LMS Silverstone - Hours 4 and 5 OK - Lets take stock - After 3 hours in which it seems everyone has hit everyone else we have a lead battle between the #2 Audi and #10 Lola Aston Martin covered by 3.6 seconds. The #45 Embassy Racing WF01 is back up to second place in class and into the top ten overall The van Merksteijn Porsche leads that class by 2 laps though. Enge is well in control of the GT1 race but the Corvette is cruising on to a points scoring finish and the Championship. The Virgo Ferrari seems similarly in control in GT2 The #94 Spyker seems to have annoyed someone - a 3 minute stop-go penalty is assessed against the Swiss entered car apparently for ignoring the red light at the pit lane exit. While the #45 car is having a great race the sister car is having a dreadful day, Joey Foster off the circuit and bogged down, the car eventually rejoining before pitting for a change over to Darren Manning who does a single lap before pitting again. The trouble-free run for the Charouz Lola has ended, the car pits for a longer than usual service and drops off the lead lap. Nicolas Lapierre inherits third in the #6 Courage Oreca and we again have an Audi 1,2 - Just like the old days! Joao Barbosa: “The car has a lot of understeer, specially in the tight corners. I was getting through the traffic very well which helped to keep competitive, even though we double stinted the tires.” Jamie Campbell Walter “The cars haven’t had much dry running so the set up was difficult. We started both cars on the same tire pressure but ours stayed high and the other car’s (#14 Creation) dropped, so our handling was really struggling. We tried dropping the pressure at the first stop which had no effect. On the second stop we dropped it again and now its working. We’ve got a lot more to come The #8 Peugeot is lapping quickly but is still only up to 30th place overall, in amongst the lead GT2 group and 16 laps off the overall lead. The lower reaches of the top 10 is still seeing some close racing too. The #16 Pescarolo, #5 Courage Oreca, #34 Porsche, #15 Creation and #17 Pescarolo separted by just 42 seconds. Alan McNish is flying, stretching away from Lapierre and closing in on the lead Audi, albeit a lap adrift. Mucke meanwhile is back up to speed and is closing in on the Courage . Virgo's latest pitstop sees the car exit with 11 seconds advntage over the chasing #77 Porsche, the Felbermayr proton car though owes us a stop. The #8 Peugeot, on new rubber, psots the fastest lap of the race, a 1:31.685, still back in 28th place though. he follows that with a 1:31.631 a couple of laps later. McNish meanwhile looks to be trying to unlap himself from Rockenfeller and the #2 lets the #1 R10 through onto the lead lap with 2:19 remaining. Mucke moves the Charouz Lola back up into third place at almost the same time. Major problems for the #45 Embassy WF01 as Warren Hughes loses about a minute (131 second stop) trying to start the car after its routine stop, losing its second place to Jan Lammers in the #27 Horag Porsche. The Dutchman set the car's fastest lap of the race so far - 1:38.621 - on its 123rd lap. A slow lap from Rockenfeller coincided with a quick one from McNish to reduce the gap by six seconds on lap 130 to 1:22. Thereafter, the Scot set about chipping away two seconds a lap on a consistent basis. Positions at four hours: 1 2 Run "LM"P1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI ROCKENFELLER Mike 136
2 1 Run "LM"P1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI McNISH Allan 135
3 10 Run "LM"P1 Charouz Racing System Lola Aston Martin MUCKE Stefan 134
4 6 Run "LM"P1 Oreca - Matmut Courage-Oreca LC70 – Judd LAPIERRE Nicolas 134
5 16 Run "LM"P1 Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo - Judd DUMAS Romain 133
6 5 Run "LM"P1 Oreca - Matmut Courage-Oreca LC70 – Judd ORTELLI Stephane 133
7 15 Run "LM"P1 Creation Aim Creation CA07 - Aim CAMPBELLWALTER Jamie 132
8 34 Run "LM"P2 Van Merksteijn Motorsport Porsche RS - Spyder VAN MERKSTEIJN Peter 132
9 17 Run "LM"P1 Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo - Judd PRIMAT Harold 131
10 27 Run "LM"P2 Horag Racing Porsche RS - Spyder LAMMERS Jan 130
11 45 Run "LM"P2 Embassy Racing WF01 - Zytek HUGHES Warren 129
12 35 Run "LM"P2 Saulnier Racing Pescarolo - Judd LAHAYE Matthieu 128
13 25 Run "LM"P2 RML MG Lola EX 265C - MG NEWTON Mike 128
14 40 Run "LM"P2 Quifel - ASM Team Lola B05/40 - AER AMARAL Miguel 128
15 4 Run "LM"P1 Saulnier Racing Pescarolo - Judd HEIN Richard 127
16 44 In "LM"P2 Kruse Schiller Motorsport Lola - Mazda de POURTALES Jean 127
17 41 Run "LM"P2 Trading Performance Zytek 07S - Zytek SHARPE Adam 127
18 18 Run "LM"P1 Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo - Judd HOLLINGS Charlie 126
19 31 Run "LM"P2 Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder NIELSEN John 125
20 32 Run "LM"P2 Barazi - Epsilon Zytek 07S - Zytek VERGERS Michael 125
21 26 Run "LM"P2 Bruichladich Radical Radical SR9 - AER PETERSEN Jens 124
