Porsche Lead Three Out Of Four Classes After Four Hours

Oct 11, 2015
2 min read

Disaster fell into the lap of Audi in hour four. Championship leaders #7 took a risk on the drying track, opting to take on the slick tyres instead of another set of intermediates. After only a few laps it was clear they were loosing too much time and so they had to pit again and change back to the intermediate tyres. #7 lost P3 and any real chance of a podium (on pace) with the risk that didn’t pay off. Audi are also under investigation for a pit lane infringement. The two Porsches pitted only for fuel, keeping the scrubbed intermediates on their cars and still are still managing to set competitive times. They are the only two cars on the lead lap thanks to where the full course yellow, brought out by car #31, fell in the pit stop rota. #2 Toyota had contact with the #88 Pro car at the beginning of the hour, causing damage to the side of the car and the radiators that are used for cooling the engine that put them into the garage for a few laps.

Rebellion Racing are having a very good weekend, which has been something that has escaped them for a while. #12 has led the non-hybrid LMP1 cars from the beginning of the race. The two G-Drive LMP2 cars have come out trumps as the others have stumbled upon issues in front of them. Now running P2/3 (#26/#28 respectively) only championship leader #47 is ahead of them. More disaster struck for Extreme Speed Motorsport as #31 spun on the last corner, beaching the car on the apex of the turn. Full course yellows had to come out to recover the car as it could not reverse back onto the track; it was a blind apex.

Porsche regained the lead in LMGTE Pro after #91 pitted and #51 AF Corse took the lead of the class. #92 was egged on by their engineer saying “you are faster” in order for the Porsche team to take the lead back off the Ferrari team. #92 now leads #51 over #91. However, #51 currently has some gaffer tape trailing off the back of the car that has come from a hasty floor repair job the team had attempted. Whether the car will have to pit to remove this is unknown.

#77 has made an amazing comeback in LMGTE Am, now leading the class but just over a lap. The Dempsey team still leads from #98 and #96. #88 has had a messy hour, first coming into contact with the #2 Toyota and finishing the hour going straight off at the first corner.

With just two hours left it looks like Porsche have the one-two securely in the bag. But the #17 drivers are hungry for the full 25-points, wanting the maximum lead and advantage over champion leaders #7. If #17 win the race and #7 finish third (Audi are expected to swap #7 and #8 towards the end of the race) the Porsche #17 would leave Fuji leading the championship. It’s no surprise that Hartley is on the charge.