Longstanding Audi GT factory driver Laurens Vanthoor, who is set to join Porsche in 2017, signed off his career with the ‘Four Rings’ by steering Audi Sport Team Phoenix’s #15 R8 LMS to a dominant Sepang 12 Hours victory with Christopher Haase and Robin Frijns. The win also secures the Intercontinental GT Challenge Championship for Vanthoor.
The winning trio finished the rain-soaked SRO season-ending GT race two laps ahead of the competition, after a tactical pit stop just before the halfway mark meant the team were first onto wet tyres as the heavens opened. The second half of the race as the sun went down saw multiple lengthy rain showers, making conditions exceptionally tricky, especially so for Manthey Racing’s Porsches, which struggled with tyre pressures in the mixed conditions throughout.
After taking the lead with over six hours to go, Frijns, Vanthoor and Haase, who had struggled for pace all week on the Malaysian Grand Prix circuit to that point, were untouchable and created a very comfortable margin over their challengers behind who squabbled over the final two podium spots right to the end.
“It was really tough for us starting at the back, but in the end we found a good pace and that was the key for us to get to the front,” said Haase after the race.
“I don’t know what to feel, this is very special, I’ve spent a lot of time with Audi and been through a lot with them,” added Vanthoor. “It’s a chapter in my life which has ended on a good night, I’m not sad, I’m happy it happened.”
Coming home second was the #911 Manthey Racing Porsche which led the start of the race. It slipped back as low as fourth during the night hours, but Earl Bamber climbed in with two hours to go and went on a charge to secure silverware for the team.
The 2015 Le Mans winner made two brave moves in quick succession on the Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GT3 of Pasin Lathouras at the restart of the final Safety Car period of the race, and then Pierre Kaffer in the #16 Phoenix Audi at Turn 2 a lap later.
“Our car was so good towards the end with the rain down,” explained Bamber. “I didn’t realise I was actually battling with the Ferrari and that Pierre (Kaffer) was just five seconds up the road. I just pushed as hard as I could, it was a great result for Porsche.”
Rene Rast climbed aboard the third place finishing Audi in the final hour, in an attempt to snatch the spot off Bamber again, but the German was unable to reel the Kiwi in. Rast crossed the line in the final podium spot, 27 seconds ahead of the Spirit of Race Ferrari.
Rounding out the top five in the race was the #912 Manthey Porsche of Michael Christensen, Patrick Pilet and Frederic Makowiecki. Like the #911, the car struggled for pace in the wet conditions, failing to claw its way back into contention after a brake change during hour six cost the team a lap.
Eight laps off the leaders, HubAuto Racing’s Ferrari 488 GT3 came home sixth after a quiet race for the quartet of Morris Chen, Hiroki Yoshimoto, Shinya Hosokawa and Hiroki Yoshida.
Seventh spot was taken by another Ferrari, the Nexus Infinity 458 GT3 in the race, which beat out the JLOC Lamborghini Huracan of Manabu Orido, Kazuki Hiramine and Adrian Zaugg that had enough pace to score a podium but slipped back in the closing stages.
And finishing tenth after a valiant comeback drive was the K-PAX Racing McLaren of Shane van Gisbergen, Come Ledogar and Alvaro Parente. Various offs and a suspension issue cost the US-based PWC team a chance at the win early in the race.
After dropping out of the top 20 following its lengthy stint in the garage, coming home in a top 10 spot was a real achievement for the team in its first endurance event.
Further down the order in the other classes, the Peter Kox-led B-Quik Racing Team Audi R8 LMS Cup entry won GTC after a an early puncture. The team did well to fight back and finish ahead of GDL Racing’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo Huracan.
MARC Cars Australia’s Mazda won the MARC category, Ayelzo Ecotint Racing’s Ginetta G55 won GT4 after a lengthy battle with Simpson Motorsport and AMUSE & SPV Racing’s Toyota FT86 came home as the highest placed touring car in the race.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, there were no retirements or notable incidents in the race.
Images courtesy of Audi Sport and BuggerShots
