Porsche and Ferrari lock out front rows in P1 and GTE Pro qualifying. This is going to be another excellent race. http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/spa-wec-porsche-dominates-to-lock-out-front-row-733993/ BHW
The build up to Le Mans could not be better could it? Silverstone, Spa, Le Mans... Has a nice rhythm to it. BHW
Only place I've found live stream is on the Porsche Motorsport website... Porsche 6 Hours of Spa LIVE - Porsche Cars North America Radio Le Mans was doing commentary but they've switched over to something else, no idea what it is. BHW
highlight reel: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCWxbmkmaAM[/ame] crazy race with some big crashes and some real boneheaded moves by prototypes once again. race director needs to have a talk with the drivers before LM24.
Audi R18 wins with Lucas di Grassi/Loïc Duval/Oliver Jarvis Audis 16th race success in FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 106th LMP sports car victory of the brand with the four rings Audi has won the unusually tough second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Spa-Francorchamps. In temperatures above 25 degrees centigrade, in the end only two of the six hybrid sports cars from all manufacturers that had started finished at the front of the field in Belgium. Victory with a two-lap advantage was celebrated by Lucas di Grassi/Loïc Duval/Oliver Jarvis (BR/F/GB) following an impeccable race in their Audi R18. The spectators in Belgium witnessed the most thrilling WEC round in a long time. At various times of the 6-hour race, each of the three brands was leading with a clear advantage at least once, but the heat and an action-packed race took their toll. Under the eyes of Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Management Board of Volkswagen AG, and Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Member of the Management Board of AUDI AG for Technical Development, Audi Sport Team Joest was the most successful squad. Lucas di Grassi started the race in car number 8 before his teammate Loïc Duval, followed by Oliver Jarvis, took over the cockpit. After six hours of racing with several yellow periods, numerous sports penalties, accidents and technical defects in the field, the trio celebrated its first joint victory. Di Grassi was pleased about his first-ever winners trophy with Audi, whereas Jarvis had previously scored one and Duval even four sports car victories with Audi. Today, the drivers, the team and the technology had to show real endurance qualities, said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. I am very happy about the first joint victory clinched by Lucas, Loïc and Oliver. Sincere congratulations on their impeccable performance. It was Audis 106th LMP success in total since the 2000 season. The number 7 sister car had no chance on this occasion after Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) suffered several setbacks. In a duel, Tréluyer drove over a kerb so hard that the damaged underfloor had to be changed. After the car spent 14.30 minutes in the pits for this to be replaced, the air ducts had to be cleaned at a later stage, which cost further time. When Marcel Fässler touched a car in front of him, the team had to change the hood of his race car. In addition, number 7 received a drive-through penalty for this incident. In the end, the driver trio battled its way forward to position five overall. As a result, Audi scored 40 points in the manufacturers classification. The next commitment for Audi Sport in the WEC will be the test day at Le Mans on June 5. There, the squad is going to prepare for Audis 18th participation in the 24-hour race that will be held on June 18 and 19 this year. Race results 1 Di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis (Audi R18) 160 laps 2 Dumas/Jani/Lieb (Porsche) 2 laps 3 Imperatori/Kraihamer/Tuscher (Rebellion) 4 laps 4 Heidfeld/Piquet/Prost (Rebellion) 5 laps 5 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (Audi R18) 5 laps 6 Rossiter/Trummer/Webb (CLM-AER) 9 laps 7 Lapierre/Menezes/Richelmi (Alpine) 9 laps 8 Cumming/Dalziel/Derani (Ligier-Nissan) 9 laps 9 Bradley/Merhi/Rao (Oreca-Nissan) 9 laps 10 Albuquerque/Gonzalez/Senna (Ligier-Nissan) 9 laps
It was looking like an AF Corse 1-2 until #51 lost its engine with eight minutes remaning. Heartbreaking loss as they had led most of the race. None the less, the 488 GTs look well suited to do well at Le Mans. Pity about the Ford GT shunt at Eau Rouge. BHW