American Le Mans Series

Sebring 12 Hours – Third and Fourth Hour Report

© American Le Mans Series

After two hours of racing at Sebring we have 31 cars left in the race. Audi and Porsche have had their problems with Team Penske having the ‘honor’ of getting the first official retirement of the race, their #6 Spyder is already in the trailer. Peugeot leads the race ahead of the two Audi R10s while the Andretti Green Racing Acura leads in LMP2 and is fourth overall. The #3 Corvette and #62 Risi Ferrari are the GT leaders.

Back to the race now…

12:05- As the #4 Corvette went into the pit the Bell Motorsport DBR9 has inherited the second place in GT1, for now.

12:09- The #3 Corvette is now in for a regular stop. At the front the Peugeot is still pulling away from the second placed Audi.

12:10- Bryan Willman in the Autocon Creation is going around the track slowly.

12:11- Audi #2 is in the pit lane, fuel and tyres for Luhr.

12:15- Lucas Luhr has dropped back behind the Andretti Green Racing Acura of Marco Andretti and is now fourth. The Acura is incredibly quick in the opening hours of the race.

12:16- The Autocon Creation is being passed by several cars now, clearly showing that the older LMP1 cars can not fight against the current LMP1/LMP2-spec cars. The left headlight of the Creation is not working, could cause a problem later on.

12:19- Pedro Lamy in for Peugeots third pit stop of the race. The 4 Corvette is back out on the track after spending almost 19 minutes in the pitlane, it has dropped to 28th overall. The team reported a drive train problem and has been fixing that. Hopefully for them the car will keep running.

12:22- Tom Kristensen is in the pit for another regular stop for the Audi team. Kristensen stays in the car.

12:24- In comes the #71 Tafel Racing Ferrari. Robert Bell stays in the car.

12:27- The Andretti Green car has moved into second overall for now, it will have to make its pit stop though and is expected to drop behind the Audis then. Still the speed of the car is impressive.

12:30- Fittipaldi has taken over from Andretti, the car has dropped from first to fourth in LMP2.

12:33- Mika Salo goes off the track on exactly the same place where Melo and Werner went off earlier on in the race.

12:35- Another one bites the dust. Feinberg in the Viper also goes off at the exact same place as the Risi Ferrari.

12:36- As the Barazi Zytek comes in for a regular stop the #1 Audi closes in on the Andretti Green Acura. Hard time for Kristensen to get by the LMP2 car.

12:38- The Risi Ferrari is in for a pit stop. Problems out on the track as the Tafel Ferrari spins and the Fernandez Acura is slowly going around. Did the two collide?

12:40- Adrian Fernandez and Romain Dumas are in the pit, can Dumas get out ahead of Fittipaldi?

12:42- More Porsche RS Spyder stops as the Horag and Dyson cars come in for their stops.

12:44- Reports about a gearbox problem for the Peugeot 908. We’ll keep an eye on this. Fittipaldi managed to get back ahead of the Dumas Porsche.

12:45- The Drayson-Barwell Aston Martin DBRS9 hits the wall quite heavily at Turn 1. Bodywork damage to the rear of the car. Full course caution comes out as the #007 is getting back to the pit.

12:48-(SC) The safety car is picking up the leaders.

12:50-(SC) In comes the Peugeot 908 for its pit stop, it is followed by the Audi R10s!

12:51-(SC) The engine cover comes off from the Peugeot 908, the engineers having trouble to get it off quickly. The focus is on the gear box as expected.

12:53-(SC) More problems for Peugeot, the nose of the car has also come off. Luckily for the French squad we are still behind the safety car.

12:55-(SC) McNish (#1) and Rockenfeller (#2) have passed the Peugeot that is still in the pitlane, the 908 is now a lap down.

12:59-(SC) The safety car passes the pit straight again, which means Lamy in the Peugeot 908 is now dropping behind the LMP2 cars.

13:01-(SC) Several cars are allowed to pass the safety car as it wants to pick up the leading Audi’s. Audi mechanics are meanwhile checking out their French opponents from behind the pit wall.

