24 Hours of the Nurburgring, race highlights stories, Chapter 1

Once again, we will have a race report, printed, in full, on the Nurburgring 24 Hours, very soon.  But, for now, here are the major chapters of the story, told one by one.  This will be the first chapter, with the second chapter, to follow.

Pre-race

You have seen the Top 30 shootout, and Laurens Vanthoor's pole winning lap.  Audi gets a break in Balance of Performance, before the race begins.

Audi Gets Pre-Race BoP Break
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/audi-gets-pre-race-bop-break/

The race is now underway.  You saw Laurens Vanthoor's amazing pole winning lap.  Vanthoor's fellow Porsche factory driver Kevin Estre leads the opening hour.

Estre Leads Opening Hour at Nurburgring
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/estre-leads-opening-hour-at-nurburgring/

Only three hours into the race, and some of the top contenders are already in trouble, as Porsche leads.

Porsche Out Front in Hour 3 as Contenders Hit Trouble
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/porsche-out-front-as-contenders-hit-trouble/

A crash for WRT in the race's sixth hour.  Dries Vanthoor, Laurens Vanthoor's brother, was at the wheel of the Audi R8, when the incident occurred.

WRT Crashes Out in Hour 6; Manthey Leads
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/wrt-crashes-out-in-hour-6-manthey-leads/

After eight hours at "The Green Hell", it is a 1-2 for the bright day glow yellow Manthey Porsche's.

Bamber Leads Manthey 1-2 After Eight Hours
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/bamber-leads-manthey-1-2-after-eight-hours/

Drama overnight, as the pole winning Manthey Porsche, with Romain Dumas at the wheel, crashes out.  Game over for one of the Manthey cars.  Mercedes takes the lead with the AMG GT3 of Black Falcon, with Manuel Metzger at the controls.  Rain has come, to the Eiffel Mountains and the Nordschleife.

Black Falcon Leads as Rain Arrives, Dumas Crashes Out
http://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/black-falcon-leads-as-rain-arrives-dumas-crashes-out/

Stay tuned for a drive at night with Kelvin van der Linde, plus, chapter two.