Hour 2: Toyota Press Advantage As GTE Battle Rages
The second hour saw the nr7 Toyota Racing TS030 Hybrid continue to hold the advantage over the two Audi R18s. As the clock counted down to four hours remaining Alex Wurz was 15.6 seconds ahead of Marcel Fassler in the nr1 Audi R18 e-tron and 37.8 seconds ahead of Tom Kristensen in the nr2 Audi R18 Ultra, with all the front runners having completed two stops each.
In the LMP1 Privateer race it was Nicolas Prost in the nr12 Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota who was running well ahead of a great battle between Jonny Kane in the nr21 Strakka Racing HPD-Honda and Peter Dumbreck in the nr22 JRM HPD-Honda. The two British drivers were fighting at nearly every turn with Dumbreck trying to find a way around his rival. However he was shown a Black and White warning flag when there was contact between the two cars.
In LMP2 Alex Brundle is driving for Oak Racing for the first time this weekend and ended the second hour of the race at the head of the field in the nr35 Oak Racing Morgan-Nissan after a great stint by Bertrand Baguette. Stephane Sarrazin handed over the nr44 Starworks Motorsports HPD-Honda to Enzo Potolicchio, who tracked the leading LMP2 car and was just 6 seconds adrift at the top of the hour.
The LMGTE Pro race continued to entertain the large Brazilian crowd with Giancarlo Fisichella in the nr51 AF Corse Ferrari just 3 seconds ahead of Darren Turner in the nr97 AMR Vantage after 120 minutes of racing, with Richard Lietz in the Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche in third.
Fernando Rees, who lives in Sao Paulo, was enjoying himself on his local circuit. At the end of the second hour he was still at the top of the time sheets for the LMGTE Am class in the nr50 Larbre Competition Corvette. The Brazilian was 49 seconds ahead of the nr88 Felbermayr-Proton Porsche, now with Gianluca Roda at the wheel.
Jeff Carter
Track Data
Air t° :27.9°C
Track t° :33.3°C
Wind :NW at 3.2 kph
Humidity :57%
Michelin Green X Challenge leaders at the end of Hour 1
2-41-1
RACE FACTS – HOUR 2
18:11:14 After an hour of racing, Toyota leads by 18 seconds ahead of both the Audis two Rebellion Lola and two HPD.
18:23:44 Slight touch between Dumbreck in #22 JRM and Kane in #21 Strakka - No serious damage
18:24:47 Lapierre in Toyota #7 has stretched lead out to over half a minute.
18:28:46 Battle between #21 Strakka in 5th place and #22 JRM remains very close - earlier incident under investigation
18:33:00 Neel Jani in Rebellion #12 (4th) continues to pull away from the battle for 5th place behind him - gap now over 50 seconds
18:35:28 Rebellion #13 Primat passes Dumbreck in #22 JRM for 6th place
18:36:49 Fassler takes over from Treluyer in #1 Audi
18:37:50 Toyota #7 into pitlane for fuel stop. Lapierre hands over to Wurz
18:39:51 McNish #2 Audi inherits lead after leaders make second stops
18:45:16 JWA Avila #55 Porsche at turn 11 - right rear puncture - limping home to pitlane
18:46:55 #2 Audi into pitlane Fuel tyres and driver - McNish hands over to Kristensen - 33 lap stint
18:48:44 Spin and rejoin for #25 at turn 10 John Martin driving
18:50:37 Toyota #7 retains lead after second round of pit stops. Top 3 overall now all pitted for driver changes.
18:53:14 Alex Brundle in Oak Morgan Nissan #35 now leads LMP2
18:57:52 T.Kristensen, Audi n°2, est parti à la faute dans les Esses de Senna ! Il repart mais a perdu du temps ! 18:57:47 Brabham replaces Dumbreck in JRM #22
18:59:26 Spin for #2 Audi in Senna esses - rejoins after loss of more than 20s - Contact with GT car
Photo : INTERLAGOS (SAO PAULO, BRAZIL), AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE, 6 HOURS OF SAO PAULO, SATURDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER 2012. Nr51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia leads the GTE Pro class by just 3 seconds.