Photo Credit: FIA-ACO
So far in the first half of the 84th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at Circuit de la Sarthe in France, two manufacturers of the three currently based in the LMP1 Hybrid division have stepped forward, leaving one member of the triumvirate noticeably absent.
At the time OnPitRoad.com went to press, the No. 6 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid coupe with former Formula One pilot Kamui Kobayashi at the wheel led the No. 2 Team Porsche 919 Hybrid of Romain Dumas by 46 seconds at the 12-hour mark, with only the No. 5 Toyota sister entry of Anthony Davidson also running on the lead lap. Two story lines for the finish are developing in this two-way duel at the point. Porsche is looking to claim its second straight overall win and its race-leading 18th triumph. No other manufacturer has tasted more overall victory success at the 8.45 mile mix of public roads and permanent race circuit than the Weissach, Germany-based group. For Toyota, the Japanese manufacturer is looking to finally claim the top step of the overall podium after suffering multiple near misses in years past. Its most notable shortcomings having occurred in 1998 and 1999 when they utilized the imposing Toyota GT-One challenger. A victory overall would also be the first for the a Japan-based constructor since Mazda won Le Mans in 1991.
While Porsche and Toyota have driven to the forefront so far in this endurance test, Audi Sport Team Joest the current dynasty at Le Mans since the start of the 21st century have struggled so far in the 2016 edition of the June classic. A lack of pace and mechanical woes have cost the team’s two-car entry precious time, putting its highest placed entry in fourth place overall, yet two full laps off the pace.
In LMP2, the ORECA 05 coupe appears ready to earn its second straight 24 Hours of Le Mans victory, however unlike a year ago a new team is set to secure the honors. With KC Motorsport Group well down the order due to time lost in the garage, Signatech Alpine with American-based driver Gustavo Menezes at the wheel, held over a half lap lead on the second place G-Drive Racing ORECA of Will Stevens. The Ryo Hirakawa-piloted Thiriet by TDS Racing ORECA coupe was in position number three, while a pair of open top Gibson 015Ss rounded out the first five. Jota Sport’s G-Drive badged entry with Giedo Van der Garde held fourth at the time of press, with the all-British driving team from Strakka Racing in fifth. Danny Watts was at the wheel of the Strakka Gibson at the halfway point.
In GTE-Pro despite losing some of its performance advantage due to a late Balance of Performance settings change by the FIA-ACO on Friday, Risi Competizione’s new Ferrari 488 GTE, with Matteo Malucelli driving, held a 45 second lead on the first of two Chip Ganassi Racing’s Ford GTs still in victory contention. Ryan Briscoe held the runner-up position at press time, with teammate Joey Hand running in third. Behind the newest version of the famed Ford versus Ferrari battle, Prodrive Aston Martin’s lead Vantage V8 with Marco Sorenson was holding the fourth position, while Corvette Racing’s Jordan Taylor closed out the first five.
Finally in GTE-Amateur, Scuderia Corsa’s Townsend Bell held the top spot in the No. 62 Ferrari 458 Italia, with Abu Dhabi Proton Porsche driver Khalid Al-Qubaisi in close pursuit in second. Bell and his co-drivers Jeff Segal and Bill Sweedler finished third in their Le Mans debut a year ago and are threatening to improve on it in 2016.
Stay tuned to OnPitRoad.com for a full race recap after the checkered flag falls on Sunday.
