Hour Five Brings Nightmares For AF Corse

As the fifth hour comes to a close Audi appear to have their sights set on Porsche #17’s second place. With #17 now being #7’s closest rivals in the championship it makes a lot of sense for them to try and take away as many points from the Porsche team as they can. It looks like Porsche #18 has the win comfortably covered with over a minute advantage to the sister car. The Porsches still seem to have a superior pace to the Audi’s but Audi is able to match them – just not as consistently as the Porsches.

Sam Bird pilots G-Drive #26 for the lead of LMP2 at the moment, with second-placed #47 over a minute behind them, with LMP1 car #4 in between them. However, it seems that car #26 will need to do a “splash and dash” of fuel towards the end of the race to get to the chequered flag, and that will bring #26 and #47 very close in the closing stages of the race. Whether the championship leaders can take the win from the G-Drive car will all become clear as the final hour unfolds.

LMGTE Pro woke up again in the fifth hour as AF Corse #51 had an issue closing the driver’s door after their pit stop. Teams are not allowed to tape up the driver’s door for obvious safety reasons so it meant the Corse needed a brand new door as the sticky out bit that locked the door to the car was bent up and unusable. They tried to send him out again but as he pulled out of the pit box the door sprung back open, earning him a black and orange flag. The team had to attach an illuminated number plate onto the door before it could be fitted which meant that the car was out for four laps, rather than the three they are allowed after being shown the black/orange flag. The car was reported to the stewards because of this so we will have to wait and see if anything comes from that. #51 now runs at the back of LMGTE Pro, continuing Ferrari’s unlucky run in races. #91 appears to have pulled away from their teammate for the lead, the gap now around two seconds.

A spin off at turn eleven cost #88 some places. #83 took the lead of LMGTE Am but the biggest battle was/is between #98 and #96 for P4 in class. The Am class seems to be a Ferrari/Porsche fight to the end for who will be on the podium and who will win the class race. The LMP1 Rebellion #12 had to pit for damage repairs after small contact with another car. Which car that had contact with or whether the other car was damaged is unknown. Towards the end of the hour LMP2 car #36 spun, loosing the advantage he had in class. The Strakka team are currently running P4 in class.

With one hour left anything can happen. As cars make their final stops and refuel for the last timethe gaps between rivals will close. Can the #17 make any attack on #18? Will #47 take advantage of the fact #26 will have to refuel one extra time before the chequered flag? Who will win this exciting 6 hours of the Circuit of the Americas? All will be revealed in an hour’s time.

(image: www.afcorse.it

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