BREAKING NEWS...The race was suspended for 55 minutes due to a heavy storm over the track anbd unsafe track conditions. The race will resume at 19h25 behind the Safety Car.
The raindrops which fell over the grid prior to the start of the 6 Hours of COTA fortunately cleared before the green flag for the 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas and it was under dry, hot and sunny conditions (31oC air/37oC track) that the field got away for the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. However, as the first 90 minutes was coming to a close, raindrops were being reported around the track.
LMGTE Pro
Aston Martin Racing’s Stefan Mücke made a great start in the No.97 Vantage V8 to lead the LMGTE Pro category for the first hour after leaping ahead of class pole-sitter Gimmi Bruni in the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia.
The Italian was the first of the GTE cars to pit so lead the field until being put under intense pressure from the Aston Martin, now in the hands of Darren Turner. The Briton regained the lead just under the 90 minute mark, and as the rain began to fall heavily across the track. Porsche Team Manthey’s two Porsches – the No.91 911 RSR some 8 seconds ahead of its team mate.
LMGTE Am
In LMGTE Am the first 90 minutes of the race also strongly featured Aston Martin Racing, this time with Richie Stanaway making the headlines. The New Zealander charged not only to the front of the Am category in the No.95 Vantage V8, but also among the Pro runners.
Just under half a minute behind the Aston Martin Racing entry is…another Aston Martin; the No.98 of Paul Dalla Lana, with the No.90 8Star Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia of Gianluca Roda running in third.
The only incident of note was contact between the No.57 Krohn Racing Ferrari and the No.99 Aston Martin Racing Vantage V8 of Fernando Rees but both cars continued and are circulating – albeit with bodywork damage to the Ferrari.
18:29:41 : ESM HPD #30 now leads P2
18:28:05 : Raining heavily
18:21:35 : Lapierre in #8 leads by 5 secs from #2 Audi after 42 laps
18:20:48 : Damage on #57 Ferrari
18:12:04 : Aston #95 leads GTE Am after 32 laps
18:11:25 : Ferrari #51 leads GTE Pro
18:09:27 : Lapierre leads by 6 secs after 35 laps
18:01:55 : Lapierre in #8 Toyota retakes lead after 31 laps
18:01:10 : Porsche #20 leads
17:54:42 : Audi #1 stops
17:49:45 : Ligier #26 leads P2
17:48:53 : Toyota's first and second Audi's 3rd and 4th
17:47:51 : Spin for the leader #8 Toyota
17:46:46 : Aston #95 leads GTE Am
17:41:45 : Aston #97 leads GTE Pro
17:40:04 : ESM HPD leads P2
17:31:55 : Buemi leads Wurz by 24 secs after 16 laps
Full results can be found HERE
