24H Le Mans 2018 6 Hour Report: Toyota in control
An incident-filled first six hours at Le Mans sees Toyota Gazoo Racing firmly in control with the No.7 TS050 HYBRID currently 14 seconds ahead of the sister No.8 car.
The start was given in front of packed grandstands by Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, with guest of honour Michael Fassbender also present.
SMP Racing’s No.17 BR Engineering BR1-AER is currently third overall, one lap behind the Toyotas after a solid run by the Russian team. Unfortunately, the sister No.11 car was not so lucky and spent many hours in the pits with an engine issue. Jenson Button is now at the wheel and back on track.
Rebellion Racing had a difficult start to the race after André Lotterer in the No.1 R13 made contact with one of the Toyotas and lost its front bodywork requiring a stop which lost them time. The two Swiss cars are currently running 4th and 5th overall.
LMGTE Pro has, as might have been expected, provided some of the closest and most exciting racing so far. Porsche GT Team’s 91 and 92 have led since the start, with the No.92 profiting from one of several slow zones to edge their team mates. Porsche 911 RSRs currently fill 1st, 2nd and 4th places in class, with BMW Team MTEK’s No.81 having a strong run to 3rd place.
Ford GTs have put up the strongest challenge to the Porsches so far, with the AF Corse Ferraris having various problems which have delayed them somewhat. Aston Martin Racing’s new Vantage AMRs have struggled for pace but are lapping consistently.
In LMP2 G-Drive Racing is holding station at the head of the class, with Idec Sport and Signatech Alpine Matmut close behind. Both Jackie Chan DC Racing WEC cars suffered set backs early in the race which cost them time but they are both running well now. The DragonSpeed LMP2 car lost a wheel just after the first hour but returned to the pits for repairs.
Dempsey Proton Racing has been at the front of the LMGTE Am class for nearly the whole of the first quarter, and as the 6th hour was completed it was the No.77 Porsche 911 RSR which led by over a lap. Behind them was the JMW Motorsport Ferrari and the Team Project 1 Porsche which is making its debut at Le Mans.
The only official retirement to date is the No.4 ByKolles ENSO CLM P1/01 Nismo after a heavy crash at the Porsche Curves with Dominik Kraihamer at the wheel. Fortunately the Austrian exited the car unharmed.
All results so far can be found HERE
