Portimao 4 Hr Report: Mixed Fortunes for Toyota Gazoo Racing
The No.8 Toyiota driven by Brendon Hartley led the way after 4 hours but the sister No.7 car hit issues......
The Headlines after 4 Hours....
Hypercar – Leader: Brendon Hartley – No.8 Toyota Gazoo Racing
No.8 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 Hybrid Hypercar driven by Ryo Hirakawa continued to lead the 6 Hours of Portimao
Hirakawa then handed over to Brendon Hartley, who leads the No.50 Ferrari AF Corse 499 car driven by Antonio Fuoco
· No.51 Ferrari hits braking concerns in fourth hour as Antonio Giovinazzi is forced to run without brake-by-fire and as a consequence he loses third place to the No.6 Porsche Penske 963 driven by Kevin Estre.
Giovinazzi then loses fourth places to No.94 Peugeot TotalEnergies 9X8 driven by Gustavo Menezes and the second Porsche 963 with Frederic Makowiecki aboard.
· But after brief repairs Giovinazzi is able to re-claim the position after adjusting to the issues which include the Ferrari AF Corse team turning off a front technical system.
· Pier Guidi then catches and passes the No.5 Porsche Penske as it fights for final podium position with Cadillac and No.94 Peugeot 9X8.
· No.5 Porsche Penske 963 loses time just before the fifth hour as Michael Christensen tours in to the pits.
· No.93 Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar continues strong recovery drive and is placed eighth in Hypercar.
· Glickenhaus still run ninth ahead of non-Hybrid rivals Floyd Vanwall.
· The delayed No.7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar continues to run albeit seven laps adrift with Jose-Maria Lopez in the cockpit.
4 hours done
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) April 16, 2023
HYPERCAR #8 Toyota continues to lead the 6 Hours of Portimao. #WEC #6HPortimao pic.twitter.com/Cjr2RPgIY3
LMP2 - Leader: Oliver Jarvis (No.23 United Autosports)
· Fight at front of LMP2 intensifies as Oliver Jarvis in No.23 United Autosports car and Mirko Bortolotti in No.63 Prema Oreca-Gibson battle it out through most of mid-part of race.
· Bortolotti harries British ace and the two are separated by just 3.2s as fifth hour arrives.
· Dramatic battles between the No.9 Prema, No.22 United Autosports and both WRT entries rage for the final podium position
Close racing between all four sees large crowd entertained as Filip Ugran, Phil Hanson, Louis Deletraz and Robin Frijns battle for supremacy.
· Inter Europol Competition also in mix as Albert Costa gets car in to top three leapfrogging several cars at last pit-stop.
No.48 Jota places fourth ahead of the No.41 WRT, No.22 United Autosports and No.31 WRT entry.
LMGTE Am – Leader: Nicolas Varrone (Corvette Racing)
· Intriguing LMGTE Am class sees No.33 Corvette Racing entry re-gain lead in mid-portion of race as Nicolas Varrone races at front.
But Argentinian remains under pressure from Iron Dames Porsche with Rahel Frey completing double stint.
Earlier leaders Richard Mille AF Corse run third but remain in contention for class win as Lilou Wadoux attempts to claw back gap to Frey.
No.21 AF Corse Ferrari 499 GTE Evo driven by Simon Mann places fourth ahead of similar No.54 Ferrari of Thomas Flohr.
Find full results HERE
