A sharp rain shower during the third hour shook things up with the LMP2 leader John Martin in the nr26 G Drive Racing Oreca Nissan spinning across the track on the exit of the final corner and hitting the pitwall. With most of the cars on slicks a full course yellow was declared which was withdrawn a short time later as the strong wind blew the rain clouds away from the circuit.
There was also a lead change at the front of the field with the nr1 Audi taking the lead. At the top of the hour the nr2 came into the pits with Duval handing over to Kristensen. The Dane pushed the car on the opening lap of his stint as the nr1 car pitted with Fassler handing over to Andre Lotterer. The German emerged from the pits behind the nr2 Audi but Kristenen found himself unsighted by an Aston Martin and Lotterer took advantage to sweep into the lead.
The nr12 Rebellion Lola Toyota extended its lead in the LMP1 Privateer class, ending the third hour two laps ahead of the nr13 Rebellion of ‘Frankie’ Cheng.
With the demise of the nr26 G Drive Oreca, which rejoined the track after a lengthy pitstop to repair the damage caused by the accident. The lead reverted to the nr25 Delta-ADR Oreca of Tor Graves, who held a 90 second advantage over the nr24 Oak Racing Morgan Nissan of David Heinemeier Hansson.
Ferrari and Porsche chasing hard, Aston still lead
Despite the rain shower, there were relatively few incidents during the third hour and at the midway point in the 6 Hours of Silverstone it was Bruno Senna – another former F1 driver making his debut in the FIA WEC – in the No.97 Aston Martin Vantage V8 still at the head of the LMGTE Pro category. At the end of the third hour he headed the No.71 Ferrari of Toni Vilander and the No.92 Porsche 911 RSR of Romain Dumas, just before the latter handed back to Richard Lietz.
The British prestige marque continues to also hold the upper hand in the LMGTE Am category, the Danish crew of Nygaard-Poulsen-Simonsen lapping very consistently to maintain its hold on the class lead. The No.81 8Star Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia has climbed through the field to take second, followed by the Porsche of Proton Competition.
Following a long period in the garage to make repairs, the No.61 AF Corse Ferrari has now returned to the race with Matt Griffin at the wheel.
Full results and classifications can be found http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com
HOUR 3 RACE FACTS
• 15:00:10In GTE Pro #97 Aston still leads and in GTE Am #95 Aston still ahead
• 14:59:13Lotterer retakes lead from Tom Kristensen in LMP1, Graves in Oreca #25 still leads LMP2
• 14:55:42Leading #1 Audi into pits Andre Lotterer into car and changes tyres, Kristensen now in #2 Audi
• 14:53:31Aston #96 has thirty second penalty for speeding in pit lane
• 14:52:38Duval closing the gap to Fassler 1.3 secs now behind
• 14:51:17#50 reported for overtaking under full course yellows
• 14:44:18Manager of #50 Corvette asked to report to race control
• 14:42:15#61 Ferrari involved in accident with #21 Strakka back out in pit lane to go back out but 40 laps down on leader
• 14:38:57#97 Aston reported to have traction control problems but still leads GTE Pro
• 14:35:18Lurid spin by #24 Morgan driven by David Heinemeier Hansson but luckily avoids contact
• 14:30:57#7 Lapierre Toyota returns to pit to change back to slicks
• 14:29:32#25 Oreca of Tor Graves leads LMP2 by a lap
• 14:26:51#1 Fassler overtakes #2 of Duval for lead, Sarrazin 1 min 20 secs behind in 3rd place Toyota
• 14:24:43#96 Aston and #88 Porsche reported for speeding in pit lane
• 14:23:51Toyota's going on to uncut "spongy" Michelin intermediates
• 14:21:53Full course yellows removed - #26 Oreca returns to pit
• 14:19:30Rain now easing on parts off circuit most cars staying out on slicks for time being
• 14:16:53Full course yellows at 14.16
• 14:15:58John Martin in leading LMP2 #26 Oreca hits wall on pits straight
• 14:14:09#96 Aston of Goethe off at Village
• 14:13:09Rain now falling quite heavily
• 14:11:40Team manager of #7 Toyota called to race control
• 14:11:10Small accident between #25 Oreca and #91 Porsche at Village corner
• 14:09:30#32 Lotus now out again 55 laps behind leader
• 14:06:56Leading Audi's pit stops due : #1 of Fassler into pits fuel only no tyres
• 14:00:32Class leaders at 14.00 LMP1 #2 Audi, LMP2 #26 Oreca, GTE Pro #97 Aston and GTE Am led by #95 Aston
