Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,

Print

Posted in:

Hours 2&3, The Madness Begins! Getspeed AMG Leads, But Incidents Galore

The old adage that yellows breed yellows was proved conclusively as the race moved towards the end of the second hour.

To that point the race had been notably without major incident, a reshuffle at the head of the field through the pitstops saw Luca Stolz take the lead in the #2 Getspeed AMG after a spirited defence that involved a touch or two from Come Ledogar, now in the Dinamic Porsche.

The #88 AKKODIS ASP AMG also got by Ledogar, as did Kevin Estre in the #221 GPX Porsche before the Dinamic Porsche found its rhythm again and Ledogar had a fantastic duel with Davide Rigon in the #71 Iron Lynx Ferrari.

The first retirement of the race came in the second hour, the #26 Sainteloc Junior Team Audi, in the hands of Cezar Gazeau losing control over the kerbs on the exit of Blanchimont and firing the car hard into the outside wall – the car was able to make it back to the pits but was retired soon afterwards, the team suggesting a tyre issue may have led to the shunt.

The first penalties for track limits came soon afterwards, including a 25-second hit for the #88 AMG, but the first Full Course Yellow period saved the blushes of the first batch of miscreants, the penalties served under caution.

That caution period came after the #57 Winward AMG GT3 of Jens Liebhauser nudged wide by an impatient Henrique Chaves in the #188 Garage 59 McLaren, the Portuguese would pick up a penalty, the AMG would lose two laps awaiting recovery, an eventual Full Course Yellow followed by the Safety Car would bunch the field back up and allow everyone to stay pretty close to their fuel strategy.

There was though drama under the Safety Car Antares Au in the #9 EBM Porsche hit at La Source by Jonathan Hui in the #93 Sky Tempesta AMG, the 911 left to return to the pits with right side damage.

The race had gone back to green as the #9 struggled back but there was an almost immediate further caution the #33 WRT Audi off the road and there was trouble at the same time too for the #27 Leipert Lamborghini, a spin into the gravel that triggered another incident, the #21 AF Corse Ferrari hit hard in the rear by the #23 Aston Martin, both suffering significant damage and pitting for repairs, the Aston having a wretched start to the race, this incident coming after two early punctures.

And still, we weren’t done, the race back to green and then immediately back under caution, the #97 Beechdean AMR Aston Martin in the barriers after an unexplained incident for Theo Nouet with a second incident happening as the subsequent FCY was called, the #777 Al Manar Racing AMG running into the rear of the #91 Allied Racing Porsche – again both car pitting for repair – but both confirmed as retirements soon afterwards as was the #97 Aston Martin.

Finally back to green as the end of the third hour loomed and there were immediate tussles for significant positions, the #221 had fallen back down the order, possibly on pit stop strategy.

The race was still led by the #2 AMG, now in the hands of Maxi Götz with Dani Juncadella in the #88 close behind.

Thomas Preining was back up to third in the #54 Dinamic Porsche having passed Patric Niederhauser i the #25 Sainteloc Audi.

At the top of the hour though the top three chose to pit, Niederhauser putting the Audi into the lead for the first time.

In the classes, the #563 VSR Lamborghini topped the Silver Cup and was 10th overall, a couple of places clear of the #99 Attempto Audi.

Pro-Am was led by Dean Macdonald in the #188 Garage 59 McLaren, Ralf Bohn led Gold Cup in the #911 Herberth Porsche and Bronze Cup was led by George Kurtz in the #20 sps AMG.

Author:

Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,