0830: Leinders tells pit reporter: “We’re the only non-Audi in the top five. Dirk did an excellent double stint, we’re catching a second here and there, but it’s a tough fight.”
0840: Routine stop for the #63 Mercedes, which suffered earlier delays but is now running eighth overall in the hands of Adam Christodolou after consistent night-time running.
0851: #1 Audi pits and is backed into the garage for a brake change.
0923: #25 Gentlemen Trophy Audi in the pits with front-end damage after its crash.
0926: A brief safety car due to the #25 Audi crashing seemed like the perfect opportunity for the #77 BMW to perform a brake change – but it didn’t remain out long enough and the change was done under green-flag conditions. Luhr is in the car now.
0930: Puncture for the ninth-place #84 Mercedes – Schneider at the wheel and gets it safely back to the pits.
0937: Another puncture – this time it’s the #35 Nissan of Chiyo, lying just outside the the top 40.
0946: RJN Nissan boss Bob Neville tells pit reporter “the tyres are looking okay when they’re coming off after normal stints, so the punctures can only be the result of debris.”
1001: The regular pattern of the race established overnight continues, with the #77 BMW and #1 Audi trading the lead as their pitstops cycle.
1015: 15 minutes until we have six hours to go – the same duration as the season-ending race at the Nurburgring in September!
1017: Routine stop for the #86 Mercedes from sixth – GT3 newbie Jazeman Jafaar gets in.
1021: Puncture for the #350 Duqueine Engineering Ferrari, currently driven by Paul Lanchere and sitting fifth in the Gentlemen class – he makes it back to the pits.
1030: Max Gotz to pit reporter: “I pushed quite hard, it was an amazing stint, I was fighting with a lot of cars. It’s not so easy this year – Audi and BMW are strong and we’re struggling with set-up. I’ve already done eight hours and have two more to do later.”
1050: The Villorba Corse Ferrari has lost the lead of Pro-Am after problems restarting the engine during a pit stop. Class lead passes to #79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW, currently with Alexander Sims at the wheel.
1056: Contact between #84 Mercedes and Leonard Motorsport Aston – Primat spins and continues and the latter pits straight away.
1108: Some front splitter repairs to the #7 Bentley in the garage – and a puncture for the #35 Nissan.
1123: Markus Winkelhock from the #1 Audi reports: “Everything’s okay – no strange noises and balance is okay. I hope it continues like this to the end. It will be very close, so we’ll keep pushing until the last lap. We’ll save over a minute if we don’t change brake discs and pads again before the end, so that’s the plan.”
1127: Ecurie Ecosse BMW’s Alexander Sims after his triple stint: “Ambient temperature is low, car is really nice to drive and I can keep it smooth. We were planning a double, but I was feeling good so we kept going. The atmosphere around endurance racing is fantastic and working together with other drivers to be faster is fun.” Olly Bryant is in the car now, lying second in Pro-Am.
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