Endurance... the sports car racing blog: June 2018

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Saturday IMSA news from Watkins Glen before the 6 Hours

Saturday pre-race news from Watkins Glen before tomorrow's third round of the North American Endurance Cup, the Sahlen's 6 Hours of the Glen.

Spirit of Daytona to Miss CTMP; Additional Races Unclear
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/spirit-of-daytona-to-miss-ctmp/

Cameron Quickest in Opening Practice at Watkins Glen
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/cameron-quickest-in-opening-practice-at-watkins-glen/

No. 86 MSR Acura Still on Race-by-Race Basis
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/no-86-msr-acura-still-on-race-by-race-basis/

Dumas, CORE Top Friday at Watkins Glen
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/dumas-core-top-friday-at-watkins-glen/

Watkins Glen Friday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/watkins-glen-friday-notebook-5/

Negri on GTD Return: "We Have Something to Fight With"
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/negri-on-gtd-return-we-have-something-to-fight-with/

Airborne Crash for Mazda DPi Ends Practice 3
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/airborne-accident-for-mazda-dpi-ends-practice-3/

Westbrook Leads Ford Qualifying Sweep at Watkins Glen
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/westbrook-leads-ford-qualifying-sweep-at-the-glen/

Braun Storms to 6H Glen Pole in LMP2 Front Row Lockout
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/braun-takes-6h-glen-pole/

Despite a heavy wreck, the No. 77 Mazda DPi will race tomorrow in the 6 Hours. Driver Rene Rast was uninjured in the incident.

No. 77 Mazda DPi to Race After Heavy Practice Accident
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/no-77-mazda-dpi-to-race-after-heavy-practice-accident/

Watkins Glen Qualifying Replay
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/watkins-glen-qualifying-replay/

Friday, June 29, 2018

CORE's Road To Le Mans

All three parts of the journey of CORE Autosport, the North American factory Porsche GT team, and their journey to compete in the world's greatest endurance sports car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

IMSA news roundup

More IMSA stories (some, that may have been published from other sources), via motorsport.com, anticipating this weekend's 6 Hours of Watkins Glen.

Barbosa Forced to Skip Next Two IMSA Rounds
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/barbosa-forced-to-skip-next-two-rounds-1045072/?s=1

WEC 2020 rules budgets still too high for IMSA
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/wec-prototype-rules-budgets-too-high-1046356/?s=1

Chaves Joins Action Express for Watkins Glen 6-hour race

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/chaves-joins-action-express-for-watkins-glen-6-hour-race-1046733/?s=1

Castroneves, Taylor say Acura can win 2018 IMSA title

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/castroneves-taylor-say-acura-can-win-2018-imsa-title-1046823/?s=1

Blomqvist to make IMSA debut at Watkins Glen

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/blomqvist-to-make-imsa-debut-at-watkins-glen-1052243/?s=1

IMSA has alienated European teams, says di Resta

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/di-resta-european-teams-alienated-watkins-glen-1047848/?s=1

Time to Make History: IMSA Returns for Six Hours at The Glen

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen marks the halfway point of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season and teams are ready to make history in the classic endurance race at Watkins Glen International. Being the third of four rounds of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, fans can watch all six hours of racing on FS1 this Sunday, July 1 beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Watkins Glen IMSA news

Double Stint: Weekend Recap; Michael Christensen Interview (6-26-18)

The latest Double Stint Podcast recaps last weekend's Pirelli World Challenge races at Road America, racing in Germany for DTM and VLN, and more about Blancpain GT Sprint and Endurance, an interview with Porsche's Michael Christensen, as well as previewing this weekend's IMSA action at Watkins Glen in the third race of four in the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup.

https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/double-stint-weekend-recap-michael-christensen-interview-6-26-18/

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

2001 6 Hours of Watkins Glen

Ahead of the 2018 Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on June 28 – July 1, we go back to when the Rolex Sports Car Series battled for six hours at the historic track in 2001. With several of the same faces still competing 17 years later. We join Speedvision, and commentators, Rick Benjamin and David Hobbs, in the booth, and in the pit lane, John Bisignano, and Guy Hobbs. Enjoy.

More FIA WEC news

Still more stories from the FIA World Endurance Championship after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including appeals from some of the teams who were excluded from the results for tech infractions.

Hypercar regs a 'Positive Direction' for McLaren
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/brown-positive-direction-for-mclaren-in-hypercar-decision/

G-Drive, TDS Appeal LMP2 Exclusions
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/g-drive-tds-appeal-lmp2-exclusions/

Corvette Racing will enter an additional round of the FIA WEC "Super Season", and will do so for the 6 Hours of Shanghai in China, in November.

Corvette Racing Confirms 6H Shanghai Entry
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/corvette-racing-confirms-6h-shanghai-entry/

Glickenhaus Eyeing ‘Hypercar’ Project for 24H Le Mans
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/glickenhaus-eyeing-hypercar-project-for-24h-le-mans/

Wallowed: ‘Hypercars’ Not Rival to GTE
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/walliser-hypercars-not-rival-to-gte/

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen - Entry List Notebook

The third race of four in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship’s Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of Watkins Glen, is coming up, next weekend. Here is the entry list notebook.

https://www.imsa.com/news/062018/sahlens-six-hours-glen-entry-list-notebook

24 Hours of Spa & IGTC headlines

A few more headlines, headed into next month's 24 Hours of Spa at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, the crown jewel of the Blancpain GT Endurance Series season, and more, not only about Spa, but other Intercontinental GT Challenge races coming up later in the year.

Emil Frey to Run Jaguar at 24H Spa, Barcelona
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/emil-frey-to-run-jaguar-at-24h-spa-barcelona/

Audi to Support WRT, Sainteloc Entries For 24H Spa
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/audi-to-support-wrt-sainteloc-entries-for-24h-spa/

Vanthoor, Estre Among Craft-Bamboo Lineup for Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/vanthoor-estre-among-craft-bamboo-lineup-for-suzuka-10h/

Panoz Commits to California 8H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/panoz-commits-to-california-8h/

Honda Confirms Factory NSX GT3 for Suzuka 10H
https://sportscar365.com/sro/igtc/honda-confirms-factory-nsx-gt3-for-suzuka-10h/

Barrichello Joins Strakka for 24H Spa
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/barrichello-joins-strakka-for-24h-spa/

Monday, June 25, 2018

Blancpain GT Sprint: Misano

The latest race in the Blancpain GT Sprint championship happened this weekend, on the Adriatic coast of Italy at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Here's all the action.

Pre-Race:

Silver Cup Field Grows as Blancpain GT Heads to Misano
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/silver-cup-field-grows-as-blancpain-gt-heads-to-misano/

Practice & Qualifying:

Attempto Quickest in Rain-Soaked FP1
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/attempto-quickest-in-rain-soaked-fp1/

Van der Linde Fastest in FP2 as Conditions Improve
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/van-der-linde-fastest-in-fp2-as-conditions-improve/

AKKA ASP Mercedes Sweep Misano Qualifying
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/akka-asp-mercedes-sweep-misano-qualifying/

Race Action:

Mies Holds off Marciello for Misano Race 1 Win
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/mies-holds-off-marciello-for-misano-race-1-win/

Misano Race 1 Highlights
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/misano-race-1-highlights/

Misano Weekend Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/misano-weekend-notebook/

Mies, Riberas Extend Points Lead with Misano Sweep
https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt/mies-riberas-extend-points-lead-with-misano-sweep/

Misano Race 2 Highlights
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/misano-race-2-highlights/

The big one, is next. The crown jewel race for Blancpain GT. It's the 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps at Circuit de Spa Francorchamps in Belgium. The race will be run the last weekend in July. This means, the Sprint championship will not see action next, until the beginning of September when, on September 1st and 2nd, they race the penultimate event of their championship at the Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary.

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Sunday Pirelli World Challenge action from Road America

All the action from the second day of racing at Road America for Pirelli World Challenge on Sunday.

