Le Mans Series

LMS Silverstone 1000km LIVE – Chapter 1

© Planetlemans – Gabriel Portos

Clouded skies again at Silverstone, as it has been the whole weekend. Apparently the chances of rain are slim but we cannot discard an unpleasant surprise on the weathr side. Peugeot departs from the front row but Audi had not been as close the whole season, so this is promising. On the other classes very close fights in perspective on both GT classes, LMP2 with 3 different makes in the top 3… Stay with us as we report you minute by minute all the action from Silverstone!

11:15- Most cars on the grid already, the Rollcentre Pescarolo will apparently depart from pitlane.

11:19- Engines are fired, the warm-up lap is about to start….

11:20- and they are off for the warm-up lap!

11:22- And we go GREEN!!!

11:23- Contact between Mc Nish and Minassian on turn 1!!! The Peugeot seems to be able to continue but very much behind

11:24- Fernando Rees spins in the Barazi Zytek, the 8 Peugeot leads with Audi 1 on its hills, McNish UNCHAINED!!!

11:25- Lamy resists the attack of McNish, Minassian is now 10th and scores the best irst sector overall, he must be fuming

11:27- The top 5 is 8 peugeot, 1 Audi, 2 Audi, 10 Charouz Lola, 6 Oreca

11:28 Lamy flying now, fastest lap in 1.33.550

11:29- First GT2s are being lapped on lap 3… in LMP2 it’s 34 v Merksteijn, 33 Speedy-Sebah, 31 Essex, 40 Quifel ASM, 27 Horag

11:30- The WR Salini very slow at the Hangar Straight, GT1 is 55 IPB, 59 Modena, 72 Alphand, 61 Strakka

11:31- Minassian up to 6th now in Peugeot 7, GT2 order is 96 Virgo, 76 IMSA, 77 felbermayr, 99JMB, 91 Farnbacher

11:32- Minassian all over Lapierre now fighting for 5th, traffic is not making it easy for the Peugeot…

11:33- Easy overtaking at Stowe now and the 7 Peugeot is on 5th

11:34- Peugeot 8 leads Audi 1 (6.9 secs), Audi 2 (9.2 secs), Charouz Lola (16.9 secs) and Peugeot 7 (17.3 secs)

11:36- Minassian chases Muecke, but it’s not easy…

11:38- Embassy 46 in the pits, problems and it goes into the garage…

11:40- No changes in LMP2 34,33,31,40,27, Embassy 45 is 6th and the all new MG Lola from RML is in 7th

11:41- Enge has overtaken Kox now for the GT1 lead, Modena leads from IPB, Alphand and Strakka while Minassian is now 4th after overtaking the Charouz Lola

11:42- Behind the four diesels (8,1,2,7) and the Charouz Lola it is the Orecas (6 and 5) and the 21 Epsilon car, number 20 is 27th overall after starting at the back of the grid, Rollcentre is 21st after having started from pitlane

11:44- In GT2 Virgo still leads the 76 IMSA and 77 Felbermayr Porsches, the 99 JMB and 90 Farnbacher Ferrari complete now the top 5. Behind them it’s 91 Farnbacher Porsche, 85 Spyker, 75 IMSA, 95 JWA Porsche, 88 Felbermayr. The small Aston is 11th in class .

11:46- Verstappen just lapped Rees on the Barazi Epsilon as the 94 Speedy Spyker comes into the pits, the 46 Embassy is still in while the WR is back racing

11:48- the 8 Peugeot cannot pull away that much, the 1 Audi is only 7.8 seconds behind… The other Audi is 17. 6 secs from the leader while Minassin 5.6 secs behind this Audi and charging! This can mean the chmpionship.

11:50- The van Merksteijn Porsche is 9h overall and has about 12 seconds to the Speedy Lola, the Essex porsche with Elgaard on board is just 2 seconds behind in 3rd.

11:51- The Modena team doing the only thing they can do to challenge for the championship: lead the race. however they would need the Alphand Corvette to retire to be able to grab the crown…

11:52- And the Corvette is in the pits!

11:53- A bit erly but it looked like a routine stop… let’s keep an eye on them, Guillaume Moreau drops to 4th in class now after that stop.

11:54- The 91 car has overtaken 90 for 5th in GT2, good battle between a Porsche and a Ferrari…from the same (Farnbacher) team!!! Ahead of them Virgo still leads 3 seconds ahead of the 76 IMSA Porsche, the 77 Felbermayr and 99 JMB are 3rd and 4th in class respectively.

11:56- 13 seconds now between Peugeot 8 and Audi 1. Both 46 Embassy and 94 Spyker are still in their garages. while the 20 Epsilon is in for its first stop.

11:57- Enge leads Kox by 12 seconds now in GT1, in LMP2 Elgaaard overtakes Pompidou, the Essex Porsche is 2nd in class, the Speedy Lola 3rd, 40 Quifel ASM, 27 Horag and 45 Embassy follow. make no mistake, the van Merksteijn porsche still in the lead while Pompidou retakes 2nd!!!

