At the half way point of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps the nr7 Toyota TS030 of Kazuki Nakajima led courtesy of the nr3 Audi pitting at the top of the hour. Nakajima was 20 seconds ahead of the nr1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro of Marcel Fassler but the Audi had made four pitstops to Toyota’s three.
The LMP1 Privateer battle was led by the nr12 Rebellion Lola Toyota of Nicolas Prost having got ahead of the nr13 Lola Toyota during the last 60 minutes. The nr21 Strakka Racing HPD still trying to gain back the time lost during the spin caused by the contact with the Oak Racing Morgan.
The nr49 Pecom Racing Oreca finished the hour as it began in the lead of the class, with Nicolas Minassian handing over to Luis Perez Companc. The Argentine was a lap ahead of Simon Dolan in the nr38 Jota Zytek Nissan, with Roman Rusinov in the nr26 G Drive Racing Oreca now in 3rd place.
AF Corse’s Ferraris are still in control of the LMGTE Pro category – with the No.71 F458 Italia of Toni Vilander-Kamui Kobayashi now almost 20 seconds ahead of the No.51 Bruni-Fisichella entry as that car has had to serve a second stop/go penalty. This time their crime was for overtaking behind the Safety Car, but the advantage that the Ferraris gained over the Aston Martins during that period has so far given them a significant advantage.
In third place in the Pro category is a hard-charging Bruno Senna who took over from the double-stinting Rob Bell in the No.98 Aston Martin Vantage V8.
The distinctive orange No.81 8Star Motorsports Ferrari also remains firmly at the head of the LMGTE Am class, Rui Aguas currently at the wheel. He has had Stuart Hall in the No.96 Aston Martin behind him – the British driver having now handed over to his German team mate Roald Goethe. Over a minute behind the No.96, in third place, is the Young Driver Aston Martin with Kristian Poulsen at the wheel.
For full results to the end of the third hour click HERE
RACE FACTS
• 17:30:38Nakajima in Toyota #7 retakes lead by 21 secs from #1 Audi
• 17:29:31Leading #3 Audi into pits - di Grassi stays in
• 17:26:23Di Grassi now leads the race but pitstop due
• 17:25:24Audi #2 into pits - fuel only
• 17:24:15In GTE Am Enzo Potolicchio in #81 leads by nearly a lap from #96 Aston
• 17:20:11Longtail Audi #3 takes 2nd place from 2013 Toyota #7
• 17:18:10Stop and go for #76 Porsche for not respecting pit exit lights during SC procedure
• 17:16:53Strakka #21 has rear bodywork replaced after incident with #35 Oak Morgan
• 17:13:49Marcel Fassler now in #1 Audi after pit stop
• 17:12:33Ferrari #51 stop and go penalty for overtaking behind safety car
• 17:11:53Treluyer in #1 coming into pits, Kristensen will take lead #2
• 17:10:15Delta Oreca #26 takes 2nd in LMP2 from #38 Jota
• 17:08:16Porsche #76 under investigation for speeding in pit lane
• 17:03:27Ferrari #71 retakes lead in GTE Pro from #51 Ferrari
• 17:00:39Audi #1 leads now by 22 secs from #2 Audi
• 16:59:20Leading #7 Toyota into pits - Nakajima takes over
• 16:54:28Ferrari #51 retakes lead in GTE Pro
• 16:51:55Lola #28 and Ferrari #51 under investigation for speeding in pit lane
• 16:50:44Cars #91 #97 and #98 under investigation for safety car infringements
• 16:48:15Di Grassi into #3 Audi at pit stop
• 16:46:11Porsche #76 under investigation for safety car procedure violation
• 16:42:21Audi #2 into pit for 3rd stop
• 16:40:44Porsche #91 now leads GTE Pro from Aston #98
• 16:38:49Almost contact between #2 Audi and #7 Toyota for lead
• 16:35:36Front splitter changed on #35 Oak Morgan after incident with #21
