Hour 5: Toyota Laps the Whole Field in the Fifth Hour
The Toyota Racing TS030 put the whole field a lap down when Nicolas Lapierre overtook the nr1 Audi R18 e-tron of Andre Lotterer on lap 193 of the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo in Brazil. The Toyota was already a lap ahead of the nr2 Audi R18 Ultra, with Lucas di Grassi 18 second behind his Audi teammate.
The nr12 Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota of Neel Jani was also providing an equally dominate performance in the LMP1 Privateer class, two laps ahead of teammate Harold Primat in the nr13 Lola, who was having a great battle with Nick Leventis in the nr21 Strakka Racing HPD-Honda when the two cars clashed at T4, spinning both through 360 degrees. Both rejoined but with Primat now ahead of the British driver.
Stephane Sarrazin took over the driving duties in the nr44 Starworks Motorsports HPD-Honda and finished the penultimate hour of the race two laps ahead of Jacques Nicolet in the nr24 Oak Racing Morgan-Nissan. However Nicolet was further delayed when he had to serve a Stop-Go penalty for speeding in the pitlane but rejoined the track without losing a place.
The battle in the LMGTE Pro class continued with Ferrari ahead of Aston Martin as Gianmaria Bruni in the nr51 AF Corse 458 was just 13 seconds ahead of Stefan Mucke in the nr97 AMR Vantage V8.
Julien Canal maintained the three lap advantage for the nr50 Larbre Competition Corvette throughout the fifth hour of the race, with the nr70 Larbre Corvette of Jean-Philippe Belloc moving ahead of Paolo Ruberti in the nr88 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche during the scheduled pitstops.
Jeff Carter
Track Data
Air t° :19.7°C
Track t° :27.2°C
Wind :SE at 9.7 kph
Humidity :89%
Michelin Green X Challenge leaders at the end of Hour 5
2-1-21
RACE FACTS – HOUR 5
21:05:06 Fastest Lap of race on lap 165 from Lapierre in #7 Toyota 1:23.419
21:10:10 With less than 2 hours remaining, in LMP1, the order is : 7-1-2-12-21-13-22
21:11:35 In LMP2; HPD #44- Morgan #35 - Morgan #24 - Oreca #49 - Zytek #41
21:13:03 In GTE Am, Corvette #50 - Porsche #88 - Corvette #70 - Ferrari #61- Porsche #55
21:14:53 Pitstop for leader #7 Toyota - Lapierre stays in
21:16:55 Sharp fall in air temperature - 20.4C and 87% humidity - light mist over circuit
21:18:43 #35 Morgan Nissan stopped on circuit – Kraihamer
21:21:50 #35 Morgan Nissan now towed off circuit and looks like it will not rejoin
21:24:47 #24 Oak now 2nd in LMP2 and Pecom #49 promoted to 3rd after problems for #35
21:31:18 Audi #1 makes its fuel stop. #7 Toyota still leads. #2 Audi yet to make 5th stop
21:33:26 #2 Audi - Di Grassi- makes its 5th pitstop - fuel only
21:43:06 Contact between #13 Rebellion (Primat) and #21 Strakka (Leventis)
21:46:58 Primat in the #13 Rebellion is the beneficiary of the incident with Leventis in #21 Strakka
21:50:51 Lapierre in Toyota TS030 Hybrid #7 currently has 1 lap advantage on Lotterer in #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro in second place
21:53:42 90% humidity now on circuit and temperature falling - Mist over circuit is gathering
21:57:19 Fuel stop for GTE Pro leader Ferrari #51 Bruni replaces Fisichella. Rejoins ahead of Aston Martin #97.
21:59:15 Stop and go penalty for #24 OAK - pitlane speeding - Currently 2nd in LMP2
Photo: INTERLAGOS (SAO PAULO, BRAZIL), AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE, 6 HOURS OF INTERLAGOS, SATURDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2012, RACE.