FIA WEC/ALMS, 12 Hours of Sebring - Hour Four

Audi still 1-2-3, Taylor Leads for Corvette

Oh - big mess.  Looks like some fluids were laid down in turn 13 and we have instant mess.  95 has side pod damage.  The 23 is being loaded on to a flatbed for towing; 022 AJR had rear damage and the 32 GMG was also involved.  The 022 has suddenly grown a tail as it heads down the straight...

This latest yellow gives everybody a chance to breathe a bit, although the stops will be juggling the field.

The 022 finally stops - the messed up rear bumper/tail will be bobbed.  Another problem for the car is that the door is jammed from damage.  The team finally got the door opened, allowing a driver change.

Looks like a new class just entered the race - a large flock of trucks have paraded by.  Apparently the track has been cleaned up.

Ready to go green - Audi 1-2-3 at the restart with the 12 and 6 running between the second and third placed Audi's - one lap down.

GT is now 77, 03, 71, 56, 97.

Black Swan swoops back to pit lane.  The 022 also returns for what appears to be further attempts to reattach the tail.

Lucas Luhr dropped the 12 Rebellion down a place, but is in danger of being lapped by the No. 3 Audi.

Black Swan returns to pit lane yet again.  Nesting time?

Great run for Muscle Milk - 4th overall and the least amount of time in pit lane of the LMP1 cars.  Their PC car is doing as well, down in 7th in class.

The 022 must be a happy puppy as it continues to wag its tail as it runs down the front straight.

The 28 Gulf Lola P2 car continues to run.  It looks a bit used and abused, but it's still running.

In GT, Jordan Taylor is gaining on the class leader.  The first run for the young second generation driver has been pretty impressive.

No. 1 Audi to the pits - fuel only.

AJR finally gave up on reattaching the wayward tail of the 022.  It has finally been bobbed.

The worn looking 28 Lola has been a regular on pit lane - almost looking like it's a parade for the team.  Things going south for the team?

Taylor makes the move and takes over the GT class lead for Corvette Racing.

Leader to the pits - routine stop, fuel only.  TK stays in, but loses the lead temporarily to the 3 Audi.

Hour 4 Summary - The Race is Coming to Us - The Race is Getting Away from Us

One of the themes of past hour was that the rich got richer, i.e., that the diesel triplets are well ahead. Perhaps more interesting has been a fairly close battle for top gasoline powered car. It involves the sub-class “pole” winning No. 15 Oak-a-Rolo [damaged later in a spin by Kraihmer after a rebellious tap], the No. 22 HPD with its excellent three drivers (Brabham / Chandhook / Dumbreck), and a more modest but still muscular middle run by the No. 6 HPD. Significantly, they are atop the ALMS runners in LM P1, but they have company. The Dyson Lola-Mazda is at last up to full speed and has risen through the ranks thanks to a fine stint by Steven Kane.

The LM P2 contest during the hour drifted toward the favour of the Starworks Honda with the No. 055 Level Five car very much in contention but trailing. Nevertheless, they were clear of the former class leaders, Pecom.

The No. 9 RSR Oreca re-established a lead in the PC class. The most interesting development there was a general closing up of the category the rise of the No. 06 Core entry as well as the No. 025 Dempsey entry. However, that car suffered an un-Hollywood spin and Duncan Ende was unable to restart it—bringing out another full-course caution.

The most significant example of the “race is coming to us” phenomenon is in GT where the works Corvettes led most of the hour. The No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari is by far the most tenacious of the Prancing Horse gaggle. The Aston has slipped a tad.

Tracy Krohn, driving his own Ferrari, remained in control of GTE-Am, but this came partly unravelled. He had a lurid non-contact spin with Christian Ried (No. Felberymayr Porsche)

JW