11:59- Rees (barazi Zytek) in the pits now from 12th in class, 46 Embassy back on the track, 94 Spyker not…

12:00-Gaps at the top: 8 (12 secs)1(4secs)2(7secs)7

12:01- Charouz Lola in the pits and back racing

12:04- The JWA Aston in the pits, in the GT2 class it’s still Virgo (3.9 secs)76 IMSA(2.3 secs)77 Felbermayr(30 secs)91 Farnbacher(3 secs) 99 JMB

12:06- Minassian has done his fastest lap yet, 1.34.217, last lap from Audi 2 was 1.37.776 (with traffic)

12:07- The Kruse Lola Mazda ad the RML MG Lola in the pits.

12:08- Speedy Lola in the pits, the Charouz Lola is running 13th now after their stop, after the 4 diesels (8,1,2,7) it’s Oreca 6, oreca 5 and Epsilon 21. Pit stop for the leader, flawlessly executed…

12:09- 45 Embassy, van Merksteijn Porsche and 21 Epsilon in the pits, the round of scheduled stops has started but Audi is still out…

12:10- Audi 2 and Peugeot 7 now into the pits!!

12:11- Looks like a problem for the 21 Epsilon, they’re still in the pits…

12:12- it’s the turn of Oreca 6 now, GT1 sees a change now in 3rd as the Alphand Corvette has overtaken the Strakka Aston . Pit stop for the IPB lamborghini as the Modena Aston still is comfortably in the lead.

12:13- Audi 1 in the pits… a bit of a long stop and McNish rejoins just in front of Prémat on Audi 2… Minassian on thir heels and attacking now for 3rd.

12:15- More pit stops now, Oreca 5, Essex, 14 Creation, 17 pescarolo, Rollcentre, 35 Saulnier…. and the Epsilon 21 is still not out, what a shame…

12:16- Minassian’s effort rewarded as Peugeot 7 is now 3rd and will have to fce 1st corner rival Audi 1 if he wants to go 2nd….

12:18- The 94 Spyker is running again, not the case of the 21 Epsilon…number 20 is 26th overall.

12:19- Charouz Lola back to 5th. mc Nish is only 5.6 seconds behind Lamy now, Minassian only 3.3 secs behind him though…pretty good job from all 3 teams which generates a really close race.

12:20- GT1 leader in the pits, much later than the rest of his rivals.

12:21- García takes over from Enge at Modena while 85 Spyker is in the pits for its first routine stop.

12:22- Only 3 seconds between Peugeot 8 and Audi 1 now… Epsilon 21 is still in…cars 5, 14 and 34 get stop and go penalties now

12:23- Let’s see if this is enough to get a leader change in LMP2, the 5 Oreca is running 8th overall and the 14 Creation 12th so those two stopping won’t mean any fundamental change on top positions.

12:25- New stop for the 72 Corvette, the 90 Farnbacher Ferrari also in from 5th in class. Gt2 is 96 Virgo, 77 Felbermayr, 76 IMSA, 91 Farnbacher, 75 IMSA, 95 JWA

12:26- Car 14 has already done its stop and go.

12:27- Virgo in for its first stop, Bell hands over to Jaime Melo.

12:28- Finally the 21 Epsilon is back racing…9 laps behind the leader alas…

12:29- McNish 1.8 secs behind Lamy while Verstappen comes in for his stop and go penalty.

12:31- No leader change in LMP2 despite the stop and go while the 5 Oreca does its stop and go as well.

12:32- Only 1.3 seconds now between Lamy and McNish!!

12:32- Small change in LMp2 , 34 leads 33 and 31, 40 is 4th, 27 5th but now RML is 6th ahead of 45 Embassy

12:33- Gaps at the top : 8 Peugeot<---2 secs---1 Audi<---11 secs---7 Peugeot<---1.3 secs---2 Audi, the battle is on!!!

12:35- GT1 seems stabilized with Modena 25 secs ahead of IPB, 72 Corvette 1.21 mins behind and Strakka in 4th

12:37-Big accident now for the 76 Porche and one of the Peugeots!!! IT"S NUMBER 7, SEEMS TO BE VERY HEAVILY DAMAGED....

12:38- Safety car is deployed...

12:39-(SC) It was a heavy shunt on the hangar straight, Minassian is out of the car and this will be a retirement. Peugeot could end the year winning all races and losing the championship!!!! This would be a terrible blow for the French Lion after having lost Le Mans...

12:40-(SC) very busy pitlane as dozens of cars get in

12:42-(SC) Capello leaves the pits ahead of Sarrazin so Audi takes the lead!

12:43-(SC) The SC comes almost to a stop as the debris and the cars (76 Porsche and 7 Peugeot) are put onto flatbed trucks. A real heartbreak for Peugeot.

12:44-(SC) In fact Audi has a 1-2 as Prémat has not stopped, Audi 2 has the lead, then it's Audi 1 and Peugeot 8.

12:46-(SC) This situation has brought the LMP2 leader (van Merksteijn Porsche) up to 5th overall.

12:49-(SC) Pit stops in LMP2: van Merksteijn, Quifel ASM, Barazi...

We continue our coverage on a new chapter, click here!