By its richness and entertainment it has become one of the most exciting races in recent years — not only in Endurance, but also in the global motor racing ring.
The second stage of the World Cup for endurance races (WEC) has traditionally every year takes place at the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps track and is a kind of dress rehearsal for the famous Lehmann: most teams brings here cars are not so much in order to try a variety of customization options (although the track significantly different) as aerodynamic body kits, to be used in Lehmann. Despite the fact that the track at Spa is very difficult and tricky due to its bends and height differences, the stage usually goes pretty cool: the main battle will take place six weeks later at the Sarthe ring.
Usually. But not at this time.
What happened on May 7 race in the Ardennes, it was absolutely incredible battle for each minute of those six hours, the cars were on the track. From the first lap to the last second event alternated as in a kaleidoscope, and not at one point it was impossible to predict who will still be on the podium. One can say that this struggle is no longer presents any Formula 1, no other top racing except, perhaps, body Blancpain Series. This is not surprising: after all, here behind the wheel are adult men who have passed through fire and water, but not boys, running on any occasion to complain of their rivals.
Qualifications eve was pretty calm and predictable: in the LMP1 is the best time showed the Porsche 919 Hybrid # 1 (Mark Weber, Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard) in the LMP2 fastest results belonged to the crew of the Russian team G-Drive Racing # 26 (Roman Rusinov, René Rast and Nathaniel Burton). The bodywork classes in the Pro category of the best was the Ferrari 488 GTE Sam Byrd and David Rigon, and Am — Aston Martin Vantage V8 Teemu Nikki, Mark Sorenson and Darren Turner. Two crew SMP Racing (# 37 Vitaly Petrov, Kirill Ladygina and Victor Shaitar №27 and Nicolas Minassian, Maurizio median and David Markozova), respectively 7 and 9 places in the classroom. The surprise was the great qualifications for Toyota Gazzoo Racing team in the LMP1, which took crews to the P3 and P5 grid, pushing Audi not even for a second and a third plan.
But here's the surprise in Saturday's race started from the very start. Toyota «overslept» and missed the start ahead Audi, so now they have had to catch up. Immediately after the start of the first corner La Source prototype №37 running Vitaly Petrov received a delicate poke in the rear right wheel, and with a punctured tire and the ruined arch back into the pits. Renovated №37 rejoins, but with Victor Shaitar driving.
Parallel to this, there are problems with the hybrid setup on the Porsche # 2, and they begin to lose ground. But Toyota, on the contrary, is activated and starts to put pressure on opponents, and above all the cars from Ingolstadt. After 40 minutes after the start Sebastien Buemi driving Toyota # 5 goes to the second position in the race. Behind him is accelerating and Toyota # 6 Mike Conway, but without calculating the forces, she rams the car returned to the track SMP Racing # 37 and again sends it over the bar. Conway gets a drive-through penalty pitlane, but SMP Racing is not the better for it. Because they have two accidents lagging by 14 rounds.
After a puncture at the Porsche # 1 leader gets Toyota # 5 and leads for 3.5 hours, which in itself is a record for the team over the last two seasons!
Further there is a lot of small accidents, until finally, in the range of 45 after contact with the second car G-Drive Racing # 38 Aston Martin # 95, the same one that has qualified first in the category does not make a dizzying somersault through the ears, bounced off the fence. But the car gets to the wheels, and the driver gets off easy fright.
Porsche # 1 after a puncture is returned to the pits and lingers there for a long time, so to return to the track, and they have to «catch» something. Failed attack ends and G-Drive Racing # 26 car going ahead: departure and forced pitstop.
Technical problems and catch up with the two Audi. In №7 due to bottom damage begins the vibration and the car roll into the pits. The following difficulties arise from Toyota. First coming №6 because of problems with electronics, then closer to the end of the race the engine explodes and the leader of the race — the second team car №5.
But now there is a unique chance to have one of the private teams in LMP1 — Rebellion Racing — be on the podium, because in front of them only two cars!
In LMP2 four crews of all of our teams are not too comforting. For half an hour before the finish of the race the crew coming off the second SMP Racing # 27, and # 37 in the lag 15 laps and little hope for improvement. They will finish on the 9 and 10 positions in the class. G-Drive only 5 and 6.
But the toughest accident happens in an hour before the finish, when the Ford GT # 66 «Red water» loses control whether due to puncture, or because of problems with the suspension, and at full speed and crashed into a fence, so that the blow machine does not simply become half as long, but is deprived of both doors. All Radilon strewn with shards on the track appears resuscitation, and it looks very bad, but then we see that the pilot moves, it is removed and taken to the hospital to check, and it turns out that he escaped with bruises and contusions.
But this does not end there! Leading in this moment Audi # 8 pits — it has problems with the settings, do not have enough speed, and now added, and anything else with an engine — judging by the removal from the rear of the casing. False alarm, they go back on the road and still continue to lead. But their second car gets into an accident with a prototype RGR team and crushes his new nose cone.
It was dramatic and final in GTE Pro category. Throughout the race the riders were leading AF Corse Ferrari Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado, but nine minutes before the finish on their car had problems with the engine, and was won by Sam Bird and Davide Rigon for Ferrari 488 # 71.
In fact, you can list all the incidents for a long time — so many accidents during the stages of the championship on the Endurance and difficult to remember, even though the Belgian track, certainly has. Perhaps the reason for this was the unusually hot weather for the beginning of May (the asphalt temperature reached 51 degrees!), Because of which «collapsed» the whole tire strategy and the tires degraded a lot faster than expected.
Most punctures and, as a consequence, the incidents happened, most likely, this is the basis. Of course, another reason could be, and the testing of new «Lehmann» skirts the two top teams of Porsche and Audi, is not suitable in its characteristics under the track in Spa, well, the human factor can not be excluded.
The result — a completely unexpected victory, working, hard-won, went to the Audi # 8 Lucas di Grassi, Loïc Duval and Olivier Zharvisa. Porsche # 2 and finished second, with a delay of two laps — and they have earned the podium solely on an internal combustion engine, as hybrid installation they refused even at the 7th circle. But an unprecedented third crew became # 13 Rebellion racing Mateo Tushera, Dominica Krayhamera and Alexandre Imperatori.
2 crew G-Drive Racing — on 5 and 6 places, SMP Racing crew Vitaly Petrov, Victor Shaitar and Cyril Ladygina finished tenth.
Chief race crew favorite Porsche # 1 again left without points, receiving only one point for the pole position in qualifying. The pilots of the crew of the two phases gained only 1.5 points (at Silverstone Brendon Hartley in the lead on his own fault got into a terrible accident), while their sister crew on the contrary now occupies first place. But in the standings manufacturer Porsche is in the first place.
Not very good things and at the G-Drive Racing — they are in fourth place in the team and in the individual competition in the LMP2 category. SMP racing — sixth.
But ahead of Lehman, double points for a win and a great opportunity to fix it.
Photo: www.fiawec.com
