16.09.2017 - 23h30
No.1 Porsche extends advantage after 4 hours; Porsche takes fight to Ferrari in LMGTE Pro
The Headlines after 4 Hours at COTA 2017….
- Second half of the race starts spectacularly as Safety Car comes out for barrier repairs after accident suffered by Mike Wainwright’s Gulf Racing Porsche
- The ‘give and take’ battles continue throughout all four classes as field is bunched and shaken up by Safety Car
- No.1 Porsche 919 Hybrid continues to lead as Neel Jani holds off Sebastien Buemi’s No.8 Toyota. Jani then hands over to Andre Lotterer.
- Buemi drops back in fourth hour and No.1 Porsche enjoys an extended lead before fourth scheduled stops
- Swiss ace then hands over to Kazuki Nakajima who re-joins third behind No.2 Porsche 919 Hybrid
- Timo Bernhard placed third ahead of No.7 Toyota of Mike Conway, but Brendon Hartley makes it a 1-2 for the German manufacturer
- Mike Conway completes second stint before handing over to Jose-Maria Lopez who places fourth
- Gustavo Menezes scorches away from LMP2 pack to open a 35-second lead over warring rivals. American hands over to Lapierre who continues to enjoy healthy lead
- Monumental battle for second position in LMP2 as Vaillante Rebellion pair of No.31 and No.13 circulate closely
- Order changes drastically again after last round of stops as No.38 Jackie Chan DC Racing car of Thomas Laurent is elevated to second ahead of Rebellions
- LMGTE Pro still led by No.51 AF Corse Ferrari driven by James Calado but British driver has to fight No.92 Porsche of Kevin Estre which briefly takes lead after Safety Car shake-out
- Estre holds second position ahead of No.95 Aston Martin driven by Nicki Thiim
- Sam Bird takes over No.71 AF Corse Ferrari after making an early stop and runs sixth in class as tyre strategies get more complex as race matures
- Clearwater Ferrari and Aston Martin Racing still embroiled in battle for LMGTE Am honours.
- The Singaporean team have a 18-second lead over Paul Dalla Lana driven Aston
- Dempsey Proton Porsche moves up to third in class
