The seventh hour began with some excitement in the top class as Brendon Hartley found himself staring at the Arnage tyre-wall and seemingly unable to find a gear. After quite a few seconds of frantic activity, the Kiwi managed to select reverse and the 919 Hybrid completed the lap. The car was on its in-lap anyway, and Mark Webber climbed aboard the #20 for his first stint in the race for 15 years.
The Racing Gods were clearly very upset with Prospeed this week and the #79 Weather Tech 997 RSR was in the wars again, having picked up another puncture (rear-right) and Jeroen Bleekemolen again had to nurse the car home for several miles. The car was seventh in class and 43rd overall as it reached the pitlane; the car being refuelled before being backed into the garage.
The #13 Rebellion was sadly confirmed as a retirement – powertrain failure – while the #66’s spin was caused by a braking issue. Calipers and discs were changed and the car rejoined.
The #42 Caterham Zytek was running with a repaired toe-link after being rear-ended early in the race, but a stop to replace the link cost them about 15 minutes. Chris Dyson; “The guys tried to repair it, but with 17 hours remaining, the sensible thing was to get it changed.”
The earlier delay to the #14 Porsche Hybrid wasn’t caused by the fuel pump, it transpired, but by a 20-cent screw inside the pump that in any case required the entire assembly to be replaced! Romain Dumas was now in the car in sixth – still five laps down.
The #35 G-Drive Ligier regained the lead when the Alpine pitted, but the #47 KCMG suffered a suspension failure in the Porsche Curves and Alexander Imperatori was a passenger as the car speared across the gravel trap and hit the tyres. The car ended up on the track at a very fast part of the circuit and the Safety Car was immediately scrambled. The driver tried to continue, but it soon became apparent that its race was run. This car was a full-season FIA WEC entry and the loss of championship points would undoubtedly hurt.
The timing of the caution was also painful for Audi, with the #2 R18 having just completed a scheduled stop only to find the pit-exit closed. Marcel Fässler was thus obliged to wait for the Safety Car to pass the pits before being released and the lead Toyota now had a full lap lead. Nakajima pitted next time round, but was not delayed and still held a two-and-a-half-minutes advantage over the #2 when the race went green on Lap 100 at 21:46.
The #53 GTE-Am RAM Racing Ferrari, meanwhile, was in the midst of a lengthy stop as significant gearbox issues were being seen to.
More trouble for the #66 Ferrari, with a rear left puncture requiring yet another stop.
As the light began to fade, we had an excellent fight for the lead of GTE-Pro. Richard Westbrook still led the class in the #74 Corvette, but Darren Turner had closed right up and the two were nose to tail for a full lap and the pass finally took place into the first chicane.
Giancarlo Fisichella was also with the two leaders, but a stop at the seven-hour mark left the fight for the lead to continue as a duel.
MH