Road America Race 1 Highlights
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/road-america-race-1-highlights/

Christensen Wins Race 2 at Road America
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/christensen-wins-race-2-at-road-america/

Mirroring Saturday’s results in GTS, Ian James in the Panoz Avezzano holds off the GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4 in the hands of James Sofronas.

Road America Race 2 Highlights
https://sportscar365.com/features/videos/road-america-race-2-highlights/

Chase Edges Out Fuentes for GTA Win in Photo Finish
https://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/chase-edges-out-fuentes-for-gta-win-in-photo-finish/

Next up for Pirelli World Challenge will be a race at Portland International Raceway in
Portland, Oregon, where PWC will be the headliner. GT and GTS will each race in the SprintX format with two drivers. Touring cars will also be in action at the Rose Cup Races, and they will take place in three weeks time.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Pirelli World Challenge stories from Saturday at Road America Part 2

The second Saturday PWC update from Road America, including the result of the first race.

Road America Weekend Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/road-america-weekend-notebook/

Parente Dominates Race 1 at Road America
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/parente-dominates-race-1-at-road-america/

Ian James and Panoz win in GTS. One more race for the combined GT and GTS format at Road America, tomorrow, and the action gets underway at 2:45 P.M. Central Time. Stay tuned for a race recap and all the stories leading up to and following the 50 minute contest at Road America, on Sunday.

Pirelli World Challenge stories from Road America on Saturday Part 1

The opening day or so of action for Pirelli World Challenge at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, as they play a supporting role to the IndyCar race there. Plenty of news. There could be a second update, later today as well.

Christensen Paces Opening Practice at Road America
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/christensen-paces-opening-practice-at-road-america/

Parente Tops Practice 2 at Road America
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/parente-tops-practice-2-at-road-america/

Hargrove Leads Road America Practice 3
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/hargrove-leads-road-america-practice-3/

Robinson: Cameroon GT4 Switch “Like Coming Home”
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/robinson-camaro-gt4-switch-like-coming-home/

“Business As Usual” for PWC Amid SRO Integration
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/business-as-usual-for-pwc-amid-sro-integration/

Mancinelli Takes Road America Race 1 Pole
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/mancinelli-take-road-america-race-1-pole/

More news and race results to come later today. Stay tuned.

Friday, June 22, 2018

IMSA: Gabby Chaves Joins Mustang Sampling Racing At Watkins Glen

Open wheel racer Gabby Chaves, returns to sports car racing, and will drive as the third pilot with Action Express Racing, Mustang Sampling, and Cadillac, at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen.

http://nasportscar.com/imsa-gabby-chaves-joins-mustang-sampling-racing-at-watkins-glen/

How Alonso Really Performed at Le Mans

After Fernando Alonso was part of the #8 Toyota's winning crew at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Autosport team looks beyond the result to see how much the two-time world champion contributed to his success with Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Pirelli World Challenge Road America Grand PrixView Goes Back In Time

Pirelli World Challenge heads north to God’s Country, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, to visit the 4.048 mile, 14 turn circuit, Road America aka America’s National Park of Speed. With lower than expected GT3 entries for the Sprint events this season, the series has elected to combine the GT (GT3) competitors with GTS (GT4) for both 50-minute rounds, mirroring what we had through the 2014 season for some fast and furious multi-class racing.

http://nasportscar.com/pirelli-world-challenge-road-america-grand-prixview-goes-back-in-time/

Pirelli World Challenge news

Catching up on news from Pirelli World Challenge. So, news comes from the previous races at Lime Rock Park, last month, and also, the upcoming event that is detailed in the following sentences. This weekend, they are headed for the glorious 4 mile ribbon of asphalt in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, known as Road America. So, some of these stories stretch back about two weeks.

Lawson Aschenbach's latest column for Sportscar365, after the PWC races at Lime Rock Park.

ASCHENBACH: For the Future of Our Sport
http://sportscar365.com/features/commentary/aschenbach-for-the-future-of-our-sport/

Robinson Racing is switching manufacturers in GTS, from Mercedes to Chevrolet.

Robinson Switches to Camaro GT4s
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/robinson-switches-to-camaro-gt4s/

Baptista Promoted to GT Class
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/baptista-promoted-to-gt-class/

Wright to Make PWC Return at Road America
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/wright-to-make-pwc-return-at-road-america/

Pirelli World Challenge is kicking off the second half of their season at Road America this weekend, as mentioned in the article introduction, and will do so, with a featured race combining the GT and GTS fields.

Second Half of PWC Season Kicks Off at Road America
http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/second-half-of-pwc-season-kicks-off-at-road-america/

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Le Mans headlines (continued)

More headlines in relation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans from last weekend.

Common Prototype Regs the “Guiding Principle” for Ford Commitment

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/common-prototype-regs-the-guiding-principle-for-ford-commitment/

Fehan: Regs Have Led to “Almost Preordained” Racing
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fehan-regulations-have-led-to-almost-preordained-racing/

Party all night! Toyota deserves to celebrate, after finally conquering Le Mans!

Toyota Celebrates Le Mans Win at Cologne Base
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyota-celebrates-24h-le-mans-win-at-cologne-base/

IMSA headlines

More IMSA headlines. Right now, it is the break for IMSA as many of their teams are racing the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But, the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship will be back in action on July 1st, for the third of four rounds in the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, the Sahlen's 6 Hours of Watkins Glen at Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York.

Detroit Sights & Sounds
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/detroit-sights-sounds/

After a bicycle crash, Joao Barbosa will miss the next two rounds of the championship, to recover from a broken wrist.

Bicycle Accident Forces Barbosa Out of Watkins Glen, CTMP
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/wrist-injury-forces-barbosa-out-of-watkins-glen-ctmp/

Dalla Lana Orders New-Gen Aston Martin; Set for Daytona Debut
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/dalla-lana-orders-first-customer-new-gen-aston-daytona-debut/

Atherton: Costs the "Biggest Hurdle" for Common Prototype Regs
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/atherton-costs-biggest-hurdle-for-common-prototype-regs/

Chaves to Sub for Barbosa at Watkins Glen
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/chaves-to-sub-for-barbosa-at-watkins-glen/

Blomqvist Joins BMW Team RLL for Watkins Glen
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/blomqvist-joins-bmw-team-rll-for-watkins-glen/

A High-Speed Tour of Porsche Experience Center
http://sportscar365.com/features/videos/high-speed-tour-of-porsche-experience-center/

Negri to Make IMSA Return at Watkins Glen
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/negri-returns-in-spirit-of-race-ferrari-for-the-glen/

42 Entries for 6H Glen
http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/42-entries-for-6h-glen/

24 Hours of Le Mans race highlights

The race highlights video from the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

still more post-Le Mans Headlines

Continuing coverage of news and post-race developments after the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

More news about the proposed new Hypercar rules for 2020-2021 at Le Mans.

“Wider Panel” of Manufacturers Targeted for Hypercar Regs
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wider-panel-of-manufacturers-targeted-for-hypercar-regs/

Renger Van der Zande’s latest column, all about his first drive in the Le Mans 24 Hour race.

VAN DER ZANDE: The Honor of Driving at Le Mans
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/van-der-zande-the-honor-of-driving-at-le-mans/

Le Mans Content Recap
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/le-mans-content-recap-5/

Some breaking news. The LMP2 winning G-Drive Oreca, and the TDS Racing Oreca, have been excluded from the 24 Hours of Le Mans due to illegal modifications to their fueling rigs in the pit lane.

LMP-2 Winning G-Drive Oreca Excluded
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lmp2-winning-g-drive-oreca-excluded/

Monday, June 18, 2018

WEC next race

Forgot to mention this at the end of the Le Mans 24 Hours, but up next in the FIA WEC “super season”, is a visit to the English Midlands at the legendary Silverstone Circuit, and that 6 Hour race, is scheduled for Sunday, August the 19th. We'll see you from Silverstone, and until then, look for much more on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog. For now, bye bye.

