As darkness started to fall properly, Darren Turner’s sector times were improving as he pulled a small gap of 1.88s to the Westbrook Corvette, Fisichella in close pursuit as the three circulated together on track before the #51 car pitted. Westbrook followed, handing over to Ollie Gavin with a change of tyres. Turner then followed, staying in the car and retaining his tyres to maintain a gap.
The leading #35 Ligier was now running seventh overall, posting the car’s best lap time of 3:39.542, with Tristan Gommendy also on a charge with a 3:40.415, again a personal best.
Back in GTE-Pro, further problems for the #73 Corvette – its front right bodywork needing attention – as Fisichella pulled past Turner’s Aston Martin on the Mulsanne . Turner wasn’t having any of it though, the Gulf liveried car in the Ferrari’s draft as they took the duel into Mulsanne corner and beyond. On the following lap Turner pulled alongside going onto the Mulsanne, the drag race held all the way to the turn-in at the first chicane where the Aston held the racing line to take the lead and start to work on to an advantage.
At the head of the field the P1 stop cycles were begun by the #2 Audi, Fassler taking over the second place car before Nakajima came in for fuel only and a return to the fray; this being the third stint on its set of rubber.
Fred Makowiecki was also on a charge having taken over the #92 Porsche, setting a best lap time of 3:56.085 in his effort to reduce the 17s deficit to his team mate, Tandy, running fourth in class.
Yellow flags at the Porsche curves signalled more problems for the #48 Murphy Prototypes P2, which had pulled up off line.
Paul Dalla Lana had a minor spin at Mulsanne Corner to lose time but not his lead position in GTE-Am towards the end of an hour that was largely, and thankfully, free of incident as the race started to settle into the night.
ML
