Saturday, June 10, 2023

24 Hours of Le Mans: Hour 6

So, the battle is on at the front between Nick Tandy in Porsche 963 #75 over the Toyota's of Brendon Hartley and Jose Maria Lopez and then the Ferrari's.  Louis Deletraz has his hands full with Oliver Jarvis in LMP2.  Francois Perrodo chasing Malthe Jakobsen and of course Perrodo had a huge crash with the Corvette C8.R last year then driven by Alexander Sims who is now with Cadillac and Action Express as we have the #23 United Autosports car in the lane and Brendon Hartley is charging hard after Nick Tandy in the scrap we thought would happen between Porsche and Toyota, the 963 vs. the GR010.  Nick Tandy, Nico Hulkenberg, and Earl Bamber won Le Mans for Porsche in the classic 919 Hybrid LMP1 car.  Bamber has driven for other marques as well including Cadillac.  

Hartley and Lopez are battling hard.  Toyota pushing hard.  Nick Tandy able to rejoin Porsche did not burn bridges when he spent interim time in GT cars at Corvette Racing.  Be decisive through traffic.  Don't push it too hard.  We have seen spectacular incidents today especially through being too impatient and we have seen five retirements.  You just cannot take any risks early doors.  It is not worth it.  Roger Penske looking on, a man who will be staying up all night.  Roger Penske has finally come to Le Mans for the overall victory.  That is his deal.  He was here last year to watch and he stayed up the whole race watching above the pit lane.

This is the 91st running but the 100th anniversary of Le Mans.  1923-2023 and we are bound to see more.  Roger Penske won his 19th Indianapolis 500 and then won the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR race the day after as we see the #41 WRT LMP2 car in the pit lane in the hands of Louis Deletraz.  He runs for WRT here in FIA WEC and WTR in IMSA with Wayne Taylor and Michael Andretti.  Trouble again for Porsche!  The #5 is in a world of pain on the run down to Mulsanne corner!  He stops dead stick.  The #38 Jota Porsche 963 in the meantime, are finally back on track.

They have lost laps but they are back in the game.  Nick Tandy assumes the lead with both Toyota's diving for the lane.  Antonio Giovinazzi in the #51 Ferrari trying to line up a move on the Porsche while Dane Cameron is chasing still.  Jota got lucky through the succession of Full Course Yellows and slow zones.  These Hypercars are modular built like Lego bricks.  Michael Dinan in the #25 ORT by TF Sport Aston Martin spins in the chicane on the Mulsanne straight.  They were eighth in GTE Am sharing with Ahmad Al Harthy and Charlie Eastwood.  Tandy whips past "Rexy", the #80 AO Project 1 Porsche with the dinosaur on it.

Nick Tandy seemed to be out of juice through karting.  Hopefully he does not have tech problems on the car.  He probably needs energy replenishment.  Ferrari 1-2.  Miguel Molina over Antonio Giovinazzi.  Such amazing history at this race and in this place.  It is absolutely incredible.  Sir Jackie Stewart is one of the best, the Formula 1 champion.  He says it is one of the most special races in the world and part of the history of motor racing.  He thinks every driver should race at Le Mans.  There is a sophistication of motor racing in Europe.  There is a knowledge of motor racing history and that is what makes it special.  Sir Jackie Stewart raced at Le Mans and so did his brother.  

Sir Stirling Moss was the fastest to run across the track.  Le Mans is in the group with Daytona, Indianapolis, and Monaco.  We have more cars off the road with the #43 and the one of the others I cannot see.  I think we are going to try moving ahead in the coverage and seeing where things are.  The Eurosport stream has not been running up to snuff as of late.  

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