24 Hours of Le Mans hourly summaries & much more

Sunday, June 17, 2018

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 24 (the finish)

Kevin Estre. Laurens Vanthoor, and Michael Christensen have run flawlessly. The special exhausts on the 911 RSR have made the engine note very sweet. The pace of the race has been very fast. Keep pace. Don't just trundle around. If you back off, the car just won't run the way they should as Harry Tincknell chases Dirk Mueller. Trouble for the #11 SMP Racing car. "Game over, guys. Game over." Jenson Button will not finish his maiden Le Mans. The engine has cried "enough!" SMP and Toyota went over stint lengths. SMP only went over for slow zones and safety cars. Kamui Kobayashi did not save fuel except during green flag runs. Oil is being pumped into the #8 Toyota or so it appears.

The oil goes in under pressure, not measuring by pouring it in and checking the dipstick. Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson will both race for the rest of the "super season". SMP #35 in LMP2, the Dallara Gibson, won't start! Harrison Newey at the wheel of it, and we see trouble for all the SMP cars in this race, after #17 also retired during the nighttime hours. You've got to get to the flag at Le Mans after getting this far. But now, mistakes are made, and things go pear shaped. Don't panic. Be sensible, and get things right. I wondered about this year's Le Mans. But, it's going to be a good one, that you fans will want to read about. Couldn't write a full report last year. Finally had a chance again this year.

A ten second stop and go for the #7 Toyota for exceeding the amount of allowed fuel! This puts the dagger through their hearts on the #7 crew! What do you do? Ten second penalty, served, now. Maybe it isn't so dramatic. It's risk vs. reward. Race Engineers believe this is a joke. Give a certain amount of energy and then, a certain amount of fuel. It's a complex formula that may not be necessary. Put technology on the car to regulate fuel flow? Give them cruise control, right? What does a ten second penalty mean, over 24 hours? Different technologies are allowed, but everything has to be fair. At the same time, keep it simple. There are pointless penalties. Where is the dividend for efficiency and road relevance?

In the old days, three makes, three different engines, and three different energy solutions. Porsche, Audi, and Toyota. That has disappeared by now. There's a mistaken belief it was all cost related. Toyota is the only big name left. Money was spent all over, and there needs to be a reward. Where's your exposure? We have to save what we have left of sports car racing. The GT cars also have manufacturers, and so do LMP2 cars. We haven't gotten rid of everything, but we ned to look at what can be done. Innovation is always there. Different engines were always allowed, but, it has to be controlled. We can do much better than what we are doing now. This, I paraphrase from engineer Lena Gade, as I agree with what she says.

Michael Christensen will bring home "The Pink Pig". Richard Lietz will go to the end in the Rothman's tribute car. Dirk Mueller will finish the race for the #68 Ford GT, and Harry Tincknell still needs to make a final pit stop. Hugo de Sadeleer and company are fifth in the Ligier. Loic Duval is catching Tristan Gommendy. Nico Lapierre is shortly away from Jean Eric Vergne. One more pit stop in LMP2. Just 36 minutes to go. Erwin Creed spinsthe #50 Larbre Competition Ligier Gibson. Christrian Ried will finish the race for Dempsey Proton. Now, fuel allowance is also a problem for Neel Jani in the #1 Rebellion doing an extra lap on fuel sans a safety car.

Another penalty for the #7 Toyota, exceeding the maximum number of laps per stint. The #8 Toyota has not done this. 10 second stop and go penalty on car #7. I'm baffled. At the front end of the field? Unreal. Box this lap. Unreal. As a fan, this might drive me away from sports car racing at least on the WEC level. Now, there is an idea that was created. But, we need to fix this problem. We are not racing. The Spa 24 Hours for Blancpain GT has had the same problem. Team engineers feel the same way.

We have misunderstood this fuel calculation and energy use nonsense. Let the boys race. Matt Griffin has done fastest lap in GTE Am at 3:53.734. LMP2 has seen G-Drive do the best with what they have been given. Kazuki Nakajima will finish Le Mans, and right the wrong, for his loss in this race in 2016. GTE Pro sees Porsche 1-2, while the Ford's are fading. Christian Ried should head the Dempsey Protoin Porsche to the finish in GTE Am. Ferrari will finish second and third for Spirit of Race and WeatherTech Racing.

Track temperature is at 26.1 Celsius as we finish this motor race. 24 minutes now remain. More investigated pit stops as Harrison Newey is being watched by the stewards. Ginetta #5 is still having problems. Battery and alternator issues for the car. "The Pink Pig" just had it's last splash and dash in GTE Pro. There is debris on the road. Kamui Kobayashi is making a final pit stop. Stop/go penalty for Harrison Newey, con\me to the pit, shut off the motor, and then try to bump start it.

The Toyota's have run flawlessly, simulating all the scenarios and damage issues. But neither #7 or #8 have missed a beat. They are ten laps up on their closest competition. The#8 car has done quadruple stints. Pole, race win,and fastest lap for the car. 3:17;658. Reliability is as imporrant as outright speed. One more lap to run. Loic Duval is 3.4 seconds behind Tristan Gommendy. Watch out for Frits van Eerd and Ho Pin Tung. Antonio Garcia makes a stop for a splash and dash.

Duval and Gommendy, battling on the last lap of this motor race. The last 8.5 miles. Duval and company will have a final lap. 3.8 second. Gommendy is going for it as Loic Duval is coming! #39 from #28. Tristan Gommendy has something left in the locker. Two French teams are slugging it out for LMP2 Le Mans honors. Toyota Gazoo Racing has worked for this for a long, long time. They have come second without winning the most times. But now, Toyota has their moment. Today, they are no longer the bridesmaids!

Toyota, in less than a mile, are going to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans! 2018, the Grand Prix d'Endurance, belongs to Toyota! They are the second Japanese company to win Le Mans!

Alonso has 2/3rds of racing's triple crown complete. He's won Monaco, and won Le Mans. Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, and Fernando Alonso win overall. Romain Rusinov, Jean Eric Vergne and Andrea Pizzitola win LMP2. Porsche takes LM GTE Pro with Michael Christensen, Kevin Estre, and Laurens Vanthoor. LM GTE Am goes to Dempsey Proton Racing. Matt Campbell, Julien Andlauer, and Christian Ried! Again, here are your winners.

Overall/LMP1: #8 Buemi/Nakajima/Alonso     Toyota TS050 Hybrid

             LMP2: #26 Rusinov/Vergne/Pizzitola   Oreca 07 Gibson

             LM GTE Pro: #92 Christensen/Estre/Vanthoor    Porsche 911 RSR

             LM GTE Am: #77 Campbell/Andlauer/Ried     Porsche 911 RSR

So, another set of winners, conquers Le Mans. All of them had the most trouble free run, but also, to be as dominant as these winners were, is very rare. This race ran 370 laps or so, and came out in amazing fashion. Again, Toyota becomes the second Japanese brand to win Le Mans. This has been anoither incredible race. Sweet redemption for Kaz Nakajima, and Toyota! We'll see you next year, to finish the "super season" and for another great edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Au revoir, for now.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 23

Toyota #8 is due to serve a penalty, but we don't know what kind it will be. Pit lane speed limit was introduced at Le Mans in 1992. The year before, in '91, when Mazda won, with it's ear piercing, shrieking rotary motor, was just amazing. Pit lane at Le Mans runs downhill. Mike Wainwright had a great run going until a wreck that was mentioned earlier. The nature of modern endurance races is such that you need a perfect race to finish on the podium, or to win. None of the top level cars have had a problem necessarily. If there is no more fiddling with the Balance of Performance, could Aston Martin get a hold of things for their home race at Silverstone? That's the next race in the "Super Season", in mid August.

