Hour 1: Nr 1 Audi Leads as Makowiecki Goes from Zero to Hero in GTE
At the end of the first hour it is the two hybrid Audi R18s which lead the way in the wet but drying conditions at the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Andre Lotterer in the nr1 Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, getting ahead of pole sitter Tom Kristensen in the nr2 Audi hybrid. The nr4 Audi R18 Ultra of Marco Bonanomi was the leading non hybrid car at the end of the first hour, ahead of the nr3 Audi of Marc Gene.
Karun Chandhok in the nr22 JRM HPD ARX 03a-Honda span off at the top of Eau Rouge while heading to the grid and damaged the rear end of the JRM car, forcing the team to spend the next 60 minutes repairing the car and forcing the Indian driver to start from the pitlane. The nr32 Lotus also had to start from the pitlane after a change of engine.
The LMP2 pole sitter John Martin in the nr25 ADR-Delta Oreca 03-Nissan had a good first 60-minutes at Spa, while behind the Australian the battle for second was extremely fierce with Bas Leinders in the nr35 Oak Racing Morgan Judd battling with nr49 Pecom Racing Oreca-Nissan of Soheil Ayari.
The GTE Pro battle saw Marc Lieb in the nr77 Felbermayr-Proton Porsche take the lead of the class after pole sitter Frederic Makowiecki went off the track on the formation lap, with Darren Turner in Aston Martin Racing Vantage also in the mix. Nicolas Armindo in the GTE Am pole sitting IMSA Performance Porsche was soon on the move and was mixing it with the Pro cars.
Makowiecki started to move back up the grid in the Luxury Racing Ferrari as the track started to dry and as the end of the first hour approached the French driver went into the class lead. The nr97 Aston Martin has to pit to change the steering wheel and then Turner returned to the pits as the problem persisted.
At the pitstops the nr2 Audi had a lengthy delay as the left hand headlights were not lit, with the mechanics forced to change the front of the car before Kristensen was released to rejoin the race.
14:25 Green flag for Formation Lap
14:26 Spin for #59
14:28 #59 Luxury racing Ferrari rejoins
14:30 Green Flag!
14:30 Huge plume of spray as cars go through Eau Rouge
14:40 Kristensen and Lotterer 1 and 2 in e-tron quattro
14:42 #41 into pit
14:43 #43 norma into gravel
14:47 #1 Lotterer still leads from #2 of Kristensen
14:49 #43 Norma spins again
14:51 #29 Lola spins and loses some bodywork
14:52 #25 Oreca now leads LMP2
14:53 #Audi of Gene goes heavily over kerbs
14:55 #77 Porsche leads GTE Pro from #97 Aston
14:56 #67 Porsche leads GTE Am
14:58 #97 Aston now dropping down the field
14:59 #26 Oreca spins
15:00 #97 Aston new steering wheel and tyres
15.00 Track appears to be drying out
15:01 #44 HPD into gravel
15:03 Yellow flags at turn 14
15:05 #97 Aston back into pit with gear selection problems
15:06 #1 Audi of Lotterer now leads by 11 secs
15:12 #44 HPD catches fire in pitlane
15:15 #59 Ferrari of Makowiecki now up to second in GTE Pro
15:16 #17 Dome of Bourdais now in 6th
15:17 #59 Ferrari overtakes #77 Porsche for class lead
15:18 LMP1's now beginning to stop for first pit stop most putting cut slicks on
15:20 #24 Oak Morgan front bodywork change
15:22 #29 Gulf Lola leads Michelin Green X challenge
15:22 #2 of Kristensen has lost headlight
15:23 5 LMP2's into pits together
15:24 Track now appears to be dry with no rain forecast for now
15:25 #1 Lotterer pits from the lead goes on to heavy cut slicks
15:25 #2 of Kristensen will need new nose due to headlight problem
15:26 #2 has new nose but headlight still not working due to wiring issue
15:29 #4 Audi of Bonanomi leads the race
15:30 Main beam on #2 Audi now working
Jeff Carter