Silverstone: 2 Hour Race Report
Photo: WEC / Adrenal
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Silverstone: 2 Hour Race Report

Kamui Kobayashi leads the 4 Hours of Silverstone at the race’s half-way point after a spectacular and incident packed first two hours of racing.

Two Safety Car periods and a Full Course Yellow period punctuated some typically excellent racing as Season 8 of the FIA WEC revved into action.  A one minute silence took place ahead of the green flag being dropped to mark respect for the tragic passing of Anthoine Hubert at Spa-Francorchamps yesterday.

Below are the headlines at the mid-race point:

-    Toyota run 1-2 at Silverstone after dramatic opening two hours at Silverstone
-    Mike Conway led for first 30 minutes but lost out to earlier stopping Rebellion pair of No.1 and No.3 cars 
-    Conway lost 6 seconds after pit lane congestion blocks way into pit stop position. This allows sister No.8 Toyota TS050 HYBRID of Sebastien Buemi through
-    Rain showers hit track after 90 minutes of racing to further spice up the action
-    Both Toyotas gamble on not pitting for tyre changes while Rebellion in third and fourth position change tyres
-    Brendon Hartley stays in lead but has Kamui Kobayashi right on his tail in fight for lead
-    Just before two hour mark Kobayashi wrests lead from Hartley and gap is 2.2s as second Safety Car arrives on stroke of third hour
-    No.3 Rebellion now driven by Nathanael Berthon places third ahead of No.1 R13-Gibson of Norman Nato


-    Pole sitting No.51 AF Corse Ferrari loses time after leading first 20 minutes. Left front tyre change means an un-scheduled stop for James Calado who slips to rear of category
-    Aston Martin Racing take over lead with No.97 car but are usurped by Porsche GT Team which runs 1-2 in LMGTE Pro with No.92 RSR-19 of Michael Christensen leading No.91 car of Richard Lietz
-    No.71 AF Corse Ferrari was running third in hands of Miguel Molina while previous class leading No.97 Aston Martin on alternative strategy and places fourth
-    But drama befalls Molina after a collision with Oliver Jarvis’ Ginetta brings out Safety Car just before start of third hour
-    Racing Team Nederland stretches advantage in LMP2 as Job Van Uitert puts in remarkable stint in wet conditions 
-    Second in LMP2 is the Cool Racing car driven by Nicolas Lapierre
-    Third is Signatech Alpine Elf as Safety Car arrives at half-distance
-    United Autosports retires in opening exchanges after suspected electrical issue leaves Paul di Resta on track and brings out early Safety Car
-    LMGTE Am sees Matteo Cairoli push the Team Project 1 Porsche into the lead after entertaining early fights between bronze categorised drivers 
-    Emmanuel Collard runs second in No.83 AF Corse Ferrari ahead of No.77 Dempsey-Proton Porsche

Latest results and times can be found HERE.