Ferrari with the 488 has straight line speed issues, but a draft works. Ford has been on the ragged edge. That's why we've seen so much gravel and clag on the roadside over there. The Ford has been really compliant. But, Hugo de Sadeleer in the #23 United Autosport car has had a tire go, pop! Not good. Now, Toyota #8 has pitted. There could be a penalty. There's video evidence on this wheel spin issue off the ground, on the air jacks. The only explanation could be that the electric motors were running, not the internal combustion engine. All crew members have to be back across a white line before the car is released from it's pit stop.

Everything can be done at the same time while fuel is going in. We need to modify the rule to not take the car off the air jacks until the fuel probe is out. Patrick Lindsey nearly got squeezed by a couple LMP's. Patrick Lindsey is a certified pilot as well. Toyota #7 is in trouble! The internal combustion engine is still running. The car is on low power, running on the internal combustion engine. Kevin Estre and Richard Lietz have pitted. Kobayashi has his four ways on, something that does carry over from road cars. Can #8 hold on? Romain Rusinov pits the #26 G-Drive car. Now, does the pit crew know what to do?

Forgot to put fuel in the car. Now, #7 is speeding up again. Did they forget to put fuel in the car? There's some smoke out the back of the car. The crew has to give him a fuel number. We presume he has enough fuel. Is their fault on the fuel meter? Fuel only, and down and away. Wow. The BMW M8 GTE pits, and the car has had pace but has not had luck. #81, with Phillip Eng, is at the wheel. The extra GTE Pro entries for Le Mans, such as the Corvette's, American Porsche's, and American Ford's, don't count. But, the points that will be obtained at the end of the season at next year's Le Mans, it's going to be wild and crazy.

Rebellion are third and fourth. Gustavo Menezes leads Neel Jani. Porsche, Ford, Chevy, and Ferrari are top in GTE Pro, while Matt Campbell continues to lead GTE Am. Track temperature is up to 26.5 Celsius. The track is getting warm, as the TF Sport Aston Martin has slid off in the Porsche Curves. Kobayashi missed the pit box call, somehow, some way. This race has seen a good bitof attrition. 30 Prototypes, and 30 GT's. It's an old fashioned enduro because of the Prototypes also having problems. The #90 is craned away by the snatch tractor. Game over. Slow zone ending. Slow zone eight has been removed.

Kobayashi is off the lead lap. Earl Bamber battles Nicky Catsburg into the Porsche curves. BMW has had a long wait before returning to Le Mans. Fuel and tire confirmed for the final stop. New tires will go on the car. One more scheduled trip to pit lane, for Kazuki Nakajima. It is important for Alonso to win, but it is also important for Kazuki Nakajima as as Japanese driver, to win Le Mans, for the first time for a Japanese automaker since Mazda in 1991. Time for a stint hinges on fuel flow and fuel consumption, but no absolutely limit in LMP1, but it is mandated in GTE Pro.

Spinning wheels in pit lane does get you a one minute stop/go penalty. We are headed for the final hour... next.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 22

Dramas for Rebellion #1. Neel Jani has tsken over from Bruno Senna. The left side door is loose. Rebellion has door problems for both cars, as Jose Maria Lopez pits. Lopez and Fernando Alonso are doing monster stints. Laurens Vanthoor is still in Porsche #92. Norman Nato is running slowly in the
#35 SMP car he shares with Harrison Newey and Viktor Shaytar of Russia. Alessadro Pier Guidi and Pippo Derani will be pitting soon. Ginetta #5 is still hanging in there, but there are problems for G-Drive, or not. Actually, that was a brake pad change. #5 will be nursed to the end, and Norman Nato in #35 is crawling around. LM GTE Pro pit stops are coming. Charlie Robertson and Ginetta are back in the garage.

They want to finish, but being a new car, it is definitely having teething issues. They had to treat this as a test session. The Mecachrome V6 is a new motor. It is a derivative of the Formula 2 engine. The motor is a port injection engine. #35 just left pit lane. Norman Nato was nursing the car, but there were no punctured tires. Alpine, Oreca, Dallara, Ligier, are all represented in LMP2. Rebellion #1in the lane, for a flat spotted tire aftera spin. Is there debris in the air intakes for Rebellion? Andrea Pizzitola leads LMP2. The Frenchman with an Italian name is going for it. We have a tire war in LMP2 between Michelin and Dunlop, and the Dunlop shod cars are running better than are the Michelin cars.

Kevin Estre takes over the #92 Porsche 911 RSR, blasting back into the motor race. Problems for Ben Keating at Marshal Post 20, Mulsanne Corner. We are heaed to another slow zone. Track temp rises just a bit to 22.2 Celsius, but with just a short time to go. Fernando Alonso will pit soon. Ben Keating has gotten his Ferrari going, and the #97 Aston Martin Vantage, in the hands of Alex Lynn is having issues. Alonso pits and Kazuki Nakajima will gets into the car. Fernando Alonso did a three hour plus stint. Windscreen tear off, done. Wheel spin in the air, could be a penalty. Silver rated drivers are maligned, but, they can be an asset to a team.

Kamui Kobayashi had a shorter pit stop but retained the lead. Andy Priaulx in Ford GT #67 is running very well. Norman Nato is running well. Andrea Pizzitola pits the #26 G-Drive carhanding over to Romain Rusinov. No victory for Signatech Alpine, but they will gain some points for the WEC. All the non-WEC cars will be subtracted from the points championship because they are either from IWSC, ELMS (European Le Mans Series), or ALMS (Asian Le Mans Series). A big penalty, for Antonio Giovinazzi.

Speeding in a slow zone, is a two minute penalty. Ford's #67 and #69 are in the lane and the garage. Harry Tincknell takes over from Andy Priaulx. Kazuki Nakajima will get a penalty for wheel spin. The #69 car has an electrical gremlin in it. Richard Westbrook loses spots to the AF Corse Ferrari's of Daniel Serra from Spain and Antonio Giovinazzi of Italy.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 21

11AM at Le Mans and the GTE Pro battle has very much hotted up. Jose Maria Lopez has to wrestle the #7 Toyota. Fernando Alonso still leads. Andy Priaulx sets the fast lap for the #67 Ford at 3:50.402. Ford's are finally running on song again, as it is pit stop time again. Priaulx makes a scheduled stop, and no driver change. Sebastien Bourdais (a.k.a. Sea bass), he's coming for Fred Makowiecki, and wants to scrap again. This is a proper scrap, on full tanks. This is an even Steven scrap. Both cars all over the curbs. The starting line was moved forward. Nine laps completed in a 14 lap stint.

Jeroen Bleekemolen is happy to be driving a Ferrari. He had a hiccup early on in the race. He said "I pushed too hard and went over the limit." He is still going for it. Luca Stolz and Ben Keating are going for it, too. A penalty for IDEC Sport, as a mechanic took his gloves off the pull bits of rubber out of the air intake, and he didn't put his gloves back on. IDEC Sport will have to take a penalty. Is LMP2 the class that no one wants to win? Car #50 now has a new nose, and is 17th in class, 38th in the overall. The Tim Buret, Will Stevens, Julien Canal Ligier is srtill being worked on in pit lane. Juan Pablo Montoya has the fastest Ligier, the #32 car.

G-Drive is running ELMS, and there are a few in WEC as well. The other car is from the Asian Le Mans Series. Now, Sebastien Bourdais is not sure he can pass Fred Makowiecki. The two Frenchmen are pressing each other, very much so. Bourdais gets squeezed by Fred Makowiecki! Wow. Bourdais is not happy about Makowiecki weaving all over the road. In Formula 1, you get one move, and one only. Jose Maria Lopez has set the fastest lap for the #7 Toyota at 3:!7.980. Jose Maria Lopez is a quicker driver than his team mates Kamui Kobayashi, and Mike Conway.

