Drama throughout first two hours: Toyota lead in the desert
Photo: Photo Copyright 2017 Marcel Langer/AdrenalMedia.com
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Drama throughout first two hours: Toyota lead in the desert

The headlines after the first two hours of the Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain

  • Toyota in control at Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain as they run 1-2 after two hours
  • No.8 Toyota TS050 HYBRID of Sébastien Buemi leads through majority of second hour but No.7 inherits lead just before third hour approaches
  • José Maria Lopez has 4-second lead over No.8 TS050 HYBRID now driven by Kazuki Nakajima
  • Typically entertaining wheel-to-wheel action punctuates first hours 
  • Porsche third and fourth with No.1 of Nick Tandy heading No.2 with Brendon Hartley behind the wheel
  • Early in race Timo Bernhard in the No.2 loses one minute with unscheduled pit stop after getting a marker bollard stuck under the front bodywork
  • All change in LMP2 class as No.38 Jackie Chan DC Racing car pushes to the front after catching Nicolas Lapierre’s Signatech Alpine Matmut which nurses double stinted tyres
  • Ho-Pin Tung stretches lead to 18-seconds in the Chinese car
  • Drama for title-leading No.31 Vaillante Rebellion as Bruno Senna is judged to have caused contact with Vergne’s CEFC Manor TRS car. Five second penalty applied at pit stop which has to be taken by Julien Canal who places second
  • As it stands No.38 Jackie Chan DC Racing drivers will take title
  • Ford to the fore in LMGTE Pro as Andy Priaulx takes the lead for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing after hunting down Sam Bird’s tyre stricken Ferrari 
  • However, Kevin Estre catches Priaulx and snatches the lead in No.92 Porsche 911 RSR
  • Bird slips to fourth position as No.92 Porsche and No.51 Ferrari also move ahead on fresher rubber
  • Rigon takes over after AF Corse elect to make early second pit stop for new Michelins
  • No.95 Aston Martin drops back after brief contact from No.13 Vaillante Rebellion
  • LMGTE Am sees Spirit of Race Ferrari take over the lead after first scheduled stop as Miguel Molina opens gap to 30-seconds
  • Paul Dalla Lana second in No.98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage and in line to take title as it stands 
  • Dempsey-Proton Porsche 911 RSR places third
     
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