There is now just under 20 hours remaining in the 62nd edition of the Rolex 24 Hours, and it’s a Cadillac 1-2 up front.
The #01 Ganassi-run V-Series.R still leads and didn’t pit during the Full-Course Yellow which disrupted the hour and has a half-second advantage over the #31 Action Express example. The #31 did pit and has risen from fourth to third in the second half of the hour after efforts from Jack Aitken.
The #25 BMW Team RLL M Hybrid V8 is third, with Nick Yelloly up from fifth place after his fifth stop. The #10 WTRAndretti Acura sits fourth, making it four manufacturers in the top four.
In LMP2, the #2 United Autosports ORECA continues to lead, Nico Pino still running a steady stint. The #04 Crowdstrike by APR ORECA is second, Toby Sowery around 3 seconds back. The #74 Riley entry, with Felipe Massa in for his first stint, completes the top three.
The aforementioned Full-Course Yellow was called early in the hour after Lance Willsey in the Sean Creech Ligier got spooked in the middle of a GTP sandwich on the final infield corner before the banking. He lost the rear and ended up stopping at the apex, thankfully without making contact with the WTR Acura ahead and the RLL BMW behind.
Unfortunately for Willsey, he was unable to get it fired immediately, bringing out the Full Course Yellow and Safety Car.
At the very bottom of the timing screens, it’s not a pretty picture for the High Class Racing ORECA, which is back behind the wall following the repairs after Dennis Andersen’s Turn 1 crash in the first hour.
Laurents Hörr having pushed the car back into its garage by himself, reported that it didn’t drive correctly after the repairs. It’s not an official retirement yet, but it appears to be close.
The #88 AF Corse ORECA, which had been running well in the opening hours is also currently behind the wall.
A member of the team told DSC, simply: “we have to investigate, but we have no engine!”
The big headline in the GTD ranks was the drama for Pfaff Motorsports’ McLaren 720S GT3 EVO. Halfway through the hour Marvin Kirchhöfer, who sat second after the round of pit stops during the FCY for the Sean Creech Ligier’s off, was seen limping back to the pits with no visible damage.
He would take the car straight behind the wall upon reaching the pit lane, where the mechanics began work on a possible wheel bearing issue.
With the McLaren tumbling down the order, at the turn of the hour the #3 Corvette leads, with the #75 SunEnergy1 Mercedes second, and the #4 Corvette third.
GTD is now led by the #96 Turner BMW of Robby Foley. The #12 Vasser Sullivan’s strong start to the race continues, the car sitting second ahead of the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin that’s third.
