Sebastien Bourdais uses a good chunk of the road, trying not to hit the water. Part of the issue with fogging, is, these cars are so aerodynamically efficient, that there's no room for air into the car. Condensation can get trapped on the inside of the windscreen, even if it is heated. Jordan Taylor wants by Bourdais. You don't get races in the rain that often. But, sometimes, you wish you'd done more to stop the water. It would be interesting, if Mazda, could get back to Le Mans, where they are still the only Japanese make to win. Also, the Mazda MX5 Cup, is a great amateur racing series, with turnkey cars.
We will see what Mazda can do in 2016. The #52 car leads Prototype Challenge, with Andrew Palmer, currently at the wheel. Colin Braun, meanwhile, runs fourth in class. CORE Autosport, could defend their title, from last year. This is their fifth team championship, and their second driver's championship. So, they have clinched it. A full course yellow has been thrown, for track maintenance. We are now under our eighth full course yellow, to do something with all the water.
More trouble for the Risi Competizione Ferrari. They are off the pace in the wet conditions. The Ferrari 458 Italia does not have enough aerodynamic downforce compared to the Porsche, the Corvette, or the BMW. Rick Mayer is the engineer, and don't forget Dave "Beaky" Sims. He is a vastly experienced individual, who used to be the chief mechanic for the great Formula 1 driver, Jim Clark. Could Giuseppe Risi, bring his team back to Le Mans? We'll see. Conditions are deteriorating. We've gone red flag, and will park the field. Hopefully the red flag will be short. The clock, will continue to run.
Giuseppe Risi and Ian Dawson, ran their own car, back in the 1980s. It was known as a Grid, and powered by a Cosworth motor, and was driven, by racing driver, turned commentator, David Hobbs. The race has been stopped, but the clock, continues to run. Race control, wants to get this race in, or at least try. They don't want to determine the championships, by ending the race too early. Race Control can do what it wants. In 2009, the race was concluded after eight hours and 45 minutes. Nearly four hours was spent under the red flag.
We are waiting, for a storm cell, to pass, before this race resumes. Performance Tech Racing, was going to run their #38 Prototype Challenge car for Conor Daly, Jerome Mee, and James French, at PLM. But, they crashed in practice, had severe damage, and had to withdraw the car. More trenches are being dug up to help with water drainage according to Race Director, Beau Barfield. The rivers that flow across the track, are the major problems.
The red flag, has unofficially been out, for a half an hour. In GTLM, two BMW's are on the lead lap, vs. one Porsche. The rain continues to fall. This race has been a clinic in car control. As things stand, the class leaders are:
Prototype: #5 Bourdais/Barbosa/Fittipaldi Chevrolet Corvette Prototype
Prototype Challenge: #52 Guasch/Kimber-Smith/Palmer Oreca FLM Chevrolet
GT Le Mans: #911 Pilet/Tandy/Lietz Porsche 911 RSR
GT Daytona: #44 Lally/Potter/Renauer Porsche 911 GT America
The rain continues to bucket down. Engines will re-fire, though, and we'll be back underway.
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