The nr7 Toyota's race hit a problem when Nicolas Lapierre went straight on at Turn 12 with front end damage after being involved in an incident with a back marker. The incident was terminal, a despondent Nicolas Lapierre went back to the garage on the back of a scooter. This brought to an end Toyota’s charge to close the gap to the nr2 Audi R18 in second place while the nr1 car of Andre Lotterer held a two lap advantage.
The hour had been interrupted by a 10 minute safety car period to clear some debris from the tracks, which closed the field up.
The nr21 Strakka Racing HPD-Honda of Jonny Kane had been running in fourth ahead of the nr12 Rebellion Racing Lola of Nicolas Prost but the two LMP1 Privateers moved up a place with the demise of the Toyota, putting the Strakka on the overall podium.
The nr51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 of Toni Vilander continued to hold sway in the GTE Pro class, 41 seconds ahead of teammate Olivier Beretta in the nr71 Ferrari 458. In GTE Am Gianluca Roda was now at the wheel of the nr88 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche over a lap ahead of the nr61 AF Corse-Waltrip Ferrari of Brian Vickers.
Jeff Carter
Track Data
Air t° :31.0°C
Track t° :35.0°C
Wind :NW at 4.8 kph
Humidity :69%
Michelin Green X Challenge Top 3 at the end of Hour 5
2-1-21
RACE FACTS – HOUR 5
19:07:48 #88 Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche leads LMGTE Am from AF-Corse Waltrip Ferrari #61 and Krohn Racing #57
19:13:20 Leading Audi #1 in pitlane for fuel, tyres, driver and a new nose.
Lotterer takes over from Fassler. Slightly extended stop with problems fitting nose.
19:18:45 Race number on the side of the Pecom #49 (2nd in LMP2) is intermittent - may require mandatory pit stop
19:20:53 Will problems with race number illumination claim another victim?
19:25:31 #41 Greaves motorsport has big spin after possible contact with a GT car. Rejoins with damage.
19:28:51 Safety Car out
19:29:52 Full course caution to recover debris
19:32:23 Jonny Kane in Strakka #21 makes a pit stop under SC
19:34:04 Stop also for #7 Toyota under SC - held at pit exit to wait for queue to arrive
19:42:37 Big spin for Lapierre in #7 Toyota still in gravel, driver out. Strakka #21 also going slowly
19:43:45 Looks like it could be the end of the race for Toyota #7
19:45:29 Strakka #21 makes pitstop for tyres and rejoins at race speed
19:47:21 Incident at turn 10 between #21 and #7 under investigation
19:49:19 Yellow flag at turn 11 due to debris
19:57:28 Can Rebellion #12 catch Strakka #21 to take a podium place in the last hour?
20:00:29 1 hour to go: Audi control top two places from Strakka #21. Starworks HPD #44 leads LMP2