Alonso pits for service. Fuel only for Alonso. The Panis Barthez Ligier has been in the garage for an hour and ten minutes. There wasa clutch issue. The #1 Rebellion and #63 Corvette will pit. Game over for the #64 sister Corvette C-7-R-, the car overheated. Bourdais has made it past Fred Makowiecki, but Makowiecki makes the pass and says "take that, Sebastien!" Don't touch! Gently, boys. Oh man! Sebastien Bourdais goes outside, and late on the brakes into Arnage, and no dice for Makowiecki. Makowiecki is not giving up! Makowiecki is being given nothing by Bourdais! Great racing! Was it fair and square?

GTE Pro leader in the lane. Laurens Vanthoor gets fuel and is back on his merry way. Kevin Estre will be next into the #92. Second place is the #91 and #68. Neither of them is close to "The Pink Pig". Sebastien Bourdais and Fred Makowiecki will pit together and install new drivers into the car. Joey Hand is now in the #68 Ford GT. Julien Andlauer leads Luca Stolz and Francesco Castellaci in LM GTE Am, with Jorg Bergmeister next up. Tracktemp is 20.6 Celsius, heating up like the ambient temp and the racing. The Rebellions are separated by 22 seconds, while the two Toyota's have a minute gap between each other.

Pit action, and fuel limits to consider in LMP2. Juan Pablo Montoya leads LMP2. There is a risk of rain at 2PM. Fred Makowiecki's driving was not penalized. Car #48 is back in pit lane, losing places hand over fist. No penalty for a crewman not wearing gloves. Jose Maria Lopez has spun! Oh wow. He thankfully found a spot to reshuffle the car. He was cooking, and then, overcooked the corner. A lack of grip at the Dunlop curve. Lopez and Alonso are pressing hard. Lopez has lost time, recovering from his earlier spin. Three hours to go.

Many cars are out, but Romano Ricci has gotten the #50 Larbre Competition Ligier is still running, but the Algarve Pro and Racing Team Nederland cars havee been in the lane. Pastor Maldonado is back into this race. The #25 Algarve Pro Ligier has had a litany of trouble, and it's game over, as they had a bearing problem that led to a loss of oil pressure. Fernando Alonso pits the Toyota, and Bruno Senna does likewise for the #1 Rebellion.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 20

Cloudy with sunny intervals for the rest of this motor race. Under fivr hours to go. Paul Di Resta has smashed the Ligier for United Autosport, losing the back end, crashing into the wall, spearing across the road, and slamming the opposite wall. Game over for the #22 United Autosports Ligier JS P2 Gibson. A king size hit at a sharp angle. Paul di Resta, Phil Hanson, and Philippe Albuquerque. We are now under yellow. Will Owen in the sister United Autosport car was having a ding dong battle with another car. Paul di Resta will be taken to the medical center. Will Owen is in the lane and Juan Pablo Montoya will get in.

We have had no real racing for almost an hour. This is frustrating for teams and drivers alike. Jose Maria Lopez has more fuel in the tank than does Fernando Alonso. Rebellion and Oreca won't improve unless something drastic happens to Toyota. Cooper MacNeil takes over from Liam Griffin in the #84 Ferrari. They don't have a dry brake system. They used the traditional caliper spreaders which is a much more tedious process. Will Stevens and Timothy Buret are having trouble. Let's hope there are no major issues for Stevens and the Panis Barthez team. Now, we have another slow zone. We have been very lax on laps in hour 19. Fernando Alonso leads Jose Maria Lopez by 90 seconds.

Jose Maria Lopez has won FIA World Touring Car Championship, and Alonso of course, is a Formula 1 World Champion. Extra pit stops for #8 had to do with getting dinged in slow zones. Alonso can go ahead and run out the fuel, by using the slow zones. 10 laps is the baseline for fuel mileage. Paul Loup Chatin of France and his IDEC Sport team mates are surviving despite their fuel pickup issue. Their manager, former dirver, Niclas Minassian, has been pretty lucky in the last few minutes here. GTE Pro cars will inherit places once heldby LMP2 cars. Game over for United Autosport #22.

Porsche #92 pits and Laurens Vanthoor is now at the controls. Gianmaria Bruni is second and Dirk Mueller is now third in class. Alonso, Vergne, Vanthoor, and Ried, your class leaders. Ebimotors has moved up as Fabio Babini is at the wheel of it. Bruni is being chased down by Dirk Mueller. Corvette is still in with a shout, and so is the #69 Ford. Alonso leads Lopez by 1:24. Track temp is up to 20.6 Celsius. We have another slow zone from Tertre Rouge to the first chicane on the Mulsanne straight. No distance records will be set this year.

Big brake lockup for one of the Rebellion's. Fred Makowiecki, Sebastien Bourdais, and Richard Westbrook are going to be close together. Alonso pits the #8 Toyota. Rebellion does as well. After a slow zone that lasted for an hour and 40 minutes, we are back to full on green flag racing. Toyota #7 into the pit lane, look. Jose Maria Lopez stays in the car. Toyota #8 leads as the Rebellion, and the Jackie Chan DC Racing car #33 battle. New rules from the ACO say you can work on the car while refueling, and this never used to be the case.

Plug in settings for extra bodywork if need be. The BMW is miles behind the Ford's and the Porsche's. Andy Priaulx challenges and passes Fred Makowiecki into Mulsanne, and Makowiecki says "no you don't, sunshine!", but then there's argy bargy between these two, and Sebastien Bourdais tries, but Makowiecki slams the door in Bourdais' face! Wow! We have a ding dong scrap for second, third, and fourth in GTE Pro, headed to Corvette Curve! Andy Priaulx is on a certain fuel load. Now, Porsche has performance off the corners, and the Ford has the advantage on the straight because of it's aerodynamics. The Ford GT is a rather svelte motorcar.

The #28 TDS LMP2 car of Francois Perrodo goes straight on at the chicane on thr Mulsanne straight.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 19

Six hours remain in this motor race. We have the length of a standard WEC race. Happy Father's Day to those who are blessed enough to be dad's out there.

A brake change for Michael Christensen in the #92 Porsche 911 RSR, "the pink pig". It seems there will be a brake disc and pad change on all corners. Maybe it is just rear brakes. Trail the brake to set the car down on the road. This technique is good, but it can affect brake performance and wear. Gianmaria Bruni is in the #91 Porsche. The engineer was looking at the brake pads as they came off the car. Time for Toyota calisthenics in the lane. Crew Chief Rob Leupen is one of the people leading that. A slow zone at Tetre Rouge for debris. It's a drain cover that has been pulled right off the ground to driver's left. Dear me. Marshals have to replace the bollard, and the drain cover. This has to be a safety car. This is only our third safety car period of this motor race. Which Corvette was behind the safety car? The two Toyota's have been separated as well.

Trackside repairs at Tertre Rouge or MP6, Marshall Post six. Keep the tire temperatures up. Sebastien Buemi is going well at the moment. A drain cover should not come up off the road. A drain cover ended up going through the floor, of Jesus Pareja's Porsche 962 in World Sports Car race in Montreal. Maxime Martin is going slower than he should in the #97 Aston Martin Vantage. He is slow at Marshall Post 16. He is not under a full course yellow. It is OK to overtake the stricken Aston Martin. Aston Martin is ready to receive the car. Jonny Adam will take over from Maxime Martin.

Electric thorttle linkage problems. Speaking of problems, the #64 Corvette C-7-R- of Oliver Gavin is in the garage. Sebastien Buemi is ahead of Mike Conway on the road and in the safety car crocodile. Buemi needs to box for fuel. Track workers need to get to the metal grate. It needs to be welded. It isn't a carbon fiber piece of bodywork. What a disaster thast would have been:

1. The cover could have flown
2. The hole of the drain would have ripped a wheel off.

Aston Martin is in the garage. The bonnet is off the Corvette, too. It seems like it's terminal. Aston Martin can fix the car, taking the under tray off. Porsche #93 is in the pit lane. Slow zones removed. Bear right at Tertre Rouge away from the welding equipment and quick set concrete. Sebastien Buemi pits. Fernando Alonso will take over the car. Mike Conway takes over the race lead. Michael Christensen leads GTE Pro. Christian Ried leads GTE Am. Left rear puncture for DragonSpeed for Pastor Maldonado, Roberto Gonzalez, and Nathanael Berthon. The repairs at Tertre Rouge have been made.

