In bright sunshine and in front of an enthusiastic crowd of sportscar racing fans, the inaugural 6 Hours of The Circuit of The Americas is underway! As the first hour came to a close it is the No.8 Toyota TS030 Hybrid of Sébastien Buemi which leads the race, taking the top spot just as the first round of pit stops started.
The Japanese entry is ahead of the No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro of Loïc Duval who made a clean start and is now chasing the Toyota hard to try and retain the lead it held for much of the hour. The No.1 Audi has dropped to fourth place after making a longer-than-scheduled pit stop for repairs to the rear after contact with an LMGTE car. In third place in LMP1 is the No.12 Privateer Rebellion Racing entry.
The Safety Car was deployed on the first lap of the race for the No.31 Lotus Praga T128 of James Rossiter, the LMP2 car unfortunately being involved in a brush with the No.49 Pecom entry which led to its instant retirement. At the front of the category, it was the No.26 G-Drive Racing ORECA 03 Nissan of John Martin which held a narrow lead over the two OAK Racing Morgan Nissans – the No.24 of Alex Brundle and the No.35 of Bertrand Baguette being involved in a nose-to-tail, and sometimes side-by-side battle for position.
Fred Makowiecki’s No.99 Aston Martin Vantage V8 led the LMGTE Pro category away from pole position and has a narrow lead over a fast-starting Toni Vilander in the No.71 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia. The No.91 and 92 Porsche AG Team Manthey 911 RSRs are in third and fourth position in class, with the No.51 Ferrari and No.97 Aston Martin close behind them. The No.98 Aston Martin Vantage, which started from 3rd place in the Pro class has dropped down the order due to a technical issue, Richie Stanaway is now at the wheel and making up lost ground.
The No.95 Aston Martin Vantage of Nicki Thiim was another car to make a good start and led over the No.81 8Star Motorsports Ferrari 458 of Matteo Malucelli and the No.76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
RACE FACTS - HOUR 1
11:59:38 First stop for Rebellion Lola No.12 - Beche replaces Heidfeld
11:58:24 Audi No.1 lost a lap during its extended stop.
11:57:10 McNish took over the No.2 Audi from Duval at its pit stop.
11:56:18 No.1 Audi rejoins after repairs.
11:54:18 No.1 Audi rolled into pit garage
11:53:44 Leader Duval also in pitlane for regular stop in No.2 Audi
11:52:40 Audi No.1 into pitlane for repair.
11:48:33 Buemi retakes 2nd place after Fassler's incident.
11:47:26 Off track episode for Fassler as he launches the No.1 Audi off the curbs while passing a GT car.
11:44:16 Fassler in No.1 Audi finally passes Buemi in Toyota No.8 after a tough fight.
11:41:46 In LMP2, G Drive Oreca Nissan No.26 leads from the OAK Racing No.24 and No.35
11:39:22 Aston Martin No.95 leads LMGTE Am from 8 Star Ferrari No.81
11:37:32 In GTE Pro, still leading is the Aston Martin No.99 from Ferrari No.71 and the two Porsches
11:30:35 Incident between No.1 Audi and No.8 Toyota is under investigaton.
11:28:47 Contact between Buemi and Fassler. Both continue.
11:27:55 Leaders are now working through the back of the GT field.
11:26:50 Spin for No.98 Aston Martin. - Rejoins
11:26:00 Duval in No.2 Audi is building a lead as Fassler in the No. remains behind Buemi in the Toyota No.8
11:22:24 Possible problems for Dalla Lana in Aston Martin No.98 which ha dropped to back of GTE Pro field
11:20:05 Makowiecki in No.99 Aston leads LMGT Pro from Vilander in No.71 Ferrari
11:16:53 Buemi takes 2nd place in Toyota No.8 from Fassler in No.1 Audi
11:15:39 Back to Green Flag racing under the Texas sunshine after 13 minutes of SC.
11:14:33 Pit open and SC in this lap
11:09:19 Lotus No.31 appears to have had contact with the Oreca No.49 of Pecom Racing
11:06:39 Cars remain roughly as they were in grid order as we wait for Lotus to be recovered.
11:03:50 Behind the safety car, Duval in Audi No.2 followed by Fassler in No.1 and Buemi in the Toyota No.8
11:01:35 Safety car!
11:00:34 Lotus No.31 off at first turn.
11:00:44 Green flag! The 6 hours is underway
