The Safety Car’s appearance in the crossover period between Hours 8 and 9 meant there was a flurry of activity in the pit lane. Many cars were held at pit exit as a result. However, the Safety Car would come in a mere three minutes or so into the hour, after the debris from the #25 car had been cleared from the scene.
The #3 Audi was fixed under the caution period and sent on its way, rejoining in fourth place and losing minimal time. “We fixed the starter number and rear body parts, and the car is working perfectly now.” – Brad Kettler, #3 crew chief said.
Greaves’s Caterham-sponsored Zytek then stopped out on track from 16th in class. It would lose a couple of minutes before continuing. Another LMP2 car in trouble was Jeroen Bleekemolen in the Race Performance Oreca #34. He was reported travelling slowly down the Mulsanne straight.
Greaves #41 made it back to the pits, and was wheeled straight into the garage. It wasn’t in there long though, losing eight minutes on track and a further four in the box.
The #25 meanwhile appeared to be in a very similar position to Tor Graves previous accident at the entrance to the Porsche Curves. The team sent mechanics to take a look but, at the time, already believed the car was out of the race.
Jann Mardenborough was really flying (but in a good way this time!) The #42 Greaves Zytek Nissan weas up to third in class and into the top 10 overall.
Kazuki Nakajima set the fastest Toyota time of the race in the #7 as he hared off in pursuit of Tom Kristensen in the #2, but promptly pitted at the end of a 13 lap stint – but the Audi bettered his time by a full two seconds despite a ‘moment’ at the first chicane.
The delayed #28 Race Performance Oreca Judd was first reported as running with no headlamps, and then a lap or so later, with no rear lights!
Nicolas Prost (Rebellion Lola #12) took 6th place from a delayed Nick Leventis in the Strakka Racing HPD #21.
The #92 Team Manthey Porsche 991 pitted from second place in GTE Pro to allow Richard Lietz to hand over to Marc Lieb.
Oliver Turvey was evidently enjoying his racing in the dark, and was reeling in Jann Mardenborough for third in LMP2.
Fastest man on track during the middle period of the ninth hour was Marcel Fassler, swetting a 3;27 and moving up to 16th overall in the recovering #1 Audi R18 – 11 laps off the lead though.
GTE Am saw Pat Long leading in the #77 Dempsey del Piero Porsche before pitting to hand over the car to Patrick Dempsey. Pat Long literally had to fight his way out of the car and past a pack of frankly ridiculously idiotic photographers. Dempsey subsequently emerged in second, behind Gianluca Roda in the sister Proton Competition #88 car.
Sarrazin and di Grassi pitted from second and fourth respectively – no dramas for either.
The #47 KCMG Morgan went for a late spin at the Ford Chicane, Alexandre Imperatori at the wheel, and recovered to continue unscathed.
Jann Mardenborough was doing a great job of fending off a charging Oliver Turvey – 3:40.7 from the Englishman was the fastest P2 lap of the race so far – Mardenborough though did a better job in traffic next time around and stretched his advantage again!
To round out the hour, the Krohn Ferrari #57 went for a spun at the exit of the Porsche Curves with the proprietor at the wheel. The car ended up facing the wrong way and another Safety Car period ensued as the marshals scrambled to assist its recovery.
GG
