The 22nd hour saw the retirement of previous long-time race leader the #28 Land Motorsport Audi R8 (below) due to clear-cut gearbox failure. This promoted the #16 Black Falcon Mercedes to second place, four laps down, and put the Konrad Lamborghini back in contention for a podium finish another lap adrift.
Elsewhere, the #2 Black Falcon Mercedes returned to the track after its retirement last night, the team clearly taking the opportunity to get some more miles on the new car in race conditions. With the WRT Audi having a comfortable lead up front, attention turned to the finely poised battle for second place, with just a lap between the Black Falcon Mercedes and Konrad Lamborghini and another lap to the fourth-place SPS Mercedes, currently being driven by Lance David Arnold.
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Electrical issues for the Konrad car as the clock approached the hour remaining mark tipped the balance in favour of the SPS Mercedes (below).
Going into the final hour, WRT held a five-lap lead on Black Falcon, with SPS a further four behind in third.
Hofor Racing continued its metronomic run at the head of the A6 Am sub-class and fifth overall, but just before the turn of the hour, Kenneth Heyer had to cede the position to a recovering Joens in the #4 C. Abt Audi, which had spent time in the pits but was fighting back.
Up ahead, third place changed hands again in favour of the Konrad Lamborghini, as the SPS Mercedes was pulled into its garage during what was looking like a routine final stop to tend to a problem in the engine bay.
The highest non-GT3 runner was the Porsche Cup class leader: Lechner Racing’s Sven Muller in 11th overall.
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