It has been non-stop action in the third quarter of the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, with Aston Martin Racing now controlling a 1-2 in the LMGTE Pro category.
Darren Turner in the No.97 has survived a spin while pushing hard to try and pass the No.71 Ferrari 458 Italia which was in the hands of James Calado and heads the time sheets for the class. The second Vantage V8, No.99, now has Alex MacDowall at the wheel for the first time and it is running ahead of the No.92 Porsche Team Manthey entry of Makowiecki and Pilet. Davide Rigon leads the first of the two AF Corse Ferraris in fourth and fifth and taking a conservative approach to the race as they just need to finish in order to score enough points to secure the GT Manufacturers’ title.
Aston Martin Racing is also leading the way in the Am class thanks to a steady and consistent run by the No.98 Vantage V8 of Dalla Lana/Lamy and Nygaard. The trio are leading the No.81 Ferrari and their Danish team mates in the No.95 which has had an uncharacteristically incident filled race with a penalty, a spin and a puncture!
After a delay in the pits of 44 minutes for gearbox repairs, the No.61 orange Ferrari is now circulating again with Emerson Fittipaldi at the wheel. The drivers have all reported that tyre degradation is worse than expected on the newly re-surfaced Interlagos track, and while there have been some threatening clouds there is no hint yet of the forecast rain.
Full results can be found HERE
Race Facts:
17:30:49 Hartley in #20 takes the lead
17:29:34 Toyota #7 stops - Conway gets in
17:28:38 Leader #8 Toyota stops - Davidson gets in
17:28:06 Audi #2 stops - Treluyer gets in
17:27:36 Toyota #7 overtakes #20 Porsche for 3rd place
17:25:48 1:18.367 fastest lap for Lotterer in Audi #2
17:25:06 Aston #99 pits from 2nd in GTE Pro - Rees gets in
17:21:40 Fittipaldi back out in #61 Ferrari
17:20:07 Audi #1 stops - Tom Kristensen gets in for last career stint20:18:16Porsche #14 stops - Jani in
17:17:32 Toyota #7 takes drive through now in 6th place
17:16:50 Lotterer in Audi #2 takes 5th from #20 Porsche
17:16:00 Drive through penalty for #7 Toyota for forcing off #20 Porsche
17:15:12 Stop for P2 leader #47 Oreca
17:09:12 Makowiecki now in #92 Porsche - Turner in #97 Aston takes lead in GTE Pro
17:08:06 GTE Pro leader into pits
17:06:48 GTE Am leader #98 into the pits
17:06:12 Rebellion #13 has had 2 long pit stops and now down in 20th place - 24 laps behind the leader
17:04:28 Audi #1 passes Porsche #20 for 4th place
17:03:37 After 4 hours #98 Aston leads #75 Porsche and #81 Ferrari in GTE Am
17:02:46 After 4 hours #92 Porsche leads by 7 seconds from #71 Ferrari and another second back to #97 Aston in 3rd
17:01:41 After 4 hours #47 Oreca leads #27 Oreca
17:00:38 1:18.413 fastest lap of race by Di Grassi in Audi #1
17:00:03 After 4 hours Toyota #8 leads #14 Porsche by 4 seconds with #7 Toyota in 3rd
16:56:42 1:30.288 fastest lap for #97 in GTE Pro
16:54:31 Porsche #75 now up to 3rd in GTE Am
16:53:32 Aston #95 into pits with left front puncture drops to 4th in GTE Am
16:51:53 Aston #95 running slowly overtaken by #81 Ferrari for 2nd in GTE Am
16:49:43 1:30.398 fastest GTE Am lap for #98 Aston - also fastest GTE lap overall
16:48:18 1:30.461 fastest GTE Pro lap for #97 Aston
16:45:30 Toyota #7 takes 3rd from #20 Porsche
16:43:21 Turner in #97 drops to 3rd in GTE Pro
16:40:15 Porsche #20 and #97 Aston pitted under full course yellow
16:39:18 Green flag
16:36:01 FULL COURSE YELLOW
16:35:42 Buemi now in #8 Toyota
16:35:14 Oreca #37 has stopped on circuit
16:34:40 Toyota #8 pits
16:34:17 Audi #2 pits
16:33:28 Oreca #37 running slowly
16:32:53 Audi #2 goes off but continues down in 4th
16:30:14 Audi #1 now in 6th behind #14 Porsche
16:27:43 Audi #1 into pits - Di Grassi stays in
16:26:43 Audi #2 passes Porsche #20 for 3rd place
16:23:54 Davidson takes lead in Toyota #8
16:23:17 Porsche #14 into pits - Dumas in
16:17:49 Aston #97 now leads GTE Pro from #92 Porsche and #71 Ferarri
16:19:35 Audi #1 takes 3rd from Porsche #20
16:17:16 Aston #99 takes lead in GTE Pro - Pilet now in #92 Porsche drops to 4th
16:15:13 GTE Pro leader #92 Porsche stops
16:12:33 Audi #2 passes #7 Toyota
16:11:45 Ferrari #61 rejoins after 44 minute stop
16:11:11 Aston #98 takes 2nd in GTE Am
16:09:24 Spin for #99 Aston but continues
16:05:41 Ferrari #61 still in its pit now 43 laps down on the lead
16:03:49 At halfway in GTE Am #98 Aston leads by a minute from #75 Porsche and #95 Aston
16:02:43 In GTE Pro #92 Porsche leads #99 Aston and #71 Ferrari
16:01:40 In P2 Oreca #37 leads from #47 Oreca and #27 Oreca
