The #91 Porsche 911 RSR pits, and so do their rivals, the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia. Porsche beats Ferrari. We have Porsche now leading in class, with the Manthey factory team. The Porsche is going to be chasing down the Ferrari which has to pit yet. It will be Michael Christensen against Gianmaria Bruni, as we're inside the last hour. Marcel Fassler has a 9/10ths of a second lead over Neel Jani, with Sebastien Buemi third, in the Toyota. Sam Bird battles with Pepe Derani for G Drive in LMP2. Francois Perodo pits the Ferrari, with Victor Shaytar in a similar car, giving chase, in LM GTE Am.
Perrodo is out, and Rui Aguas, is in. Audi and Porsche side by side in Luffield, through the twisty corners. Marcel Fassler goes by Neel Jani. Jani, is bested by the Audi, for now. Will the advantage be enough to stop the 919 Hybrid? Here comes the Porsche. No dice for Jani! This is amazing. It's battery vs. diesel, and hybrid vs. petrol. It's like the playbook in an NFL football game. Sebastien Buemi is closing up. He's doing 1:44's, while these other two blokes are doing 1:45 and 1:46 times as Marcel Fassler slides across the astro turf.
Neel Jani is in for the last stop of his race. Fassler has gone through to the lead of this motor race. Sebastien Buemi will take second. He has to pit again and so does Stephane Sarrazin. Oliver Jarvis is also in contention. This is a long stop for much fuel for the Porsche. Ooh. Tires came out too late. Was that one tire? Yes. Left front only. Oh boy! Toyota and Audi need stops. But, for the Audi, it should be a splash and a dash. The top three and four cars, have either Austrian or Swiss drivers, as ByKolles presses Control Alt. Delete, and it's game over for their car, between Farm and Village.
That car used to be the Lotus T128, but it has a new tub. Meanwhile, Audi leads Toyota by 34 seconds. When will Audi take their final pit stop? It will be a quickie. Kudos to Nissan. They are getting ready for Le Mans. They have a show car, here at Silverstone. They are also racing in the Blancpain Endurance Series... a race you will find out about, on this blog.
Marcel Fassler clips the curb at Copse, and keeps pushing. They will need the quick pit stop mentioned a bit earlier. We're into the last half hour of this race. Marcel Fassler is still leading as the two G Drive cars battle for LMP2. Pepe Derani gets back on the lead lap. The race leader under investigation, by the stewards, for something. But, Marcel Fassler, continues to lead this race. ESM could be on the podium in LMP2.
In the next five minutes, Audi, and Toyota, will need to pit. #1 and #7 both need a splash. Game on. Mind the gap. 20 minutes to go. Box, box, box. Box, for a splash. Buemi is in. P2 leader, Felipe Derani is in pit lane. No tires. Fuel only. A longer fill for Toyota. Audi will have an advantage. This is going to be close. Oh my! Stop and go penalty for the #7! Come down the lane, twice. That's too much. The Porsche did the same thing, trying to get around the Aston Martin. It was pulled, because he wasn't balked by the Aston.
Porsche engineers are telling Neel Jani about this penalty for Audi. 20 seconds in the lane, is lost time. Audi will fight it. But, get in and out quickly, to make up time. Marcel Fassler has to pit. He's seeing through the red haze. Here comes the Audi. Stop and go. Fuel now, and then, the pit stop. What drama in the last stages. They'll actually still have to serve the penalty. Say what? Less then fifteen minutes to go in this race.
Audi just served the penalty. Porsche runs wide. Did Audi dodge a bullet? Can they hang on for the win? Marcel Fassler completes another lap. 195 laps done. 714 miles. We're well past 1,000 kilometers. Can Alex Wurz play a part here? Pedro Lamy is doing well in LM GTE Am for Aston Martin, while Gianmaria Bruni leads LM GTE Pro. Nine minutes to go. The ELMS race yesterday, went down to contact, in a pass for the race lead.
Porsche is looking for two wins in two races, after winning the finale last year. We have wheel to wheel racing. Efficient technology, doesn't have to be tedious and boring. Marcel Fassler leads by eight seconds. 1:43.4, 1:43.1, 1:43 flat. 1:44.3. Buemi is closing up. This race ain't over until the fat lady sings. The FIA/ACO script writer, is demanding a raise, and is on the phone, now! This is wild.
Tequila Patron ESM is running very well, before they get their new Ligier chassis for the next race. Buemi is reeling in the Porsche. New distance record for the Silverstone 6 Hours. 198 laps. We're expecting 200+ laps. Four and a half minutes to go. 198 laps, 725 miles. It's a grandstand finish here, fans. Three minutes to go. Race Director Eduardo Freitas has done very, very well, making the calls on this race, with the virtual safety car.
Two laps to go. Audi, Porsche, and Toyota, will be on the podium. But, in what order? One lap left. Fassler has six seconds and can't afford to be held up. He's pulling time out on Buemi. Sam Bird will lead G Drive to a 1-2 in LMP2. Ferrari and Aston Martin will secure LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am. Is Fassler OK? Will he get this done? He's got three more corners at Silverstone, and, the #2 Audi R18 eTron Quattro of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer, and Benoit Treluyer. They have their ninth win as a team.
Pedro Lamy, Matthias Lauda, and Paul Dalla Lana win LM GTE Am. G Drive's Ligier Nissan's are 1-2 in LMP2 while LM GTE Pro is won by AF Corse and car #51 with Toni Vilander, and Gianmaria Bruni.
Overall/LMP1: #7 Fassler/Lotterer/Treluyer Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 eTron Quattro
LMP2: #26 Rusinov/Canal/Bird G Drive Racing Ligier JS P2 Nissan
LM GTE Pro: #51 Bruni/Vilander AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia
LM GTE Am: #98 Dalla Lana/Lamy/Lauda Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin V8
Vantage
Round two, is the Six Hours of Spa Francorchamps, at the legendary, Spa Francorchamps circuit in the Ardennes Forest, in Belgium, in three weeks.
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