Hour 3: Audi 1-2-3-4 as Diesel Leads Hybrid
The third hour of the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps ended with the nr3 Audi R18 Ultra of Loic Duval holding a 12.5 second lead over the nr1 Audi hybrid of Benoit Treluyer after Duval overtook his fellow Frenchman at La Source on lap 62. The second Audi hybrid of Allan McNish and the second Audi diesel of Oliver Jarvis were 3rd and 4th respectively.
The leading LMP2 car was the nr 38 Jota Zytek-Nissan of Simon Dolan, who took the lead after the nr25 ADR-Delta Oreca-Nissan of John Martin was delayed in the pits changing the front bodywork of the car after an earlier incident. Tor Graves rejoined in second place and started to close the 25 second gap at the end of the hour.
The nr32 Lotus hit the barriers on the exit of La Source after exiting the pitlane and the nr40 Race Performance Oreca Judd also visited the tyre wall at T12.
There was a great battle between the two Ferraris of Gianmaria Bruni in the nr51 AF Corse Ferrari and the nr59 Luxury Racing Ferrari of Frederic Makowiecki for second place in the LMGTE Pro class with Makowiecki eventually getting ahead of his Italian rival. While the two Ferraris squabbled the nr 77 Felbermayr-Proton Porsche of Richard Lietz pulled out a healthy class lead in 21st overall.
The nr67 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche of Anthony Pons continued to hold the GTE Am lead, well ahead of the nr88 Felbermayr Proton Porsche of Paolo Ruberti.
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16:33 After 2 hours #25 Oreca leads LMP2 from #35 Morgan by 17 secs
16:34 #49 loses most of its front bodywork and pits
16:34 Fastest lap by #3 of Duval 2:03.787 on lap 52
16:36 #49 into pit garage for repairs
16:39 #26 Signatech Oreca lost a wheel at T9 and coming very slowly back to pit
16:39 #26 makes it to the pits OK
16:39 Fastest lap for #3 Duval 2:02.437 on lap 54
16:40 After 2 hours #67 Porsche leads #81 Ferrari in GTE Am category
16:49 Slow lap from #1 Audi
16:50 60 laps completed by the leader #1 Audi
16:52 #1 and #3 Audi 'racing' hard less than a car's length between them
16:53 Duval in #3 Audi hits #44 Starworks HPD but takes lead from #1 Audi
16:56 #40 Oreca off circuit at turn 12
16:58 #12 Rebellion Racing pits and rejoins
16:59 #25 ADR Delta into pits
17:03 Rain is falling out on circuit
17:09 #2 Audi pits for tyres and fuel McNish stays in
17:12 #4 Audi Sport North America pits
17:15 Elton Julian into Greaves Motorsport Zytek #41
17:16 #32 Lotus hits barrier at La Source maybe on cold tyres having just rejoined from pit
17:17 #32 lotus spins into wall on drop down to Eau Rouge
17:18 #32 slowly making its way back to pits
17:19 #2 Audi into the gravel but keeps going
17:21 McNish was driving #2 Audi when it ran wide into the gravel ..
17:22 No obvious damage to the #2 Audi car after its trip through the gravel.
17:27 #50 Labre Competition Corvette runs wide and rejoins
17:28 At the half way point the leader #3 Audi has completed 79 laps and has a lead of 15 secs over #1 Audi
17:28 #32 Lola has bent track rod after it's accident
17:30 Half way through the race and the rain has held off and the track is dry.
Jeff Carter
Photo: FRANCORCHAMPS (LIEGE, BELGIUM), SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS CIRCUIT, 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, RACE 5th May, 2012. #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro