For reference, GT3 cars 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 23, 27, 67, 69, 88, 96 and 99 have been placed in the A6-Am class by the organisers, with the rest classed in A6-Pro and thus not subject to a ‘joker’ lap time. Cars 67 and 96 (GDL Racing and Mike Racing Mercedes SLS) have elected to go for 2:06 joker, with the rest limited to 2:04. A total of 88 cars took the start.
1357: The formation laps found the Ram Racing Mercedes briefly shuffled out of position when the driver’s-side gullwing door opened, but starting driver Thomas Jaeger was able to close it with a strap attached to the inside panel and regained his fourth-place starting slot.
1400: After two green-flag laps, the start sees Ragginger mantain his lead through T1 ahead of Buurman’s Mercedes, while the rest of the field makes swift but controlled progress, avoiding any spins or accidents.
1403: Pastorelli gets the V8 Racing Corvette up to fourth at the start but starts to come under pressure from the KPM Aston almost immediately.
1405: The #109 Clio Cup makes a seemingly unscheduled early visit to the pits with a front-right puncture.
1406: Code 60 ‘virtual safety car’ is activated (60kph, no passing). The #167 Novarace Ginetta has stopped out on track after a smoky spin in T6.
1411: Under Code 60, SP2 is being led by the polesitting #150 GC, with the leading Porsche Cup car being the #26 Black Falcon car with Anders Fjordbach at the wheel. Some cars electing to pit while the race is neutralised. The marshals are dealing with an oil slick put down by the Ginetta.
1427: Code 60 comes to an end after a comprehensive clean-up at T6. The restart sees Jaeger get the Ram Mercedes up to third and Buurman pushing Ragginger hard for the lead but having to settle for second for now.
1431: The leading four cars beginning to catch significant traffic now, with Pastorelli looking racy behind Jaeger. Mucke holding station in fifth in the KPM Aston. Peter Kox is into the overall top 40 having started the Scuderia Praha Ferrari from the pits.
1435 Pastorelli all over the back of Jaeger in the Ram Mercedes as they scythe through traffic, finally managing to sneak past through a gaggle of touring cars into turn 13.
1438: Behind Mucke are the #33 SPS Mercedes of Lance David Arnold, the #3 Black Falcon Mercedes of Bleekemolen and the #9 Hofor Mercedes of Kenneth Heyer. Last year’s race-winning #1 Stadler Porsche is down in ninth, currently being driven by Rolf Ineichen. Marko Asmer is rounding out the top 10 in the GT Russian Mercedes.
1442: Rob Barff currently leads the A6-Am class (limited to 2:04 laps) in the #88 Dragon Racing Ferrari, running 11th overall.
1444: The gaps at the front have settled down a little, with Ragginger leading Buurman by 2.2 seconds and Pastorelli 4.8 seconds off the lead. The Ram Mercedes is still circulating fourth, but currently not showing on the timing screens due to a transponder issue.
1447: The #8 Triple Eight BMW with Joe Osborne at the wheel makes an early but scheduled stop for fuel. Meanwhile the #60 Speedlover Porsche is wheeled into the garage with a technical problem. Driver Yves Noel reports contact with an SLS putting him into the wall.
1451: The #30 Ram Mercedes reappears on the timing screens, just in time for a top-of-the-hour position recap: #12, #2, #19, #30, #28, #3, #33, #9, #1 and #10. Leading GT4 car is the #163 Optimum Motorsport Ginetta in 42nd overall.
1455: Buurman has got the gap at the front down to 1.1 seconds behind Ragginger, while the Novarace Ginetta that stopped earlier is now undergoing an engine change.
Stephen Errity
