The battle in the LMGTE Pro class continues to rage as the race approaches its half-way point, and the sight of Jörg Bergmeister’s Porsche, Darren Turner’s Aston Martin and Gianmaria Bruni’s Ferrari going side-by-side down the straight at the Bahrain International Circuit had everyone on their feet cheering. It has been truly an impressive 3-way fight for the lead which demonstrates the level of competition in the FIA WEC.
As the clock was about to tick over to 18h00 (local) and after three hours of racing, the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of Bruni-Vilander continued to hold the lead in the LMGTE Pro category, 27 seconds ahead of the No.71 as the next round of pit stops are starting to take place. The Ferraris are achieving a better fuel economy than their rivals so are stopping approximately five laps later…strategy will be everything in the second half of the race as the GT Championship title gets ever closer to the Italian and the Finn.
Third in Pro at the mid-race mark is the No.91 Porsche Team Manthey of Bergmeister-Lietz which is having a much stronger run in the race than in qualifying – tyre performance holding up better than feared.
In the LMGTE Am class the No.95 Dane Train is still on course to claim the championship title, David Heinemeier Hansson and Kristian Poulsen being supported in that battle here once again by Nicki Thiim. They lead the class ahead of the No.81 AF Corse Ferrari Wyatt-Rugolo-Bertolini, who started from the back of the grid after brake issues in qualifying, and the No.98 Aston Martin Vantage V8 of Lamy-Dalla Lana-Nygaard.
Don’t leave the action for a minute, anything can happen!
Full results can be found HERE
18:00:03 Ferrari #51 leader in GTE Pro into pits
17:58:09 Oreca #47 takes lead in P2 from #27
17:55:48 In P2 Oreca #47 within 2 seconds of leader #27 Oreca
17:51:56 Toyota #7 leads by 20 seconds after 92 laps
17:47:11 Aston #98 into pits
17:44:09 Aston #97 into pits
17:25:57 Leader Toyota #7 into pits
17:25:31 Toyota #8 rejoins
17:22:47 Audi #2 into pits
17:21:28 Toyota #8 back into pits
17:20:59 GTE Pro leader #91 into pits
17:17:01 Toyota #8 back out 17 laps behind leader
17:14:34 Porsche #14 of Lieb takes 3rd place from #2 Audi
17:13:18 Toyota #8 has fallen to last place other than #9 Lotus 15 laps behind leader
17:10:56 After 2 hours in GTE Am #95 Aston leads from #88 Porsche and #61 Ferrari
17:09:41 After 2 hours in GTE Pro #91 Porsche leads from #51 Ferrari and #97 Aston
17:08:44 In P2 after 2 hours #27 Oreca leads #47 Oreca and #35 Morgan
17:07:56 After 2 hours #7 Toyota leads by 35 seconds from #20 Porsche and #2 Audi
17:06:07 1:49.744 fastest LMP1-L time of race for Rebellion #12 of Prost
17:04:16 Close battle between #51 #97 and #92 for 2nd in GTE Pro
16:58:49 Leader in GTE Pro #51 Ferrari into pits #71 takes lead
16:56:36 Audi #2 into 3rd place
16:55:01 Porsche #75 into pits with problem
16:54:20 Porsche #14 into pits - Lieb in
16:51:11 Toyota #8 on high trestles and floor removed
16:48:54 Ligier #26 into pits
16:47:48 Audi #1 into pits - Kristensen in
16:46:41 Toyota #7 takes the lead
16:46:08 Alternator problem for leading #8 Toyota
16:45:22 Slow laps for #26 Ligier
16:41:32 Conway in #7 Toyota passes #14 Porsche for 2nd place
16:40:32 Ferrari #61 leads GTE Am by 17 seconds from #95 Aston and #90 Ferrari
16:39:15 Ferrari #51 leads GTE Pro by 11 seconds from #97 Aston and further 12 secs back to #71 Ferrari
16:35:56 1:46.126 fastest lap for Lotterer in Audi #2
16:32:17 1:46.319 fastest lap for Lotterer in Audi #2
Fiona Miller
