#Spa24h Race Updates - Part 3
Published
Mirko Bortolotti is about to take the lead when the #96 Porsche stops. We are just about to reach 18 hours complete, which puts us at 75 percent race distance. Just a six-hour sprint left to decide this.
Engstler ran one more lap than the #998 BMW and the Grasser team's stop was a little quicker, handing the now-installed Bortolotti the advantage.
It's shed its bonnet, but Baptiste Moulin has been able to bring it back and we avoid another FCY.
BMW looks strongest with two cars from ROWE and another from Team WRT in the mix. Ferrari has two bullets in the gun, while there are also one-car attacks from Lamborghini and Porsche. It could change – Mercedes-AMG and McLaren are on the fringes – but at 17h30 complete this is the picture.
The #998 BMW of Hesse os barely half a second clear of the #63 Lamborghini driven by Engstler. Pier Guidi is dropping back a little in the #51 Ferrari; he's now 14 seconds adrift of P1.
However that car will need to pit in about 20 minutes, so we're very much dealing with two strategies here.
That's P3 on the standard strategy. However he's dropped more than 13 seconds off the #998 BMW, which is the net leader. We're at 16h50 complete and it's 09:15 local time at Spa-Francorchamps.
That will become the actual lead when the #96 Porsche and the #33 Aston Martin stop in about 20 minutes.
The #96 Porsche is now off strategy at the head of the field. Ditto the #33 Aston Martin.
We'll go FCY and possibly see a safety car soon. Everyone is stopping under the neutralised conditions. Good news for the #48 Mercedes, which will get back the time it lost to its earlier drive-through.
. The #63 Lamborghini leads from the #998 BMW by about 3 seconds. Then it's the #51 Ferrari, which looks rapid in the hands of Alessandro Pier Guidi, and the #96 Porsche. 08:30 local time.
. It then comes in for its scheduled stop, along with the sister #51 car. Ferrari are right in this race.
That's about as far clear as anyone has been during this race. #998 BMW is second, #51 Ferrari runs third, #50 Ferrari holds fourth. It's just gone 08:00 local time, 15h35 complete.
The #48 Mercedes-AMG has just completed its driver-through and dropped to the tail of the lead lap. Indeed, Maro Engel is P13 and the last of the lead-lap runners.
Class leaders as we get set to go racing: Gold is the #33 Aston Martin; Silver is the #35 WRT; Bronze is the #74 Ferrari; and Pro-Am is the #100 Aston Martin.
That's a blow to one of the favourites.
Thomas Drouet has pulled the HRT Ford into the gravel after very light contact with the #48 Mercedes at Bus Stop. There didn't look to be much in that but it's proved fatal to the pony.
Ralf Bohn is at the wheel.
The latest FCY/SC period comes to an end with Pepper leading Harper, Abril, Fuoco, Müller, Farfus and Drouet who still owes us a technical pitstop. All cars are now effectively on the same strategy.
Indeed, only the #64 Mustang and #46 BMW have yet to change brake discs and pads.
media centre fire alarm went off. No-one moved. Admin ate breakfast.
It's therefore lost the Bronze lead to Kessel's #74 Ferrari.
≠≠ Ferrari's #51 crew were a lap down early doors. But Abril now runs a net third - albeit on a lightly offset strategy - after maintaining his co-drivers' good work through the early hours and into dawn.
≠≠ #63 has taken the lead through the latest round of stops, and Bortolotti has edged clear to the tune of five seconds as we approach Hour 14.
≠≠ Nothing betwen the top two overall as we go through half distance. #998 is a guest entry here so #63 bags maximum Endurance Cup points.
