Under race conditions the pace of the hybrid Toyotas couldn’t be matched by the non-hybrid LMP1 runners,
with the lap time difference being around double that of the qualifying times, thus it was an orchestrated
Toyota run at the head of the field. This was briefly interrupted through a safety car period and a wrong
decision on tyres in a rain squall in the second hour of the race when the Rebellions forged to the front.
However, it was short lived, and the pair of Toyotas were soon back at the front, a position that they retained
through to the chequered flag, finishing less than 2secs apart. By the end of the race they were a lap ahead of
the #3 Rebellion, but this was down to problems for both the #1 and #3 Rebellions. The #1 car lost time in a
pit stop during the rain when Norman Nato locked up and slid into three mechanics, one of whom ended up
with a broken toe, but the ensuing confusion resulted in the loss of a lot of time, then later in the race had a
lengthy stop to fix a problem with the power steering, resulting in a 10th place finish. The #3 car of
Berthon/Derani/Duval was running on the lead lap for much of the race, but what was described as a fuel
sensor problem, which meant that it exceeded the fuel flow rate, saw it hit with penalties that dropped it a lap
behind by the end of the race.
In the LMP2 category it was a new team to the series, Cool Racing from Switzerland, who took the class win
with their #42 Oreca 07-Gibson driven by reigning class champion Nicolas Lapierre and Antonin Borga. Their
nominated third driver, bronze rated Alexandre Coigny, had been injured in the ELMS race on Saturday
afternoon, so was unable to take part. They took a comfortable win from Lapierre’s previous mount, the #36
Signatech Alpine ELF entered Alpine A470-Gibson, despite a drive through penalty for a safety car
infringement and a puncture.
Both GT classes saw some frantic action throughout the course of the race, with the pair of AF Corse Ferraris
heading the LMGTE Pro class in the early stages, but only narrowly from the pursuing Aston Martins and
upgraded 2019 specification Porsches. However, the class pole sitting #51 Ferrari suffered an early puncture
which dropped it down the order, which became a fierce fight-back for the remainder of the race. This car’s
race was further compromised when it was given a drive-through penalty for an alleged safety car infringement,
which the team protested. They thought that their protest had been to no avail and called the car in late in the
race to serve it, then just as it was coming through the pits the stewards rescinded their decision, but it was
too late and the net result was a 4th place finish. The sister #71 car had even worse luck, as it was running a
strong 3rd chasing down the Porsches ahead of it, when it was rudely punted off the track and into the
barriers by the #6 LMP1 Ginetta driven by Oliver Jarvis – race run! This left the field open for the Porsches to
take the class win in the order of #91 driven by Bruni/Lietz, which finished a shade under 4secs ahead of the
sister #92 example of Christensen/Estre, with the #97 Aston Martin of Lynn/Martin just over 2secs behind at
the chequered flag. AF Corse had greater fortune in the LMGTE Am class, as their #83 Ferrari driven by
Perrodo/Collard/Nielsen eventually came through to take a comfortable win from the # 98 Aston Martin of
Dalla Lana/Turner/Gunn. In qualifying the #70 MR Racing entered Ferrari had propped up the time sheets, but
came good in the race to take the final podium spot in the hands of Ishikawa/Beretta/Cozzolino.
Race Podiums
Overall & LMP1
1st – #7, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota TS50-Hybrid, M. Conway / K. Kobayashi / J. Lopez
2nd – #8, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota TS50-Hybrid, S. Buemi / K. Nakajima / B. Hartley
3rd – #3, Rebellion Racing, Rebellion R13-Gibson, N. Berthon / P. Derani / L. Duval
LMP2
1st – #42, Cool Racing, Oreca 07-Gibson, N. Lapierre / A. Borga
2nd – #36, Signatech Alpine ELF, Alpine A470-Gibson, T. Laurent / A. Negrao / P. Ragues
3rd – #29, Racing Team Nederland, Oreca 07-Gibson, F. Van Eerd / G. Van De Garde / J. Van Uitert
LMGTE Pro
1st – #91, Porsche GT Team, Porsche 911 RSR-19, G. Bruni / R. Lietz
2nd – #92, Porsche GT Team, Porsche 911 RSR-19, M. Christensen / K. Estre
3rd – #97, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin Vantage AMR, A. Lynn / M. Martin
LMGTE Am
1st – #83, AF Corse, Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, F. Perrodo / E. Collard / N. Nielsen
2nd – #98, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin Vantage AMR, P. Dalla Lana / D. Turner / R. Gunn
3rd – #70, MR Racing, Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, M. Ishikawa / O. Beretta / K. Cozzolino
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