit stop. The lead change cleanly as Brendon Hartley takes the lead as Romain Dumas is released from the pit lane. The Audi in P3 wasn’t close enough to challenge for a promotion of places, so leaves the Porsches still running one-two.
G-Drive Racing car 26 took the lead in LMP2 due to a faster pit stop (faster by six seconds). #42 took a trip off into the gravel just as the second hour began, dropping down the grid as it fought to get back on track. #42 is battling with car #30 for sixth in class and at the end of the hour Danny Watts makes a move into the first corner, taking the position back. The rest of the field has relatively stayed the same, with the second G-Drive car, car 28, remaining third in class.
GTE Pro will see AF Corse swapping order in the championship if the points remain as they are. #51 is nine laps down on the other racers, whilst #71 is comfortably running second in class. Porsche #91 has managed to keep the lead through the second hour, looking good for scoring a podium at the Nürburgring. Teammates car #92 is third in class, with the Pro Aston Martins seeming to be struggling with the pace. They shocked yesterday when they were the favourites to take pole but failed to do so, and they seem to be down on pace again today.
After the pit stops the lead in LMGTE Am ended up in the hands of Aston Martin #98. They are followed by car #88, now in the hands of Al Qubaisi. Both drivers of the #88 have taken the car into the gravel, which was costly for Qubaisi as he was catching onto the back of leader in class #98. The #77 Dempsey car has dropped to forth in class, clearly having lost out in the first round of pit stops. Both Rebellion Racing cars have spent a lot of time in the pits with issues, with #12 stopping at the end of pit exit. They are both at the back of the field with car #13 still sitting in the pits.
The third hour began with another full course yellows as debris was cleaned up off the track. With most of the pit stops completed for this hour Porsche seem to be comfortably leading with car #17, whilst #47 will be keen to regain the lead in LMP2.
Race Order: 17, 28, 7, 8, 1, 2, 26, 47, 28, 43, 36, 30, 42, 4, 31, 91, 71, 92, 95, 99, 98, 88, 83, 77, 72, 97, 50, 96, 51, 12, 13
(imahe: @fiawec - twitter)
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