Porsche lead Audi after first 90 minutes; Dramatic Ford fire in pits

In front of packed grandstands and in bright sunshine, the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship got underway at the Nurburgring this afternoon.  These are the highlights of the first 90 minutes of the 6 Hours of Nurburgring.  

• No.8 Audi of Oliver Jarvis leads after 90-minutes after overtaking No.1 Porsche 919 Hybrid driven by Brendon Hartley.
• Audi run 1-2 as Andre Lotterer also takes Hartley just before 90-minute mark. No 1 Porsche pits with a slow puncture.
• First hour sees top four run nose to tail to thrill large crowd
• No.2 Porsche suffers first hour spin after Neel Jani clips Stefan Mucke’s Ford. Marc Lieb recovers to place fourth.
• Toyota struggling on pace and place distant fifth and sixth with No.5 heading No.6.
• ByKolles CLM holds LMP1 Privateer lead after stellar first stint by Pierre Kaffer
• G-Drive Racing control LMP2 after rapid first stint by Rene Rast. Alex Brundle holds 30-second  lead over No.45 Manor Oreca-Nissan.
• LMGTE Pro sees fierce battle between Aston Martin, Ferrari and Ford.
• No.95 Aston Martin driven by Marco Sorenson leads with a 4-second gap over No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 488GTE.
• Three manufacturers in top three as No.66 Ford GT sits in close third position.
• Dramatic scenes in pits as large pit fire erupts at No.67 Ford pit. Andy Priaulx escapes blaze and car returns to action.
• KCMG Porsche 911 RSR driven heads LMGTE Am from title leading No.83 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia.
• Abu-Dhabi Proton 911 SR led first hour but drops back after slow pit stop.

Race Facts after 90 Minutes

14:27:51 Jarvis now leads by 3.8 seconds from Lotterer

14:26:50 Ford #67 rejoins after 23 minute stop after fire in last place 9 laps behind penultimate runner #86 Porsche

14:24:33 Drive through penalty for Manor #44 for PIT STOP INFRINGEMENT

14:23:08 Lotterer passes Hartley for 2nd place

14:21:56 Ford #67 back out in pit lane after fire

14:19:55 Lotterer is catching Hartley for 2nd

14:18:48 Audi #8 Audi takes lead from Porsche #1

14:15:31 Hartley now leads by less than 2 seconds from Jarvis

14:12:47 KCMG Porsche #78 takes lead of GTE Am after slow stop for #88 Porsche

14:11:09 Ligier #26 retakes lead in P2

14:09:41 Ford #67 pushed into garage after fire

14:08:28 Ferrari #51 up to 2nd in GTE Pro

14:05:43 Priaulx had got into Ford #67 to take over but now out of car and ok

14:03:43 Ford #67 has pit lane fire

14:01:52 Sorensen now in #95 Aston

14:00:40 GTE Pro leader #95 into pits

13:57:39 Strakka #42 Leads P2 after quick pitstop

13:56:08 Porsche #1 now leads

13:55:15 Both Toyotas in pits

13:54:46 Hartley in Porsche #1

13:53:28 Porsche #1 pits

13:53:02 Lieb gets into Porsche #2

13:52:01 Porsche #2 pits

13:50:56 Lotterer now in #7 Audi

13:50:01 Leader #7 Audi into pits

13:48:46 Audi #8 into pits

13:43:03 P1 Privateer #4 CLM pits - Trummer in

13:40:13 Ford #66 was involved in spin with #2 Porsche

13:36:31 Spin for #2 Porsche

13:35:47 Porsche #1 briefly took lead but Audi #7 soon repassed

13:30:19 Rebellion #12 had minor engine problem bur recovered

13:28:00 2.3 seconds between Audi #7 in first & Porsche #2 in 4th

13:20:32 Porsche #2 in 4th and Toyotas 5th and 6th

13:17:35 Fassler now lapping slower P2 cars

13:12:32 Leaders now passing GTE Am back markers

13:08:59 1:40.325 now for Fassler in Audi #7

13:08:11 Fastest Lap for Fassler in Audi #7 1:40.374 on lap 4

13:06:33 CLM #4 leads P1 Privateer class

13:04:58 #88 Abu Dhabi Porsche leads GTE Am

13:04:23 Aston #95 leads GTE Pro

13:03:57 G-Drive Ligier #26 leads P2

13:03:26 Audi #7 leads P1

13:02:42 All 33 cars complete first lap

13:02:10 Porsche #1 takes 2nd from #8 Audi

12:59:54 Green Flag