Corvette #64 was overheating. There's no quit at Corvette! Mike Simpson is back on track in the #5 Ginetta. Toyota's Pascal Vasselon is aware of what they need to do. Could the #8 car be the winner? We have five hours or less to find out. Five hours and 20 minutes to go. Aston Martin had oil pressure problems, and needs a new oil pump. Rebellion #3 needs a new nose. There will be a slow zone. Fernando Alonso is back in the lead and has passed Mike Conway. One of the Ford's just hit a cone.

A slow zone has been implemented, and now Jose Maria Lopez has taken the controls of the #7 Toyota. The #50 Larbre Competition car of Romano Ricci has clipped the wall and ended up in the gravel trap at the Porsche Curves. If a car stalls, and you don't want it to be unclassified, you have to wait for it, but then, you only have so much time to complete the final lap. BMW was having issues with the starter motor. With a hybrid car, the car can start on electric power, and then crank over the internal combusion engine. Jose Maria Lopez was having some trouble, and now he seems to have itr back together.

But, the #50 car was having issues. Team Manager of the #50, tell your driver to keep on the apron on the left side of the road.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 18

Sebastien Buemi has a regular pit stop. It is all routine. Mike Conway will also come in for service, as he takes the lead, briefly. We have had 20 lead changes, but they have only been among the Toyota's. A good duel between Scott Dixon and Mike Rockenfeller, continues. Ford vs. Corvette. Ford and Corvette will pit. Now, the #7 Toyota is in the lane, and so are the Rebellion, and the #92 "Pink Pig" Porsche, with Michael Christensen getting behind the wheel. Ryan Briscoe will take over the #69 Ford GT from Scott Dixon. Corvette and Ford pit, and Corvette beats Ford out of the lane. Corvette Racing has stellar pit stops. They are back to fifth in LM GTE Pro. Ferrari #52, has a penalty, with Toni Vilander at the controls. It is two laps up on the sister car.

Gianmaria Bruni, is back, and in a Porsche, in the #91 car with the Rothman's livery on it, but without the cigarette sponsorship. Harry Tincknell is in the #67 Ford, Ryan Briscoe into the #69 Ford, and Antonio Garcia in the #63 Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-. 23 drivers in this race have started at least one Formula 1 race. Many of these drivers have also won in IndyCar and IMSA. This is a great field. Sebastien Buemi leads by 34.8 seconds over Mike Conway, as both Rebellion's remain third and fourth, with a ten lap cushion. The Rebellion's have not run perfectly. The #10 DragonSpeed LMP1 car, game over. Ben Hanley, binned it. We've seen a good number of retirements and have mentioned all of them, within the last hour or so.

Cetillar Villorba Corse just had a 58 minute lap time, for #47, with Felipe Nasr at the wheel of it, way back in 36th overall and 17th in LMP2. Antonio Garcia is still in a battle with Ryan Briscoe. Sebastien Buemi has run a 3:19 lap. 3:19.850. Rebellion has just done a fastest sector time. Phillip Eng is going to stay in for another stint, before handing over to Nicky Catsburg, I think. Catsburg is a Le Mans rookie. No real change in track temp. Nicky Catsburg was suggested to do another stint. He'll be doing a three hour stint. Alex Sims in the sister BMW, of course, wrecked.

It has been an encouraging return for BMW to Le Mans. Antonio Garcia is still out there with the #63 Corvette. That car has the second fastest GTE Pro lap time, set by who else. Garcia. This is Corvette's 20trh Le Mans and they've won eight. Harry Tincknell hits the pit lane. Tincknell will drop a few places. Billy Johnson in the #66 Ford has gone off the road at Arnage. Chip Ganassi Racing eschewing the idea of putting the car in the garage, as Sebastien Buemi pits. Eddie Cheever III. has been pinged for speeding and given a 105 second penalty. That a minute and 45 seconds. Wow.

Two safety car periods, and 13 slow zones in this race so far. Mike Conway takes the lead briefly, and the #8 car will go back into the race lead it seems. BMW #81 is back on track. Toyota has had only the stop/go penalties as long stops. Alexander Sims had a massive hit on the right rear corner when he crashed, and we've also documented the malaise for the DragonSpeed car. Game over. We also lost the #88 Dempsey Proton Porsche of course, in the second bend in the Ford Chicane. Ben Keating is up to third in GTE Am, and also, Tim Pappas in the second Proton Competition #99 car. The #84 JMW Ferrari is also out. Full daylight has returned to Le Mans.

Settle in for the final six hours or so of this motor race. Sam Bird has made a move, to tell Michael Christensen that he has speed. TF Sport has continually had issues thrown at them during this race. Euan Hanckey is knackered, totally washed out. He needs a rest. Toni Vilander, James Calado, and Sam Bird are still in the race for AF Corse. The Ford's were beginning to fade and the Ferrari's were stepping up. Corvette and Ford are also stepping up. As funny as it may seem, Le Mans has become an out and out sprint, despite the full day time and distance.

Antonio Garcia is down toa 3:50 lap time. Magnussen and Garcia have melded, and then, having a plug and play bloke for an enduro. But, Rockenfeller has been able to step up to the plate.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 17

Kamui Kobayashi won't slow down. We are at the 1/3rd remaining mark. BMW #82 has been pushed to the left hand side of it's garage, and we have an incident for the #88 Dempsey Proton Porsche. Ooh! Matteo Cairoli slams the barrier! Screech! Bang! Both of the Dempsey Proton cars have gone off in the same spot, on the same lap. Matteo Cairoli was really pressing on hard. Cairoli should try to safely cut across the road, and get that car fixed, but he'd have to go around 8.5 miles. The sole remaining BMW M8 GTE has suspension trouble. So, #81 is going to have to hang on as hard as possible. Martin Tomczyk, Nicky Catsburg, and Phillip Eng will need a miracle. Now, the crashed Porsche is the #88 Proton Competition car, as he went across the curb, and couldn't hold the car in the Ford Chicane. He broke the right rear suspension on the car.

Matteo Cairoli, Khaled Al Qubaisi, and Giorgio Roda, (two Italian's among the lineup), driving. The #92 Porsche 911 RSR, "pink pig", had service, and had to wait for a safe release. Oink, oink. Kevin Estre went 14 laps, and Scott Dixon in the Ford GT #69, ran 13 laps. Take advantage of the slow zone. Ferrari #52 also had something going on. The air at Le Mans, is damp, and we could get rain, even though we haven't seen rain yet. The #54 Spirit of Race Ferrari had a brake pad change, and Giancarlo Fisichella handed the car to Francesco Castellaci. There will be a position change here, soon.

Thomas Flohr needs to do more driving in the #54 car. He'll have to do a large chunk of driving. Thomas Flohr had dreamt as a kid, of doing the East African Safari Rally in a Porsche 911. Now, the #86 Porsche 911 RSR, has overcooked it in Tetre Rouge with Mike Wainwright at the wheel of it. CEFC TRSM had some damage to both their cars. There was a clutch issue as well. Clearly, there is a leak in the bell housing from a clutch seal or split hose or something. Being a part of Le Mans, you have to finish. Keep running. Don't stop. Trouble for Racing Team Nederland, who almost runs into the Rebellion. Yikes!

Oh no! Major trouble for the #10 DragonSpeed car. Ben Hanley smashes the BR into the wall. Something on the road destablized the car, and... ker-runch! He's broken the rear wing off that car. Yeelows breed yellows. That was a huge wreck, and knocked the tail off the automobile. Egad! The #7 Toyota is coming into Arnage. The #86 Gulf Porsche 911 RSR is in the garage for a brake change, having been put on the dollies. The crew is thrashing on that car. Ben Hanley is in reverse, trying to move the car. Wow. He's rolling, and can get back into the lane. He won't retire the car. But how did it happen?

