Nicolas Lapierre led the field away for the 6 Hours of Shanghai in the No.7 Toyota Racing TS030 Hybrid and, by the end of the first hour, the Japanese LMP1 prototype has pulled out an impressive lead of 20 seconds. The Toyota was briefly challenged at the first corner by Allan McNish in the No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro but the Scottish driver was unable to make a pass and both Audis continue to lap in second and third positions overall, the No.2 heading its sister car.
Within the LMP1 Privateer battle, the No.22 JRM HPD ARX 03a of Karun Chandhok could only hold off the No.12 Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota of Neel Jani for three laps before a change in the running order. The Swiss driver took the lead in this group, and was followed through eight laps later by the No.21 Strakka Racing HPD.
The biggest mix up from the starting order has come in the LMP2 class. The No.32 Lotus of James Rossiter lost out at the start to both the No.24 OAK Racing Morgan Nissan of Olivier Pla and the No.44 Starworks HPD ARX 03b of Stéphane Sarrazin, the last having to make the first pit stop of the race just 34 minutes after the start due to a puncture, with the No.25 ADR-Delta car profiting from that situation.
In the LMGTE Pro class, Richard Lietz in the No.77 Team Felbermayr-Proton got ahead of the pole-sitting No.97 Aston Martin at the start although Darren Turner was able to regain the lead by the time the first round of pit stops took place. The two Ferraris of AF Corse were the last to come into the pits, and the order in GTE Pro has been re-established as Aston Martin-Porsche-Ferrari-Ferrari.
The LMGTE am battle has shaken out, with the No.61 AF Corse-Waltrip Ferrari of Marco Cioci coming out on top. Joel Camathias in the No.55 JWA-Avila Porsche made a good start and is now up to second in class, with the pole-sitting No.88 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche of Paolo Ruberti losing the advantage.
Track Data
Air t° :21.8°C
Track t° :23.3°C
Wind :NW at 14.5 kph
Humidity :54%
Michelin Green X Challenge Top 3 at the end of Hour 1
2-1-21
RACE FACTS – HOUR 1
10:37:33 : The early morning fog has mostly cleared now although there a light mist and hazy sunshine over the grid of the 6 hours of Shanghai
10:53:54 : Nicolas Lapierre sits aboard the Toyota TS030 on pole position as the cars prepare for the start in 7 minutes time.
10:57:05 : The cars draw away from the grid on the warm-up lap
11:00:04 : Green flag for the 6 hours of Shanghai!
11:01:41 : Toyota #7 holds position into the first turn to lead lap 1
11:04:06 : Dice in first lap between #12 Rebellion and the #22 JRM for the lead in LM P1 Privateers. JRM currently ahead
11:08:54 : Neel Jani in Rebellion Lola #12 passes Karun Chandhok in the #22 JRM to take 4th overall
11:10:47 : The JRM #22 now under pressure from Kane in the Strakka HPD #21
11:13:30 : Toyota #7 now hitting GT traffic on lap 8
11:15:05 : Olivier Pla in Oak Racing Morgan Nissan #24 leads LMP2
11:16:29 : #77 Felbermayr-Proton Porsche leads LMGTE Pro
11:17:42 : #88 Felbermayr-Proton Porsche leads LMGTE Am
11:18:55 : Current fastest lap is by Lapierre in Toyota #7 on lap 2 of 1:49.071
11:20:23 : Jonny Kane in Strakka HPD #21 passes #22JRM for 5th overall
11:24:20 : Lapierre in #7 Toyota TS030 has now pulled out a lead of 14 seconds on McNish in #2 Audi
11:29:04 : Tight at the front of the front of LMGTE Pro as Mucke in Aston Martin #97 puts pressure on the leading Felbermayr Proton Porsche #77
11:31:33 : Ruberti in #88 Porsche runs wide into turn 15, lost time but no harm done
11:34:55 : Starworks #44 HPD is first pitlane visitor
11:38:32 : Change of leader in LMGTE Pro as Aston Martin #97 passes #77 Porsche
11:39:27 : Problem that caused early stop for Starworks #44 was a punctured rear tyre
11:42:14 : Awaiting first round of pit stops for prototypes soon.
11:43:25 : Leader into pitlane. #7 makes 1st stop for fuel and tyres
11:44:59 : Toyota #7 slips to 4th after 1st stop.
11:47:10 : Rossiter in #32 Lotus runs wide and loses 2nd place in class. Possible contact suspected
11:48:09 : Oak #24 makes 1st stop from lead of LMP2
11:51:21 : Audi #1 and #2 into pitlane together on lap 27
11:53:48 : Toyota #7 takes back the overall lead after 1st round of routine stops
11:54:57 : Contact between #44 Starworks HPD and #77 Porsche under investigation
11:57:13 : As we approach 1 hour, Toyota #7 leads overall from Audi #2, Oak #24 Morgan Nissan leads LMP2
11:58:39 : Aston Martin #97 leads GTE Pro and #88 Porsche leads GTE Am
12:00:28 : #97 Aston Martin makes first scheduled stop on 59th minute of race
Fiona Miller
Photo: SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT (SHANGHAI, CHINA), 6 HOURS OF SHANGHAI, SUNDAY 28TH OCTOBER, RACE. Toyota's No.7 TS030 Hybrid has led from the start.
