Hour 5: G-Drive out in front in LMP2

As the clock ticks towards the final hour of the 6 Hours of the Circuit of The Americas, positions continue to be traded in LMP1, LMGTE Pro and Am.  Only in LMP2 has G-Drive Racing maintained its position from Hour 4.

The No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro of Allan McNish leads the race overall, holding a 30 second lead over the No.8 Toyota TS030 Hybrid of Sebastien Buemi.  The No.1 remains in third place, one lap behind the leaders and two laps ahead of the No.12 Rebellion Racing Swiss entry.

Former Indycar driver Mike Conway is now behind the wheel of the No.26 G-Drive Racing ORECA Nissan and has a lap in hand over the No.49 AF Corse-run Pecom Racing car from the same manufacturer.  The No.25 Delta-ADR has made a steady climb to third place, Tor Graves now behind the wheel. 

In LMGTE Pro Frenchman Fred Makowiecki remains in control of the class ahead of the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of Gianmaria Bruni and the No.92 Porsche AG Team Manthey 911 RSR of Marc Lieb.  The big news in this class is the long, long delay in the pits for the current leaders of the World Endurance Cup for GT drivers, Darren Turner and Stefan Mucke.  After tall [third driver] Oliver Gavin limped from the No.97 Aston Martin with severe cramp due to a hastily-compromised seating position, Darren Turner was unfortunate to hit the kerbs hard and damage the front suspension.  Repairs are being attempted with championship points in mind.

The two LMGTE Am Aston Martin Racing entries continue to lead – No.95 ahead of No.96 by 15 seconds – the No.76 Porsche and the No.81 8Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia. 

RACE FACTS

15:59:30 Aston Martin No.99 has a narrow lead (2.6s) on the two AF Corse Ferraris.

15:57:55Toyota No.8 makes a scheduled stop. Fuel only. Buemi rejoins in 2nd.

15:53:34Toyota No.8 leads Audi No.2 by 26s but owes a pit stop. 

15:50:43Change of leader in LMGTE Am. Campbell-Walter in Aston No.96 passed by Thiim in No.95

15:43:11 Rees in No.50 Larbre Corvette spins and rejoins.

15:42:00 No.2 Audi makes a routine stop. Full service and driver change. McNish takes over from Kristensen. Toyota retakes lead

15:40:50 Krohn Racing Ferrari No.57 has now rejoined.

15:39:40 Gap between LMGTE Am leader No.96 and 2nd place No.95 Aston Martin is now 1.7s.

15:37:15 The catalogue of problems for OAK has relegated them to 6th, 7th and 8th in LMP2.

15:34:23 Rebellion Lola No.12 made its regular stop at the same time as No.1 did its stop and go.

15:31:49 Audi No.1 enters pitlane to perform its penalty.

15:31:04 Krohn Racing No.57 Ferrari pushed into pit garage.

15:28:38 Stop and go penalty for Audi No.1 for passing outside track limits.

15:27:00 No.97 Aston Martin remains in pit garage and looks like it will not rejoin.

15:24:10 Jonsson in Krohn Ferrari No.57 stopped on track near turn 8, then restarted slowly.

15:22:17 Kristensen now leads in Audi No.2 by 49s from Buemi in Toyota No.8

15:19:11 No.97 Aston Martin going slowly on track. Tyre smoke from right front. Returns to pitlane.

15:17:31 Small track exit for Pla in No.24 OAK, returns to pitlane. Debris reported on track.

15:15:13 In LMGTE Pro the Ferrari No.71 and No.51 of AF Corse sit either side of Aston Martin No.99 in second place. 

15:12:39 In LMP2, the Oreca of G Drive No.26 leads the Pecom Oreca No.49 and Morgan Nissan No.24 of OAK Racing.

15:10:06 Toyota No.8 into pitlane from overall lead. Davidson hands over to Buemi. Rejoins in 2nd.

15:07:18 Less than 2 hours remain to the finish.