Le Mans Halfway: Toyotas still 1-2, Ferrari leads LMGTE-Pro

The 24 Hours of Le Mans has reached the halfway point and after 12 hours the two Toyotas continue to lead the two Rebellions by 2 laps for the overall lead of the race.

Toyota stretched its advantage at the front of the Le Mans 24 Hours field in darkness at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

World Championship leaders Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López, in the #7 TS050 HYBRID, led the race by a lap after 12 hours, having started from pole position.

The #8 TS050 HYBRID of Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley had briefly led the race at the one-quarter point when the #7 lost time pitting under a safety car, but fell behind in the seventh hour due to a technical issue.

High brake temperatures had necessitated work and minor delays for the #8 at both previous driver changes but, when an LMP2 accident caused a lengthy safety car, the team decided to change the complete duct system on the front right of the car. After 10 minutes in the pits, Kazuki returned to action in third.

With all cars driving slowly under the safety car, the #8 lost only a lap and when racing resumed, Kazuki immediately put pressure on the second-placed #1 Rebellion, overtaking soon after to restore a TOYOTA GAZOO Racing one-two.

Meanwhile, José was establishing a clear advantage at the front in the #7 whilst avoiding risks among the traffic, with various incidents creating slow zones around the circuit and a further brief safety car in the eighth hour all complicating that stage of the race.

Nearly seven hours into the race there was an accident on track that caused extensive damage to the guardrail on part of the circuit. The safety car was deployed for a lengthy time while the Armco was repaired/replaced.

A relentlessly consistent pace from both cars pulled them comfortably clear of the chasing pack as the contest moved deep into a long night, with race starters Mike and Sébastien returning to their respective cockpits for a second stint.

Rebellion Racing’s two Oreca-designed R13-Gibsons are still running third and fourth, separated by one lap. The #1 Rebellion of Bruno Senna, Gustavo Menezes, and Norman Nato is running third. The #3 of Nathanaël Berthon, Romain Dumas, and Louis Déletraz is in fourth. It’s Menezes driving the #1, Dumas driving the #3.

In 5th overall, and first in class in LMP2 is the #32 United Oreca (Will Owen, Alex Brundle, and Job van Uitert) ahead of the sister #22 United Oreca of Phil Hanson, Filipe Albuquerque, and Paul di Resta.

At the mid- point GTE-Pro the AF Corse Ferrari team is leading but they are down to one car in contention after the #71 suffered a tire puncture and lost 5 laps limping back to the pits. Last year’s winners James Calado, Daniel Serra and Alessandro Pier Guidi lead in the #51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo.

Highlights

LMP1
•    No. 7 Toyota TS050 Hybrid has led the LMP1 field since the seventh hour with Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi now at the helm
•    The sister No. 8 car is one full lap behind after spending a lengthy stint in the pits for a full front right brake change just before the race’s seventh hour
•    Third and fourth place occupied by Rebellion Racing’s No. 3 and No.1 Rebellion R13 Gibson cars – the Swiss team not yet able to catch the Hybrid powered Toyotas
•    ByKolles Racing retired in the race’s eighth hour.  The No. 4 Enso CLM P1/01 lost eight laps due to an early alternator problem, with further problems to follow when Bruno Spengler went off the track shortly after

Kazuki Nakajima (Toyota #8): “From the early part of the race we had some difficulties and we were struggling with a brake cooling issue. When I was in the car finally we decided to change it under the safety car. We lost one lap but managed to minimise the damage. I just stayed calm and focused on my job because it’s always tricky to drive at night and it wasn’t easy to manage the tyre pressures behind the safety car. It’s tough at the moment to be one lap behind the sister car but we seem to be back at a good pace so we will keep pushing and see what we can do.”

LMGTE Pro
•    AF Corse Ferrari enjoying a closely-fought battle with LMGTE Pro title rivals Aston Martin Racing
•    The No. 51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo of James Calado has a 6 second lead over the No. 97 Aston Martin Racing entry with Alex Lynn taking over from Harry Tincknell at the wheel
•    No.71 Ferrari 488 GTE EVO was running third before a right-rear puncture in the 11th hour relegated the crew to sixth. Bird managed to get the car back to the pits where the AF Corse spent significant time repairing the rear of the car
•    The Porsche GT Team entries have had a difficult race so far with the No. 91 and No. 92 cars fifth and eight respectively.  The No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR – 19 dropped to the bottom of the leaderboard after a lengthy stint in the pits fixing the car’s power steering

LMP2
•    WEC category leaders United Autosports dominate the LMP2 category, the No. 32 and No. 22 ORECA 07 Gibsons first and second in class
•    Will Owen in the No. 32 car currently 31s ahead of Paul Di Resta in the sister car
•    JOTA’s No. 38 entry round out the top three in LMP2 with Anthony Davidson at the wheel going into the race’s 13th hour
•    Early leaders Jackie Chan DC Racing encountered difficulties in seventh hour when the No. 37 ORECA driven by Will Stevens ground to a halt coming out of Arnage.  The team eventually returned to the pits where the JOTA team worked hard to repair the damage.  However, the car was later disqualified by the stewards for receiving outside assistance
•    No. 29 Racing Team Nederland continues to struggle with intermittent engine problems
•    No. 36 Signatech Alpine Elf entry continues to climb the leaderboard after early water pressure problems. The French squad are currently eighth overall, one spot ahead of the No. 42 Cool Racing entry

LMGTE Am
•    Aston Martin Racing continues to lead the LMGTE Am category after a near-perfect performance from the No. 98 trio made up of Paul Dalla Lana, Ross Gunn and Agusto Farfus
•    Just 1s behind is the No.90 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage – both cars enjoying an extremely close battle for the top spot
•    Third in class is the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo now with Emmanuel Collard at the wheel
•    No.56 Team Project 1 Porsche 911 still in close podium contention with Egidio Perfetti driving going into the 13th hour
•    No. 55 Spirit of Race and No. 52 AF Corse entries have both retired from the race

Hour 12 Standings (Halfway)