LMP1
The P1 runners were truly in a rhythm as the clock struck 8am at La Sarthe, with the #19 Porsche taking control at the head of the field as the safety car period began for the #96’s incident at Corvette Corner.
Hulkenburg’s lead in the #19 was extended considerably when the safety car emerged, as both it and the #9 Audi in second ended up behind the same safety car, (the #9 ahead of the #19) which therefore made the gap almost a lap. Mark Webber in this was also behind that train 5.6 seconds back from Rast.
Fourth in P1 was the #7 of Marcel Fassler and fifth was the #8 Audi of Oliver Jarvis.
LMP2
Oliver Turvey driving the Jota Gibson took third spot off Murphy halfway through the hour, the Brit had been setting mid 3:30s consistently in what has been a magnificent run since early issues by the English squad. On pace, nobody else could touch Turvey’s during his morning stint.
With the safety car out for the #96 Aston’s shunt, the #47 KCMG Oreca held a solid class lead, the #26 G-Drive Ligier was second and the #38 Jota Gibson, as before mentioned, was third. Making up the top five was the Murphy Oreca and #28 G-Drive Ligier.
GTE
Chicken Pox ridden Pedro Lamy’s work was done for the time being at least and handed a good car to Paul Dalla Lana, two minutes ahead of Bertolini’s SMP Ferrari.
There was drama however, as the #96 car of Roald Goethe was involved in a huge accident at the exit of the Porsche curves. Goethe had allowed space for the leading #19 Porsche LMP1 but there was possible contact as the pass occurred, the Aston Martin unsettled and going off and spinning hard into the concrete wall on the outside. This was a big frontal impact, emergency crews quickly to the scene. As the hour closed the car had been moved away and a medical team had attended the driver, who was reportedly talking but complaining of some back pain..
Townsend Bell’s #62 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari had risen to third in Am at this point. The car had stayed out of trouble and steadily worked its way through the field to relieve Patrick Dempsey’s Porsche of the position.
As the Safety Car was sent out the #51 Ferrari took advantage and headed for the pits, its 5 minutes stop taking on new brakes. This handed the net lead in Pro back to the Corvette once more before the #64’s crew pitted for new rear brakes.
Positions:
GTE Pro:
#51 Ferrari: Vilander, 234 laps
#64 Corvette: Gavin; (pit)
#91 Porsche: Christensen; 2 mins
GTE Am:
#98 Aston Martin: Dalla Lana, 234 laps
#72 SMP Ferrari: Bertolini
#62 Ferrari: Bell
ML
