Hour 4: Trouble for Audi's championship leaders
The close lead between the two Audi R18 e-tron quattros at the head of the field in the 6 Hours of São Paulo came to an abrupt and unexpected halt just before the end of the fourth hour when Loîc Duval in the No.2 lost his right rear wheel as he exited the pits to rejoin the race. The wheel lodged itself on top of the bodywork and Duval managed to bring the car back to the pits on three wheels for a new set of tyres. The incident means that the No.1 of Tréluyer-Lotterer-Fässler now lead by a lap over its sister car and two laps over the No.12 Rebellion Lola Toyota.
In LMP2 Romain Rusinov has maintained the No.26 G-Drive Racing’s lead in class, a lap ahead of the No.35 OAK Racing Morgan Nissan of Martin Plowman who, in turn, has a very narrow lead on Martin Brundle in the sister No.24 OAK entry. The Pecom ORECA 03 Nissan is in fourth place in class.
It remains a Ferrari-Aston Martin battle at the top of the LMGTE Pro category, Giancarlo Fisichella’s Ferrari just two seconds ahead of the No.97 Aston of Stefan Mucke. Separating the German driver from his fellow countryman in the No.91 Porsche AG Team Manthey entry are the leading two LMGTE Am cars – the No.95 and 96 Aston Martin Vantages of Kristian Poulsen and Stuart Hall.
RACE FACTS
15:55:53 Treluyer in the #1 Audi now has a lap lead on Duval in the #2
15:54:46 Audi #2 returns to pits with wheel still lodged between wing and engine cover. Loic Duval rejoins.
15:52:38 #2 Audi driven by Loic Duval lost rear right wheel exiting pits. The car is limping back to pitlane.
15:50:59 Problem for #2 Audi as tyre comes off and lands on the car in the pit exit
15:46:56 Leading #1 Audi stops. Fuel and tyres but no driver change. Treluyer stays in.
15:44:07 In LM GTE Am, the 'Danish' Aston Martin is still leading, and in 3rd in the combined GTE classes. The gap at the lead of GTE Pro is still hovering around 5 seconds between #51 Ferrari and #97 Aston.
15:29:51 Air temperature has risen now to 29.8C and track is 30.6C.
15:21:03 The race-within-a-race currently in Brazil is for the lead of GTE Pro between AF Corse Ferrari 458 #51 and Aston Martin Vantage V8 #97, only 6 seconds behind.
15:15:52 Zugel in #41 Greaves Zytek has an off circuit moment, flying over curbs, but rejoins.
15:13:06 In LM GTE Pro the Ferrari #51 narrowly leads Aston Martin #97 and Porsche #91. In GTE Am Aston Martin #95 leads the class and is even 3rd in pro field.
15:10:21 In LMP2 , the G-Drive #26 still leads from #49 Pecom car and the Oak Racing #35
15:07:57 After both Audis have make their 4th stop. Treluyer in #1 leads Duval in #2 by just under 30 seconds.
15:05:17 Now at half way mark in the Sao Paulo 6 hours.
15:00:57 Kristensen in #2 Audi inherits lead but will pit soon.
Photo: AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE (INTERLAGOS, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL), 6 HOURS OF SAO PAULO, SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2013, RACE.