Itr is a shame for Renger van der Zande, and it's crabbing down the road, badly. Ginetta will pick something up from DragonSpeed's misfortune. Toyota #7 pits from the lead and Mike Conway will take over the car. It is hard to get into the pit lane if they have crash damage. The car is at a 30 degree angle and the left hand corner has been knackered. Something broke. The right rear wheel broke and went askew. Rear left wheel, busted. Almost every panel on that car, is toast. Send the DragonSpeed car to the scrapyard and put this race to bed.

The track temperature is coming back up to 15 degrees Celsius. An incident at marshal post 29. Car #7, stop and go, for going too fast in the slow zone. Also for #8! Dear me! Toyota's get dinged for speeding. One minute, stationary in the pit lane. "For now, stay on track." You have four laps to serve this penalty. A pit lane penalty may not be served if the area adjacent to pit lane, is not open for it, under a safety car, or if the slow zone is adjacent to the lane. Now, this means they would have to take it.

Now, there are some inconsistencies here, maybe. Look at time over distance = speed. Toyota #8 is in the lane, for it's penalty. #7 is 25 seconds behind. Mike Rockenfeller passes Scott Dixon. Dixon is closing up in the Ford GT vs. the Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R-. Pit stop time in GTE Am for Matty Campbell. The #81 BMW M8 GTE has a cooling problem. They are in the garage. Scott Dixon is pursuing Mike Rockenfeller, with a huge slipstream before the chicane, and he makes the pass and sticks it. Scott Dixon, fifth place, done and dusted. Porsche, Porsche, Porsche, Ford, Ford Corvette, Ferrari, Ferrari. Will either of the Toyota's get another penalty? #7 goes across the line, as the #1 Rebellion is chasing, ten laps behind the race leader, but on the same lap as the sister car. Andre Lotterer in #1, and Thomas Laurent, #3.

BMW #81 is back in pit lane. Could they come back? The #67 Ford GT pitted with Harry Tincknell replacing Tony Kanaan, the Brazilian IndyCar champ. The #86 Gulf Racing Porsche is on an outlap with Michael Wainwright at the wheel of it. Ben Keating pitted the #85 Ferrari for fuel, and a tire and brake change. A number of cars have been stationary in the pit lane. The #5 CEFC TRSM Ginetta will be back on track soon, hopefully. The #28 TDS Racing Oreca of Matthieu Vaxiviere is stopped, dead stick, right in the middle of the Ford Chicane, and we will have a slow zone to get that car out of danger.

The #35 SMP Racing Dallara hops the curbs in the Ford chicane. Harry Tincknell is now sixth in LM GTE Pro, and he was ahead of his teammate Scott Dixon, allowing the Corvette #63 of Mike Rockenfeller into the fifth spot in class. Daniel Serra is eighth in class in the AF Corse Ferrari. Kevin Estre in the "Pink Pig" has taken the place from DragonSpeed. #28 into the lane and a ton of gravel. You need your bucket and spade after getting off the beach. The car is spewing gravel. The #80 Ebimotors Porsche is being raced by Fabio Babini, Christina Nielsen, and Erik Maris. Ah. Car #52 reported to the stewards for speeding in pit lane.

Will Giovinazzi be penalized? What will the marshals decide? Pippo Derani and Toni Vilander have co-driven this car with Antonio Giovinazzi. Tracy Krohn in the #44 Eurasia Motorsports LMP2 car loops the car! Kevin Estre had his heart in his throat through Arnage! Phew! That was close! Nic Jonsson and Tracy Krohn have done thirteen consecutive Le Mans races together. BMW #81 has five seconds added to the next pit stop, for a five second pit stop infringement.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 16

6AM in France. It should be dry to the end of this race. The #31 of Nathaniel Berthon is back on track after a brake pad change. Both Toyota's have made their latest pit stops. Kobayashi and Nakajima have both stayed in each of the cars. Kobayashi is starting his third stint, and Nakajima going out for the fourth stint. He is probably going out for the final time before Sebastien Buemi gets another shot. Porsche has not been touched all race, but the Ford GT's, and the third Ferrari 488 GTE, are all coming up through the order in GTE Pro. Three Ford's in the top six places. Ferrari #52 has dropped behind. It had a penalty as well, perhaps. It was either a stop/go or a stop and hold. Andy Priaulx is the top Ford. Now, Christian Ried is running his ninth Le Mans. He leads Giancarlo Fisichella, Jeff Segal, Luca Stolz, and Matteo Cairoli. Matteo Cairoli is a hot shoe. Laurens Vanthoor brings in the #92 "Pink Pig". Michael Christensen is waiting to get in. That's the bacon, ham, pork Porsche.

Paul Di Resta says he is making an impact and so is the United Autosports team. He will sleep and then go back into the race a little later on. Di Resta, and Phil Hanson, who did a quintuple stint in the European Le Mans Series race at Monza. Holy cow! Filipe Albuquerque has trained and coached Phil Hanson. The #69 Ford GT has had a lot of pressure, on the U.S. Ford GT team. Strategy is the key factor, and it's nerve racking for the crews and engineers. Ford #69 pits. Scott Dixon will replace Richard Westbrook. Dixon went head to head with Harry Tincknell. Jan Magnussen hopes there will be a way to change the balance of the Corvette, now that it is lightening into the daylight hours.

Patrick Lindsey has picked up a polystyrene marker board somehow. Ah. A lead change, as Toyota #8 passes it's team car. Missed a few details trying to find the onboard camera live stream. So, playing catch up here. The #7 car has led this race since 9:15 P.M. last night. The #54 Spirit of Race Ferrari sees Francesco Castellaci, after Giancarlo Fisichella drove. Now, Thomas Laurent has been in the pit lane for some time now. Both Toyota's have completed 253 laps. Jenson Button remains in 52nd spot, having put in a stint. Now, Billy Johnson has hit the wall in Indianapolis. The Ford GT had to have some rebuilding work. 15 and a half hours gone. Slow zone at Indianapolis. Toyota's lead, separated by 1.4 seconds.

Toyota is eight laps clear of the Rebellion with Thomas Laurent at the controls. The Rebellion's are ten laps adrift of the Toyota's. Andrea Pizzitola is still leading in LMP2. Porsche continues to lead LM GTE Pro, with Richard Lietz behind Kevin Estre. Joey Hand, Tony Kanaan, Antonio Giovinazzi, Scott Dixon, and Mike Rockenfeller, next. The CLM P1 has retired as well as the Paul Dalla Lana Aston Martin, Porsche #94, BR1 #17, Ginetta #6, #40 G-Drive Oreca, and also, the #34 Jackie Chan DC Racing Ligier of David Heinemeier Hanson, Ricky Taylor, and Come Ledogar. Track temperature has dropped to 14.4 degrees Celsius.

We have just had three incidents. The #47 Cetillar Villorba Corse LMP2 car has slammed the nose. The #84 Ferrari 488 GTE was stranded, and then lifted. Alex Sims, in the #82 BMW M8 GTE ran onto the gravel in the Porsche curves, spinning out, and... walllop! Straight into the barrier. It seems that it could be game over for the #82 BMW. Alexander Sims turned left into the barrier, and the, ker--runch! Backwards into the barrier! Jeff Segal flew into the air in the #84 Ferrari, and had his glove out the window telling the marshals, "put me down!"

Alexander Sims says he went through the first right hander in the Porsche curves, oversteered, and... bang!, straight into the wall. He had no idea. Three cars off the road, in succession, at different parts of the track, as Kazuki Nakajima pits. Sebastien Buemi is now in the #8 Toyota. The car sounds like a washing machine in spin cycle, or a remote control car, when it takes off from the lane. Now, Kamui Kobayashi will have one lap more in the lead before pitting, as he goes through a slow zone. Mike Conway will replace Kobayashi in the #7 Toyota. Earl Bamber in the #93 is coming. But, it's game over for the #82 BMW M8 GTE. That's heartbreaking.

