Toyota further consolidated its 1-2 standings after three hours of racing at a fascinating 6 Hours of Fuji.
The #8 Toyota Racing TS 040 Hybrid headed the #7 Toyota as the Japanese manufacturer continued to lead the way at their home circuit. The gap between the two cars, driven for most of the last 90-minutes by Anthony Davidson and Stephane Sarrazin respectively, had earlier fluctuated between 5 and 12 seconds.
However, the third hour of the race saw a brief full course yellow flag period which began after 2hrs 38mins. The caution period was activated to clear debris from the track and lasted for only three minutes. This ensured that Sarrazin was able to close the gap to Davidson to just 2.4s.
Ten minutes after the brief full course yellow period the leading Toyota’s made their third scheduled pit stop. Sebastien Buemi took Davidson’s seat in #8 and Alex Wurz doing likewise to Sarrazin’s #7 car. As the clock ticked to three hours of racing, the gap between the two was set at just over 10secs.
Third was the #20 Porsche 919 Hybrid with Timo Bernhard taking over from Mark Webber after 2hrs 10mins. The German drove flawlessly to remain in touch with the Toyota’s, just 32secs behind.
The #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro, initially driven by Lucas Di Grassi was elevated to fourth position when the team decided to pit Di Grassi under the yellow flag. Reigning FIA WEC champion Tom Kristensen took over in the cockpit.
The #14 Porsche Team 919 Hybrid spent much of the third hour in third place with Neel Jani completing an impressive double stint before handing over to Romain Dumas, who re-joined in fifth position.
The #2 Audi, driven by Benoit Treluyer, sat in sixth place but just five seconds from the fifth placed #14 Porsche 919 Hybrid.
There was a change in the LMP1-L class when the #12 Rebellion Racing R-One-Toyota pitted in the second hour with an unspecified technical problem. This allowed the #13 Rebellion in to a clear lead with the #9 Lotus entered CLM P1/01 in second place despite needing some rear bodywork repairs after it was hit by the #37 SMP Racing Oreca-Nissan.
In LMP2 the G-Drive Ligier-Nissan enjoyed a comfortable cushion over the chasing KCMG Oreca. Julien Canal was controlling a 52secs gap to Matt Howson who had taken over from Alexander Imperatori. The #27 SMP Racing Oreca-Nissan placed third with Maurizio Mediani attempting to chase down the KCMG car.
CLICK HERE for results for the race so far
RACE FACTS: 180 Minutes
14:54:15 #7 #51 and #98 reported for infringements under yellow flag conditions
14:52:11 Dumas now in #14 Porsche
14:51:31 Porsche #14 into pits from 3rd place
14:49:25 Toyota #8 into pits Buemi gets in
14:47:29 Toyota #7 into pits Wurz into car
14:41:58 Kristensen now in Audi #1
14:40:29 Green Flag again
14:40:09 Audi #1 into pits
14:38:23 Full course yellow to remove debris on track
14:35:51 Ligier #26 retakes lead in P2 after #47 pits
14:34:59 Spin for #37 Oreca with contact with #9 Lotus - rear damage on #37
14:31:51 P2 leader #26 Ligier into pits #47 retakes lead
14:28:24 Ferrari #51 retakes lead in GTE Pro from #71 Ferrari
14:19:28 Rebellion #12 has rejoined 15 laps behind
14:17:40 Ferrari #71 takes lead in GTE Pro
14:15:36 Audi #2 into pitlane Treluyer into the car
14:11:18 Spin for #9 Lotus
14:10:52 Bernhard takes over from Webber in #20 Porsche
14:13:16 Aston #95 leads GTE Am from #88 Porsche and #81 Ferrari
14:03:36 Ferrari #90 now pushed behind barrier
14:02:44 Aston #99 leads GTE Pro from #71 Ferrari and #51 Ferrari
14:01:17 In P2 #26 Ligier leads by 34 seconds from #47 Oreca and #27 Oreca
14:00:10 At 2 hour point #8 Toyota leads #7 Toyota by 4 seconds from #20 Porsche in 3rd
13:56:30 Ferrari #90 has stopped on circuit - Roda driving
13:53:09 Porsche #14 into pits Jani stays in
13:52:16 Toyota leader #8 into pits Davidson stays in
13:51:24 Toyota #7 into pits Sarrazin stays in
13:50:13 Audi #1 into pits Di Grassi stays in
13:48:36 Mediani now in #27 Oreca
13:46:16 Oreca #27 into pitlane from 2nd in P2
13:44:02 Rebellion #12 still in pits now 12 laps of the lead
13:42:44 Minassian in #27 SMP passes #26 G-Drive for 2nd place in LM P2
13:37:36 Oreca #37 has spin
13:35:22 Aston #98 of Dalla Lana spins after small incident with #8 Toyota
13:32:39 Rebellion #12 pushed into pit garage
13:31:43 Aston #99 leads GTE Pro and #95 Aston leads GTE Am after 90 minutes
13:30:37 Ligier #26 leads P2 by 30 seconds from #47 Oreca after 90 minutes
