270 Minutes: Toyota Still Lead as Audi Crash Out
The second half of the race began with more drama when Benoit Treluyer went spearing off the track into the barriers in the no2 Audi e-tron quattro, destroying the front end of the car. Treluyer tried in desperation to get the car in a condition to drive back to the pits, but the French driver was forced to abandon the R18 with the front wheels pointing in different directions.
A safety car period was called by Eduardo Freitas, the FIA Race Director, to recover the Audi and the cars used the opportunity to head to the pits for fuel. The two Toyotas continued to lead the race with the no8 TS040, with Anthony Davidson at the wheel, leading by 2 laps over the no7 car driven by Stephane Sarrazin. Mark Webber, now at the wheel of the no20 Porsche 919, briefly overtook Sarrazin for second place at Stowe Corner but immediately came in for a fuel stop. The no12 Rebellion Lola of Nico Prost was 7 laps behind the leader and 5 laps ahead of the leading LMP2 car.
The battle for LMP2 was the talk of the 90 minutes with the nr47 KCMG Oreca of Matt Howson and the no26 G Drive Racing Morgan of Julien Canal nose to tail for lap after lap as they battled for the lead. However the KCMG Oreca had to come in for a 10 second stop-go penalty because of speeding in the pitlane during the refuelling period under the safety car which effectively split up the battle. At the end of the third quarter Canal’s no26 G Drive Morgan held a 1 lap advantage over Richard Bradley in the no47 car.
RACE FACTS –270 Minutes
16:21:42 Porsche #20 pits - Webber stays in
16:20:37 Webber in #20 only 1s behind Sarrazin in #7 but Porsche due to stop in a couple of laps
16:16:30 Morgan #26 takes lead in LMP2 after #47 Oreca takes penalty
16:15:04 10 second stop and go penalty for #47 KCMG Oreca for speeding in pit lane
16:14:05 In GTE Am #98 Aston leads from #95 Aston by 1 minute 24 seconds with #81 Ferrari in 3rd
16:12:03 In GTE Pro #91 Porsche leads by 11 seconds from #92 Porsche and 19 seconds from #51 Ferrari in 3rd
16:10:32 Pit stop for 2nd place #7 Toyota - Sarrazin stays in
16:09:38 KCMG Oreca #47 still leads LMP2 by 2 seconds from #26 Morgan
16:05:52 Aston #97 has stop and go for overtaking under yellow flags
16:05:01 Webber reports #20 Porsche understeering badly in places
16:02:57 2 Hours to go in the race
15:58:33 Porsche #75 retired
15:49:58 #26 Morgan and #52 Ferrari being investigated for pit stops under safety car
15:47:52 Aston #98 leads GTE Am by 2 seconds from #95 Aston and by another 20 seconds from #81 Ferrari
15:45:46 #47 KCMG Oreca reported for speeding in the pit lane
15:44:53 In GTE Pro #91 Porsche still leads from #92 Porsche by 6s with Bruni in #51 a further 4s back
15:41:34 Only half a second between #47 KCMG Oreca and #26 Morgan in LMP2
15:36:23 3rd offence of speeding in pit lane for #90 Ferrari - another 20 second stop and go
15:34:59 Spin for #88 Porsche
15:32:34 Oreca #37 retired
15:31:36 Safety Car in this lap
15:30:48 Nico Prost into Lola #12 in 4th place
15:28:59 Flash fire for #51 Ferrari in pits
15:28:17 Porsche #20 into pits - Webber takes over
15:27:25 Toyota #8 leader into pits - Davidson takes over
15:25:31 Pit lane now open under SC
15:21:41 Ferrari #53 spins behind safety car
15:14:05 Audi #2 now retired
15:10:57 Safety Car
15:10:14 Safety car on standby
15:07:50 Rebellion Lola #12 moves into 4th place
15:05:25 Audi #2 of Treluyer hits barrier on entry to Copse
15:04:34 Pit stop for 2nd place #7 Toyota - Sarrazin into car
15:00:07 Aston #98 of Dalla Lana takes lead in GTE Am from #81 Ferrari of Wyatt