Toyota #7 pits for fuel, and Kamui Kobayashi stays at the wheel.

Our retirements have been:

#94 Porsche GT Team, OUT
#34 Jackie Chan DC Racing, OUT
#4 ByKolles Racing, OUT.
#98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, OUT.
#17 SMP Racing BR1, OUT.
#6 CEFC TRSM Racing Ginetta, OUT.
#82 BMW Team MTEK BMW M8 GTE, OUT.

No changes in GTE Pro. Porsche, Porsche, Ford, Ford, Corvette. Jeff Segal has dropped to ninth in class in the WeatherTech Ferrari with Cooper MacNeil and Liam Griffin. Thomas Laurent is now into the lane, from third in the overall, being chased by it's sister car with Andre Lotterer at the wheel of it. Andre Lotterer is coming to Mulsanne corner. Liam Griffin and Cooper MacNeil are the other drivers in that car. Thomas Laurent is back into the race. We are very close to another hour done. We are nearly 2/3rds of the way through the race.

In sector two, when Nakajima pitted, and Kobayashi was on the road, there was a double zone slow zone. It was at the end of sector two. Before you hit the slow zone, there is a yellow flag. No speed limit, but, you can't overtake. Kobayashi got boxed in somewhere in one of those deals. The #8 car is pulling away. Fernando Alonso was lapping 2-3 seconds quicker than #7. Sebastien Buemi is also lapping much quicker. #8 can go quicker. But, the Toyota's are going somewhat slower, or at least one of them is. Hmmm.

Kamui Kobayashi just ran a 3:24 flat. He had a 3:24.2, 3:24.4, and 3:24 dead. Kamui Kobayashi must have a tiny issue with his car. Maybe the energy system isn't deploying properly. Scratching head.

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 15

Fourteen hours done and dusted, and in the book. Weiron Tan got back to the pit lane, and got fixed after being in the gravel trap with the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing car. Kobayashi and Nakajima continue to run 1-2, with Gustavo Menezes and Neel Jani next in third and fourth overall in the Rebellion cars. Gaps are beginning to pendulum. At night, cars fall into clumps... big chunks of cars. Neel Jani heads for pit lane from fourth in the overall. The Rebellion cars are not as competitive as the prognosticators (including yours truly), thought they would. They are up there, but have had a few niggles along the way. If there is a tire puncture, and the team is not sure where, then change all four.

Rebellion continues to nurse their cars a little bit. DragonSpeed's LMP1 #10 is now driven by Ben Hanley, but is down the order. The #52 AF Corse car has pitted, no driver change. Brake disc change, tire change, and refueling. 231 laps on the board for the Toyota's. They are eight laps up on Gustavo Menezes in Rebellion #3. There are three of four LMP2 chassis' in the race this year. There was a Riley Mk. 30 last year, but not this year. Alexander Sims is now going to drive the #82 BMW M8 GTE. On track, the BMW M8 GTE is relatively quiet. It is a turbocharged 4.0 liter V8. They are performing well, although the #81 machine has had it's foibles throughout this race.

Andrea Pizzitola has taken over the #26 G-Drive car. The #92 Porsche lost it's class lead in GTE Pro. Fred Mackowiecki will also come in in the Rothman's tribute Porsche. Pastor Maldonado pits the #31 DragonSpeed car, Norman Nato in the #17 SMP Racing BR01, and one of the other cars, I can't remember the number. Giedo van der Garde has driven two stints so far, and has the exhaust issue on the Racing Team Nederland car, fixed. Jan Lammers is in his 24th 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jan Lammers watched the race as a kid, with his dad, and that's how he fell in love with this race, seeing the Mulsanne straight at seven or eight years old. That was his inspiration. Jan Lammers will step away from the FIA WEC after Le Mans.

Nyck de Vries will be the new driver. Now, Sebastien Bourdais is having a brake change on the #68 Ford GT. This is the time of the race when a brake change will likely occur, whether it is here, Daytona, Spa, Nurburgring etc. Pit stop time for Toyota, and Kazuki Nakajima pits for fuel. Kobayashi will be in the next lap. They have a cushion and don't want to botch anything. There's no worries about the #7 car. Once Nakajima caught Kobayashi, Kobayashi was off like a scalded cat. 12 sets of tires, for 24 hours, means you have to double or triple stint sets of tires. 56 tires allocated as 14 sets in LMP2. 60 tires allocated for the race in LM GTE. Race tires are new, and the tires from qualifying don't have to be reused.

The Rebellion R13 will be a customer car. It is invested in by Oreca and Hughes de Chaunac, who is helping run Toyota, and also, the Rebellion team. Andrea Pizzitola still has the #26 car in a competitive spot. He's French, even though his name sounds Italian. The skies will begin to lighten over Le Mans, soon. There are breaks in the clouds, and we could see sunlight. Even more quick laps will come up. It's almost time for breakfast. Toyota continues to lead this motor race, seven laps ahead of Gustavo Menezes in the first of the Rebellion's. The #1 Rebellion is also in fourth. Small issues have delayed them.

No change in track temperature, as it is still 15 degrees Celsius. What happened to Jenson Button? He is now 52nd overall. Out of the race are the #34 Jackie Chan DC Racing car, with an engine issue. #40 G-Drive car, Jose Guttierez, out, in a heavy wreck. ByKolles #4, heavy wreck. Porsche GT Team #94, crash damage, chassis and suspension. Paul Dalla Lana, #98 Aston Martin Vantage GTE, the #17 BR01 AER, crashing backwards into the tire wall and damaging the rear wing. Tried to fix the car, got the bodywork together, and then, the car steamed like the Flying Scotsman, and the car overheated. Finally, the #6 CEFC TRSM Ginetta of Oliver Rowland, stopping at Tertre Rouge. Game over. Other cars have had several delays.

Mark Patterson threw the Algarve Pro Racing car off the road, and did damage it, but it is still running. The #3 Rebellion had the broken floor, but there is still a mystery as to why the #1 Rebellion racer was having a problem. More problems for Jackie Chan DC Racing. Gabriel Aubry is waiting to get into the car. The Jota and Onroak Jackie Chan DC Racing cars have had trouble, and they almost won last year with Thomas Laurent, Oliver Jarvis, and Ho Pin Tung. But, they have had a pear shaped motor race at Le Mans this year.

Its daylight now, at Le Mans. Kevin Estre is charged up. He didn't sleep all that much. Meanwhile, the TF Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage in the lane. They had a small brake fire, and have to redo the brake discs. They put the car on the dollies and are wheeling it into the garage. Euan Hanckey was driving at the time. Salih Yoluc should be getting back into the car, as he has not driven since 10PM last night.

Jorg Bergmeister has said, "you can't see anything at night, and you just hit your marker, which is the opposite in the daytime." Nathaniel Berthon is running slowly. He is in what could be his last WEC race of this season, as Anthony Davidson will take over at the next race. Ben Hanley is beginning to recover well. The #11 SMP Racing BR01 will score points and get to 70% distance, which is the requirement for scoring points at Le Mans. Both Toyota's now have 243 laps on the board. Very dusty brakes for the DragonSpeed. ORECA cars have had brake issues in the European Le Mans Series.

Will Stevens brings the Panis Barthez Ligier to pit lane. Jeff Segal, also, is in. He has a win, and a second place. Stevens won GTE Am last year and was second in LMP2 in 2016. Stevens tried to get into Formula 1, and couldn't do it. But, he is now running very well in sports cars. The #31 car is on the trolleys and into the garage. Elton Julian has a wry smile on his face it seems. There's damage on the corner of the DragonSpeed car. Salih Yoluc is not ready to race yet. Charlie Eastwood is back into the car. Salih Yoluc has to do six hours of driving, and so, he needs to do at least two more hours in the daytime.

Ligier #22 with Paul di Resta, is moving up. Ginetta has had issues, but the dogged, stubborn Yorkshiremen have kept pushing.