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.
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