24H Le Mans 18 Hour report: Porsche lead unpredictable race
In an edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans where absolutely nothing can be taken for granted, the No.1 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Jani-Lotterer-Tandy still leads as the race approaches its final quarter,
In an edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans where absolutely nothing can be taken for granted, the No.1 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Jani-Lotterer-Tandy still leads as the race approaches its final quarter, just the distance of a 6-hour WEC race remaining.
The highlights of the last six hours are as follows:
- The Porsche has a 12-lap lead over the next best-placed car which is the No.38 Jackie Chan DC Racing LMP2 ORECA of Tung-Laurent-Jarvis.
- The No.2 Porsche and No.8 Toyota continue to circulate, both desperately trying to make up as many laps as possible in order to score the all-important double points for the FIA World Endurance Championship.
- The WEC LMP2 teams of the JOTA-run Chinese team, Vaillante Rebellion, Signatech Alpine and Manor are all circulating strongly, but safety car and slow zone periods plus some off-track excursions have meant that the gaps between them have stretched with few on the same lap.
- After consistently being in the top three in class, the No.31 Vaillante ORECA of Prost-Senna-Canal is dropping down the order after a long stop in the pit garage to solve a mechanical issue.
- In LMGTE Pro the order has changed several times but Aston Martin, Corvette, Porsche, Ford and Ferrari are all still in the mix and on the same lap – the only category where the competition is so close.
- At the 18 hour mark the WEC’s No.91 Porsche 911 RSR was chasing Corvette hard for the class lead. The No.92 Porsche is a retirement after Christensen hit the barriers at the Ford Chicane in the 13th hour.
- The No.95 Aston Martin Vantage of Richie Stanaway had a hairy moment just after 08h00, going off into the gravel at Indianapolis and has subsequently had to pit twice for repairs to the front suspension, front and side bodywork.
- Ferraris are occupying the top three places in LMGTE Am, and the first WEC competitor is the No.61 Clearwater Ferrari 488 of Sun-Sawa-Griffin is in 5th.
Classifications for each hour can be found HERE
They say Sunday is the day of rest...@DanielSerra29 just smashed the all time GTE race lap record with a 3m50.950 at @24hoursoflemans pic.twitter.com/d6T0agR0CY
— Aston Martin Racing (@AMR_Official) June 18, 2017