19.06.2016 - 04h20
12 Hour report: Toyota continues to lead at the half way mark in 24 Hours of Le Mans
- The No.6 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID was leading as the hands of the Rolex clock at the end of the pit lane completed one complete turn and reached 03h00 on Sunday morning. Despite the threat of rain, the second 6 hour period of the race remained dry.
- Kamui Kobayashi took over the driving duties from Mike Conway and the Japanese driver is currently 44 seconds ahead of the No.2 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Romain Dumas.
- The sister Toyota of Anthony Davidson is third, 56 seconds behind Dumas’ Porsche and 2 laps ahead of Oliver Jarvis in the No.8 Audi R18. The No.7 has had yet more technical issues and limped back to the pits as the half way mark was reached. The No.1 Porsche 919 spent nearly two hours in the garage with overheating issues and re-joined 38 laps behind the leaders, now on a charge.
- The No.13 Rebellion Racing R-One of Dominik Kraihamer is the leading LMP1 Privateer in 5th overall.
- The LMGTE Pro battle between Ferrari and Ford continued to rage with the No.82 Risi Competizione Ferrari F488 holding the upper hand against the two American Ford GTs. The No.95 Aston Martin Racing Vantage of Marco Sorensen is the leading FIA WEC competitor in 4thplace.
- The No.91 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 was a retirement following an engine fire, but not before oil had been dropped at the Porsche Curves which brought out the Safety Car for a long period as the marshals cleaned the track. The No.71 AF Corse Ferrari of Davide Rigon ended up in the gravel at Tertre Rouge and is still stopped out on the circuit.
- In LMP2 the No.36 Signatech Alpine of Gustavo Menezes is leading the class in 7th overall, 79 seconds ahead of Will Stevens in the No.26 G-Drive Racing ORECA Nissan.
- The No.88 Abu Dhabi-Proton Competition Porsche 911 of Khaled Al Qubaisi holds a comfortable 20 second lead ahead of Townsend Bell in the non-WEC entrant No.62 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari F458.
