Silverstone: 2 Hour Race Report
Kamui Kobayashi leads the 4 Hours of Silverstone at the race’s half-way point after a spectacular and incident packed first two hours of racing.
Two Safety Car periods and a Full Course Yellow period punctuated some typically excellent racing as Season 8 of the FIA WEC revved into action. A one minute silence took place ahead of the green flag being dropped to mark respect for the tragic passing of Anthoine Hubert at Spa-Francorchamps yesterday.
Below are the headlines at the mid-race point:
- Toyota run 1-2 at Silverstone after dramatic opening two hours at Silverstone
- Mike Conway led for first 30 minutes but lost out to earlier stopping Rebellion pair of No.1 and No.3 cars
- Conway lost 6 seconds after pit lane congestion blocks way into pit stop position. This allows sister No.8 Toyota TS050 HYBRID of Sebastien Buemi through
- Rain showers hit track after 90 minutes of racing to further spice up the action
- Both Toyotas gamble on not pitting for tyre changes while Rebellion in third and fourth position change tyres
- Brendon Hartley stays in lead but has Kamui Kobayashi right on his tail in fight for lead
- Just before two hour mark Kobayashi wrests lead from Hartley and gap is 2.2s as second Safety Car arrives on stroke of third hour
- No.3 Rebellion now driven by Nathanael Berthon places third ahead of No.1 R13-Gibson of Norman Nato
- Pole sitting No.51 AF Corse Ferrari loses time after leading first 20 minutes. Left front tyre change means an un-scheduled stop for James Calado who slips to rear of category
- Aston Martin Racing take over lead with No.97 car but are usurped by Porsche GT Team which runs 1-2 in LMGTE Pro with No.92 RSR-19 of Michael Christensen leading No.91 car of Richard Lietz
- No.71 AF Corse Ferrari was running third in hands of Miguel Molina while previous class leading No.97 Aston Martin on alternative strategy and places fourth
- But drama befalls Molina after a collision with Oliver Jarvis’ Ginetta brings out Safety Car just before start of third hour
- Racing Team Nederland stretches advantage in LMP2 as Job Van Uitert puts in remarkable stint in wet conditions
- Second in LMP2 is the Cool Racing car driven by Nicolas Lapierre
- Third is Signatech Alpine Elf as Safety Car arrives at half-distance
- United Autosports retires in opening exchanges after suspected electrical issue leaves Paul di Resta on track and brings out early Safety Car
- LMGTE Am sees Matteo Cairoli push the Team Project 1 Porsche into the lead after entertaining early fights between bronze categorised drivers
- Emmanuel Collard runs second in No.83 AF Corse Ferrari ahead of No.77 Dempsey-Proton Porsche
Latest results and times can be found HERE.
Whatever it is that you love, whether it's racing or something else entirely, do as much of it as you possibly can.
— WEC (@FIAWEC) September 1, 2019
Gentlemen, the #4hSilverstone has started, please race safe, race hard and give your best!#WEC pic.twitter.com/IjS1PFKEO2
