Race update after 4 Hours: Toyota remain out in front while Ford reclaim LMGTE Pro lead
As the 1000 Miles of Sebring approaches the race’s half-way point, it’s Toyota Gazoo Racing No.8 which leads sister No.7 car by just over three seconds.
In the LMGTE Pro class, the No.67 Ford currently leads with Porsche, BMW, Aston Martin and Ferrari challengers running closely behind. Read more of the race highlights from the past two hours below:
• Fernando Alonso hands over to Kazuki Nakajima as Toyota continue in 1-2 formation at head of 1000 Miles of Sebring field
• Alonso held the lead over No.7 Toyota TS 050 HYBRID driven by Kamui Kobayashi and then Mike Conway
• Conway eats in to Nakajima gap and with a quicker pit stop latches on to stablemates tail to apply pressure. Gap sits at just three seconds as fifth hour approaches
• No.3 Rebellion continues in lonely third position after so far faultless run
• No.11 SMP Racing entry recovers from first hour puncture to place fourth but three laps in arrears of Thomas Laurent-driven Rebellion
• Third hour begins with Safety Car after Egor Orudzhev accident. No.17 SMP car is a retirement
• DragonSpeed run fifth in home race
• Forecast rain showers hold off as dry conditions continue as dusk arrives at Sebring
• LMGTE Pro continues to be close as No.67 reclaims lead in fourth hour with Jonathan Bomarito holding off advances of chasing pack
• Harry Tincknell takes over for his second stint at the wheel and initially holds an eight-second lead over No.81 BMW MTEK entry with Alexander Sims completing a double stint
• The No.95 Aston Martin muscles up to third position as Marco Sørensen and Nicki Thiim forge in to contention after a stealthy start to the race
• Thiim then applies pressure to second placed BMW of Sims and pair engage in entertaining battle with the Dane making his way through at Turn 3 despite slight contact
• Sims also drops behind Porsche pair as tyres deteriorate over his double stint. No.92 Porsche takes third and No.91 moves in to fourth
• LMP2 still has No.37 Jackie Chan DC Racing in lead as David Heinemeier-Hansson consolidates healthy advantage over Signatech Alpine Matmut entry which has André Negrão at the wheel
• Leader though has a five-second penalty added at pit stop after not respecting Full Course Yellow speed in fourth hour
• Jordan King undertakes his second stint at the wheel just before mid-distance mark and still enjoys a 27-second lead
• FCY called after Pastor Maldonado clips final turn tyre-wall and sheds bodywork on to track
• Maldonado returns to track after team replace rear-tail section and runs fourth in class
• Racing Team Nederland place third after early heroics by Nyck de Vries. Dutch team is well positioned after Frits van Eerd completes solid stint at wheel
• Drama in LMGTE Am as clash for the lead between Giancarlo Fisichella and Jörg Bergmeister sees the German spin off at Turn 1
• Spirit of Race penalised with stop/go penalty and slip down to fifth in tight class battle
• Team Project 1 recovers and runs third in hands of Egidio Perfetti
• This allows No.98 Aston Martin in to the lead as Paul Dalla Lana clears No.77 Dempsey Proton Porsche driven by Christian Ried
• The Canadian then stretches lead with apparent ease to open up cushion of 23-seconds as halfway point of race arrives
Keep up to date with the latest race action from Sebring via the official WEC app or for live timings click HERE.
