At the mid-way point in the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the race is settling into a rhythm and Ferrari has re-asserted itself at the front of the LMGTE Pro category. Still in full sunshine, but with a strong breeze around the track, the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 of Bruni-Vilander had pulled out a lead of 24 seconds over the impressively-performing No.99 Aston Martin Vantage of Rees-O’Young-MacDowall before the Bamboo Racing-backed car pitted for fuel.
Taking its second place in class is the sister Aston Martin Racing entry, the No.97 Aston Martin Vantage of Mucke-Senna-Turner, with the No.99 now in third after the third round of pit stops. The Porsche Team Manthey 911 RSRs are also double-stinting their tyres and have also been in the mix.
In LMGTE Am, Aston Martin Racing’s two Vantage V8s remain in charge and hold 1-2 in class. The No.95 of Poulsen-Heinemeir Hansson-Stanaway held the lead until just after the 2.5 hour mark when they were overtaken by their team mates in the No.98 (Dalla Lana-Lamy-Nygaard). Third in class is the No.61 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of Venturi-Cioci-Perez Companc.
There was some slight contact between the No.75 Prospeed Competition Porsche and the No.60 Ferrari of AF Corse earlier a third of the way into the race but, following investigation by the Stewards, no further action was taken.
Full results can be found HERE
Fiona Miller
17:28:25 Track temperature now over 20C
17:26:56 Toyota #7 lap times slower by around 2 seconds a lap now 56 seconds behind the leader
17:18:40 Toyota #8 now leads #14 Porsche by 26 seconds on lap 79
17:15:42 Porsche #20 back into race after repairs - down in 21st place
17:12:44 Aston #98 leads GTE Am by 29 seconds from #61 Ferrari
17:11:30 Ferrari #51 leads GTE Pro from #99 Aston by 21 seconds
17:09:55 G-Drive Morgan #26 leads repaired #37 SMP Oreca by over a minute in LMP2
17:07:17 Toyota #8 leads Porsche #14 by 16 seconds on lap 74
17:04:11 Porsche #20 has failed right front driveshaft
17:00:31 Leading Porsche #14 into pits - no new tyres, #8 Toyota takes lead
16:57:57 Porsche #14 retakes lead
16:56:04 Toyota #8 into pits - no tyres
16:55:26 LMP1-L leading Rebellion R-One now up to 7th
16:54:09 Aston #98 takes lead in GTE Am from #95 Aston on lap 59
16:52:44 Toyota #7 into pits
16:48:53 Porsche #20 back into pits and pushed into garage - has crack in headlight
16:47:14 Leading LMP1-L Rebellion now up to 9th place overall
16:44:25 Ferrari #15 leads GTE Pro by 16 seconds from #99 Aston and #92 Porsche
16:39:37 Oreca #47 lost front left dive plane after hitting debris (maybe from a Toyota)
16:35:57 Rebellion #13 back out after long stop
16:33:54 KCMG Oreca #47 stopped early for check after hitting debris but all ok
16:29:26 Ferrari #51 takes lead in GTE Pro as #99 Aston stops
16:27:27 Aston #99 now leads GTE Pro from #51 Ferarri
16:23:11 G-Drive Morgan #26 now leads LMP2 by 36 seconds from #38 Zytek
16:20:46 Audi fixed a loose connector on #2 at last stop costing about 25 seconds
16:12:04 Toyota #8 takes lead after slow stop for Porsche #14 and 2nd fastest lap of race by Toyota
16:10:37 Ferrari #61 leads GTE Am from #98 Aston
16:09:26 Leading Porsche #14 into pit, Lieb into car
16:07:34 Treluyer into #2 Audi
16:06:55 Kristensen into #1 Audi
16:05:51 Toyota #8 and Audi #1 and #2 into pits
16:04:17 Toyota #7 into pits from 3rd and takes on tyres
16:02:44 Rebellion #13 into garage
16:00:33 Rebellion #13 running slowly on circuit
