Run under bright sunshine and in front of an enthusiastic crowd, the 6 Hours of Shanghai has settled into a rhythm since the drama of the opening lap.
At the half way point, Aston Martin Racing continues to have a firm hand on the winners’ trophies as it has led both the LMGTE Pro and Am categories since the start. The gap between the leading Pro entry – the No.97 of Stefan Mücke and Darren Turner – and the No.92 Porsche Team Manthey 911 RSR of Frédéric Makowiecki and Patrick Pilet is just now 13 seconds and the German car is continuing to push its British rival as hard as possible as Makowiecki needs to score the maximum number of points possible to keep alive his GT Drivers’ Championship title hopes.
In quick succession behind the leading pair is the No.71 AF Corse Ferrari of Davide Rigon and James Calado, the only Pro Ferrari left in the race following Bruni’s first lap accident, the No.91 Porsche 911 RSR of Richard Lietz and Jörg Bergmeister, and the No.99 Aston Martin of Alex MacDowall, Darryl O’Young and Fernando Rees.
Aston Martin’s two LMGTE Am entries, No.95 (Poulsen/Heineimeier-Hansson/Stanaway) and No.98 (Dalla Lana/Lamy/Nygaard) have traded the lead of the class between them in the last 90 minutes and at the 3-hour mark it was the No.98 which held an 85 second lead over its team mate. Third in class was the No.90 8Star Motorsport Ferrari with Matteo Cressoni doing a great job on his FIA WEC debut. The ProSpeed and Proton Competition 911 RSRs are closing out the LMGTE runners, as the race moves into its second half.
Race facts:
13:59:11 Audi #1 into pits Tom Kristensen into car
13:46:49 P2 leader #26 into pits
13:45:15 Front splitter from a Porsche on track at turn 15 local yellow flags
13:39:41 Both P2 ESM's into pits #30 and #31
13:32:29 Aston #98 takes lead in GTE Am from #95 Aston
13:31:21 Oreca #27 takes 2nd in P2 from #30 HPD
13:26:46 1:49.010 fastest lap for Davidson in Toyota #8
13:25:39 Cressoni into #90 Ferrari - making his WEC debut
13:19:31 Audi #1 passes Audi #2 for 4th place
13:16:43 Leading Toyota #8 into pits Davidson stays in
13:15:57 Timo Bernhard into #20 Porsche
13:15:09 2nd place Toyota #7 into pits Sarrazin into car
13:12:38 GTE Am leader #95 into pitlane
13:10:12 Lieb now in Porsche #14
13:08:52 1:49.210 fastest lap of race for Davidson in #8 Toyota
13:06:48 After 2 hours #97 Aston leads GTE Pro and #95 Aston leads GTE Am
13:05:15 Both Audi's in pitlane Treluyer in #2
13:04:03 After 2 hours #8 Toyota leads P1 #26 Ligier leads P2
13:02:30 Kaffer now in #9 Lotus-CLM
12:55:04 Canal takes over leading P2 #26 Ligier
12:53:59 Good battle for 3rd in GTE Pro between #71 Ferrari and #91 Porsche - Porsche lost lead in the category at Fuji and can score good result after demise of #51 Ferrari
12:50:33 Second round of stops for leading P2 cars #26 Ligier still leads
12:38:29 Porsche #20 back up to 6th after tyre problem
12:33:28 Toyota #7 takes 2nd from Porsche #14
12:31:32 Porsche #20 manager called to race control
For full results click HERE
Fiona Miller
Photo: SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT (SHANGHAI, CHINA), 6 HOURS OF SHANGHAI, SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2014. 1) The No.98 Aston Martin Racing Vantage V8 leads the LMGTE Am category at the mid race point. 2) The start of the GTE race.