13:02-(SC) We are expected to go green very soon.

13:03-(SC) The #7 Penske Porsche is in the pit for a nose change. It is quickly changed and Dumas returns to the track.

13:04-(SC) Peugeot is getting ready it seems. The nose and engine cover are getting back on the car.

13:05-(SC) Sarrazin returns to the track, Peugeot has lost three laps thanks to the safety car, it would have been worse had it been a ‘green’ track.

13:06-(SC) #1 Audi leads LMP1 and overall, the #26 AGR Acura leads LMP2, #3 Corvette is nr. 1 in GT1 and the Risi Ferrari #62 is on top of GT2. Lights on the SC are out.

13:08- The green flag marks the end of a lengthy caution, but we’re at full speed again!

13:09- While Romain Dumas (Penske) is stuck in traffic Sarrazin is weaving his way through the busy field. Lots of cars stuck behind the Autocon Creation.

13:11- After holding off the Peugeot for a few corners Fittipaldi can not keep up with the pace of the 908 and has to let go. Dumas meanwhile passes Scott Sharp in the Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura.

13:13- Another incident at Cunningham Corner, this time it is the Intersport Lola of Ricard Berry that spins.

13:15- In an attempt to avoid the Autocon Creation the Barazi Epsilon goes off big time. Ravier hits the barrier quite hard and the full course caution comes out again. The safety team is there within seconds.

13:17-(SC) Ravier did get out of the car on his own. His helmet is off while he sits on the side of the cockpit. The safety team has called in the medical team as it was quite a hit. A precautionary measure by the safety team to prevent any neck damage it seems.

13:22-(SC) Lots of teams using the full course caution for another pit stop.

13:27-(SC) The ambulance is bringing Ravier to the medical centre. The safety team can now get the wrecked Zytek off the track as the safety car continues to do its laps.

13:29-(SC) Pit stop for the #20 Dyson Racing Porsche. Another regular stop. Marino Franchitti handing over the car to Andy Lally.

13:35-(SC) No restart as of yet as the barrier at the place of the accident is being worked on. Concrete sections going to be put behind the barrier. The Peugeot dives into the pit again, just like the #62 Risi Ferrari.

13:38-(SC) Peugeot back out on the track. Melo is still sitting in the car in the pit box, lengthy stop for them.

13:39-(SC) The Risi Competizione Ferrari sneaks out of the pitlane just before the SC passes it. #1 Audi in the pit for a splash and dash. 100 laps have been completed now.

13:42- Green flag!

13:44- Three wide into Turn 10! No contact though and as a result Sarrazin is now on the tail of the McNish Audi.

13:45- Great battle in LMP2 as well between Dyson Racing, Penske and AGR. Within one lap Dumas overtakes Smith and Fittipaldi and takes second overall and first in LMP1.

13:46- McNish and Sarrazin overtake Theys in the Horag Racing Porsche. Both take one side of the Spyder, but it is McNish who retains his position going into turn 1.

13:48- The LMP1 fight between Audi and Peugeot is far from over, fighting their way through the LMP2 cars it is Sarrazin doing whatever he can to unlap himself.

13:49- The Autocon Creation has gone off again. Willman lost control of the car under braking at turn 7. He has parked it in the grass and is having trouble to return to the track. Far enough off the track not to cause another caution.

13:55- The battle between Peugeot and Audi continues. McNish is blocked by traffic and Sarrazin closes in again.

13:56- Sarrazin has finally managed it. Shortly after getting by one of the Lizard Porsches Sarrazin sees a gap and passes McNish.

14:00- LMP1: #2 Audi, #1 Audi, #07 Peugeot // LMP2: #7 Penske, #26 AGR, #16 Dyson // LMGT1: #3 Corvette, #4 Corvette, #008 Bell Motorsports // LMGT2: #62 Penske, #45 Lizards, #87 Farnbacher Loles

14:04- The Peugeot has gone behind the wall!