Hour 4: Toyota Back in Front at Top of the Hour

At the four hour mark it was the No.8 Toyota TS030 Hybrid which was shown to be leading the 6 Hours of the Circuit of The Americas, with the two Audi R18s having made one more pit stop than the Japanese car.  The No. 2 is still one lap ahead of its sister No.1 car, and the leaders are 3 laps ahead of the No.12 Rebellion Racing privateer Lola-Toyota of Beche-Heidfeld-Prost.

In LMP2 G-Drive Racing is holding station at the top of the class time sheets, Roman Rusinov having undoubtedly benefited from the inter-team rivalry between the two OAK Racing entries, the No.24 and No.35, which had been right behind him.  The French cars’ intense on-track battle led to a slight contact between them and both lost time, the No.35 or Baguette-Gonzalez-Plowman coming off worst.  Second in class is the No.49 Pecom Racing ORECA 03 Nissan, and the No.24 OAK Morgan Nissan is third.

LMGTE Pro continues to offer up great rivalries between Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche, the 1-2-3 in class currently in that order.  Toni Vilander in the No.71 AF Corse 458 Italia is leading the class by 11 seconds over Fred Makowiecki’s No.99 Aston Martin and the No.92 Porsche is in third.

Aston Martin’s grip on the LMGTE Am class has not loosened, and the No.95 and No.96 are now both ahead of the No.76 French–entered IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Raymond Narac.

RACE FACTS

14:58:21 Kristensen in Audi No.2 in 2nd after stop.

14:56:14 Leading Audi No.2 into pitlane for full service. Duval hands over to Kristensen.

14:49:42 Big spin for Treluyer in No.1 Audi at turn 12. No damage.

14:46:22 Gap from 1st to 2nd is now 48s

14:45:24 P2 leader No.26 Oreca of G Drive has minor track excursion at turn 10. 

14:42:54 New fastest lap for Duval Audi No.2 1:47.971 - No.1 Audi has fastest lap overall 1:47.315

14:39:54 Pitstop for No.99 Aston Martin that was leading LMGTE Pro. Makowiecki takes over in 3rd position.

14:36:33 Gap between leading Audi and 2nd place Toyota has now grown to just under 36s.

14:31:53 AF Corse Ferraris No.51 and No.71 exchange positions. Vilander passes Fisichella to take 2nd place in LMGTE Pro.

14:28:25 Duval is keeping a fast pace in No.2 Audi and is stretching out his lead. Gap now 30s to Davidson in Toyota No.8

14:23:30 Duval in Audi No.2 retakes lead after Toyota stop. Gap now just under 23s.

14:20:21 No.8 Toyota stops for full service. Davidson takes over from Sarrazin.

14:19:20 No.35 OAK finally rejoins race in 7th place in class

14:15:29 The No.35 OAK remains in its pit garage and is falling down P2 order.

14:12:40 Toyota No.8 takes the lead, but owes a pit stop.

14:11:01 Leader into pitlane. Duval stays in No.2 Audi, fuel and tyres only.

14:05:02 OAK sister cars No.35 and No.24 touch. Damage requires pit visit for No.35

14:00:42 3 hours gone - half way mark in race