Shanghai mid-race report: Rebellion lead LMP1 while Aston Martin head LMGTE Pro
Below are the headlines at the FIA WEC 4 Hours of Shanghai half-way point.
LMP1
- Rebellion Racing leads as Gustavo Menezes holds 35-second lead over No.8 Toyota driven by Brendon Hartley
- Rebellion Racing dropped back from pole at start of race as Norman Nato struggled with grip issues
- Team LNT’s Charlie Robertson led entire first hour in the No.6 Ginetta but car drops back in second hour after serving drive-through penalty for jumping the start.
- Sister Team LNT Ginetta driven at start by Ben Hanley serves same penalty and drops to fifth position
- Toyota Gazoo Racing place second and third with No.8 TS050 HYBRID leading No.7 machine
- Kamui Kobayashi was also forced to serve jump start penalty which ensures that Jose-Maria Lopez takes over with a 35-second deficit to No.8 car
- All five LMP1 cars were tied together after first pit stops and just after one-hour mark just seven seconds separated them
- Team LNT run fourth and fifth with No.5 heading No.6 as third hour arrives
LMGTE Pro
- Aston Martin Racing lead typically close LMGTE Pro class with Marco Sorensen continuing good work of Nicki Thiim in opening stint
- The No.95 Aston Martin leads No.51 AF Corse Ferrari by 18-seconds
- Pole sitting No.92 Porsche 911 RSR lost lead at the start but re-gained it via move by Kevin Estre in first hour
- No.92 though gets 10-second pit penalty for an unsafe release at first pit stop and drops back to third place with Michael Christensen at wheel
LMP2
- LMP2 sees Roberto Gonzalez lead after two hours in JOTA Oreca-Gibson
- Anthony Davidson set foundation for the push to the front after coming through LMP2 the field in opening hour
- Early leaders, the No.37 Jackie Chan DC Racing entry, led with Will Stevens until second stint when tyre strategies played out
- Ho-Pin Tung still places second however ahead of High Class Racing entry driven by Kenta Yamashita
- United Autosports place fourth as they adapt their strategy after early pit stop to remove debris from air-intake
- Racing Team Nederland fall back after Giedo Van Der Garde gets penalty for contact just after first hour mark
Green lights out, we roar like dragon for the next 4 hours in Shanghai, China
— WEC (@FIAWEC) November 10, 2019
Have a great race to you all! #4hShanghai #WEC pic.twitter.com/W2lPVdgmka
LMGTE Am
- TF Sport enjoy solid lead of LMGTE Am in second hour as Salih Yoluc completes double stint
- This hands temporary lead to No.54 AF Corse Ferrari driven by Francesco Castellacci
- Recovering No.98 Aston Martin Racing places second as Darren Turner takes over in cockpit from Paul Dalla Lana
- Pole sitting No.56 Team Project 1 Porsche 911 RSR led away from LMGTE but Egidio Perfetti penalised for contact with Paul Dalla Lana’s No.98 Aston Martin on opening lap.
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