Race update after 2 Hours: Toyota leads while LMGTE Pro sees Ford out front
Photo: WEC / Adrenal
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Race update after 2 Hours: Toyota leads while LMGTE Pro sees Ford out front

The first two hours of racing at the 1000 Miles of Sebring has seen non-stop action including a fierce battle in the LMGTE Pro class between Ford, Porsche and BMW.

Super Sebring marks the WEC’s first ever race to be staged on a Friday and plenty has happened in the first 65 laps. The main news headlines can be found below.

  •  No.8 Toyota Gazoo Racing LMP1 Hybrid in hands of Fernando Alonso leads the 1000 Miles of Sebring after two hours as first Full Course Yellow is called
  •  Sébastien Buemi opened small gap to the sister No.7 Toyota in early running before handing over to Alonso
  • Gap stands at eight seconds as Kamui Kobayashi aims to reduce deficit in third hour
  •  Fifty per cent chance of rain showers in coming hours with a few spots already starting to fall across the Sebring track as third hour arrives
  • Third place overall was the No.17 SMP Racing car with Egor Orudzhev at wheel. Russian earlier took Nathanael Berthon for the position with decisive move but Orudzhev crashes the car just before third hour mark and brings out Full Course Yellow. Driver emerges unscathed.
  • No.11 SMP Racing car driven by Stéphane Sarrazin suffers a right-rear puncture in second hour and endures lengthy pit stop for replacement tyre and bodywork damage
  • Early trouble for No.1 Rebellion Racing car as Bruno Senna pits with mechanical issue and loses three laps
  •  LMGTE Pro sees fierce battle in opening exchanges as first Porsche, then BMW and finally Ford run at the front
  • Pole-sitting Porsche 911 RSR driven by Kevin Estre ran in lead for much of first hour but Augusto Farfus made bold pass to take top spot
  • Post pit stop shakeout sees No.67 Ford GT driven by Andy Prialux emerge in lead and British veteran extends impressive lead over chasing pack
  • BMW Team MTEK place second with Bruno Spengler attempting to chase down Priaulx before FCY period
  • Manic scrap sees multiple manufacturers entertain large crowd with No.92 Porsche of Michael Christensen in third and second of the BMW’s with Nicky Catsburg at wheel in fourth
  • No.66 Ford GT pits in second hour with an alternator problem and drops from contention
  • LMP2 witnesses the No.37 Jackie Chan DC Racing take control in LMP2 after the sister No.38 pole sitting car falls back with electrical problems
  • Will Stevens, David Heinemeier-Hansson and then Jordan King take single stints to combine and enjoy a 33-second advantage as third hour ticks through
  • Signatech Alpine Matmut lead chase of leader while No.29 Racing Team Nederland Dallara places third
  • First 90-minutes see Nyck de Vries complete epic stints as he forges through from back of grid to P2 in category before handing over to Frits van Eerd
  • In LMGTE Am, the fairytale continues for the Team Project 1 Porsche squad as Egidio Perfetti takes lead from pole sitting No.77 Dempsey Proton Porsche
  • Patrick Lindsey takes over leading car but is rapidly caught by Matteo Cairoli in No.88 Dempsey Proton Porsche as third hour approaches

You can watch the latest race action from Sebring via the official WEC app or keep up to date with live timings here.