Hour 2: Toyota ahead of Audi after 120 minutes - just!

The second hour saw the nr7 Toyota TS030 of Nicolas Lapierre just ahead of the nr2 Audi R18 of Loic Duval.  The nr1 Audi, which was leading the race at the start of the second hour, had to pit for a puncture, dropping the world champions down the order.

The LMP1 Privateer battle was led by the nr13 Rebellion Lola Toyota of Andrea Belicchi, three seconds ahead of the nr12 sister car of Nicolas Prost.  The nr21 Strakka Racing HPD was hit from behind by the nr35 Oak Racing Morgan, spinning the car round at the final corner.

The LMP2 battle was still being led by Nicolas Minassian in the nr49 Pecom Racing Oreca with second place now being held by the nr38 Jota Zytek Nissan of Oliver Turvey a lap behind the lead car.

After the safety car period which ended 15 minutes into the second hour, and the first round of pit stops having all taken place either just before or just after the pits closed, it is Ferrari which is once again at the head of both the LMGTE Pro and Am categories.

In LMGTE Pro it is Kamui Kobayashi in the No.71 Ferrari 458 Italia who is leading his AF Corse team mate, Giancarlo Fisichella, in the No.51 car.  This reflects a change in position, the No.51 having had been awarded a stop and go penalty for abusing the track limits and therefore having made an additional pit stop.  In third place in the manufacturer-led category is the No.91 Porsche 911 RSR of Patrick Pilet, with Rob Bell in the No.98 Aston Martin Vantage close behind – the British driver being the only one of the leading pack to have completed a double stint at the start of the race.

In LMGTE Am, 8Star Motorsport’s Venezuelan driver Enzo Potolicchio has fought off the close attentions of the No.96 Aston Martin Vantage of Jamie Campbell-Walter, the No.50 Larbre Corvette of Fernando Rees, and the No.88 Proton Porsche.  The No.81 remains in control of the class.  The only incident of note in this class was when – very soon after the race went green again – Nygaard’s No.95 Aston Martin was spun by the No.26 LMP2 G-Drive Racing car but survived without contact. 

For full results click HERE