22 59 Run "LM"GT1 Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 GARCIA Antonio 123
23 55 Run "LM"GT1 IPB Spartak Racing Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT KOX Peter 123
24 72 Run "LM"GT1 Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R MOREAU Guillaume 121
25 8 Run "LM"P1 Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 120
26 96 Run "LM"GT2 Virgo Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT 119
27 21 Run "LM"P1 Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi - Judd NAKANO Shinji 119
28 61 Run "LM"GT1 Strakka Racing Aston Martin DBR9 TURNER Darren 119
29 77 Run "LM"GT2 Felbermayr - Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR DAVISON Alex 118
30 90 Run "LM"GT2 Farnbacher Racing Ferrari F430 GT BELTOISE Anthony 117
31 85 Run "LM"GT2 Snoras Spyker Squadron Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R KELLENERS Ralf 116
32 99 Run "LM"GT2 JMB Ferrari F430 GT AUCOTT Ben 116
33 88 Run "LM"GT2 Felbermayr - Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR FELBERMAYR HJr 112
34 98 Run "LM"GT2 JMB Ferrari F430 GT KUTEMANN Peter 111
35 93 Run "LM"GT2 James Watt Automotive Aston Martin Vantage V8 VAN DER MERWE Alan 109
36 94 Run "LM"GT2 Speedy Racing Team Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R LEUENBERGER Benjamin 107
37 46 Run "LM"P2 Embassy Racing WF01 - Zytek MANNING Darren 103
38 75 In "LM"GT2 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR BALANDRAS Richard 91
39 33 Run "LM"P2 Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola B08/80 Coupé - Judd Lola Judd 75
40 14 Run "LM"P1 Creation Aim Creation CA07 - Aim Creation Aim 67
41 20 Run "LM"P1 Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi - Judd Epsilon Euskadi Judd 59
42 95 Run "LM"GT2 James Watt Automotive Porsche 997 GT3 RSR Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 55
43 91 Run "LM"GT2 Farnbacher Racing Porsche 997 GT3 RSR Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 51
44 7 Run "LM"P1 Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 45
45 76 Run "LM"GT2 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 38
47 37 Run "LM"P2 WR / Salini WR - Zytek WR Zytek 3 Jan Lammers pits just after the four-hour mark, but retains the lead. More drama on track as one of the Spykers hits the #18 Rollcentre Pescarolo and rebounds into the #99 Ferrari, causing significant front-end damage to the JMB car and forcing it to pit for repairs. Both Audis make a scheduled stop in the first quarter of the penultimate lap and soon afterwards, McNish sets the #1's fastest lap of the race so far - 1:32.535. The #6 Courage-Oreca Judd suddenly slows on track and Olivier Panis heads for the pits. The car is immediately on its jacks and into the pit garage. The stop lasts about six minutes, but the car resumes. With about one hour 40 remaining, Stefan Mucke sets the fastest non-diesel time of the race - 1:34.160. Peter van Merksteijn pits from the LMP2 lead with no louvres on the front right of the Porsche after a double stint. The car rejoins with Jos verstappen behind the wheel, but without the damage being addressed - risking a black flag? With just under 90 minutes of the race remaining, Jaime Melo brought the Virgo Ferrari in to hand over to Rob Bell for what was probably the run to the flag. A couple of laps later, the Geordie driver set the car's fastest lap - 1:50.087. Paul Daniels (JWA Porsche #95): "We were taken out by one of the Epsilon Euskadis. The driver was banging on the roof of our car! It's a great shame; we've scored points in all the other races and Matt Griffin qualified a brilliant fifth here." With 75 minutes remaining, Allan McNish was just 13 seconds behind Alexandre Premat, having hacked away at the #2's lead over the preceding laps. At his previous stop, the Scot had survived a moment that saw the R10 hit fluid dropped by the #99 at the pit entrance, causing it to step out. Observers suggested that an impact with the wall was not a million miles away. Premat pitted five minutes later, handing the lead to McNish once more. just a handful of laps later though and the #2 car was back in again and this time the car is put onto the dollies and wheeled into the garage, the team busying themselves around the right rear of the car, spanners being applied to something in the area of the dampers. Xavier Pompidou:
"The Lamborghini hit me 3 times. The first time at Bridge. Then I had to try and go over and around him at the left hander (Priory). He was so wide it was unbelievable. The worst thing was he knew I was there. He then went wide, I think on purpose at the next right corner (Luffield) and we touched again. Absolutely unbelievable. Bad driving are not the right words, it was worse than that. Incredibly stupid driving by him. I am very, very unhappy because we were in such a great position and the car was fantastic all the way through the race."
"We aren't doing PLM. We are saving the budget for next year when we have to win the P2 Championship."
Jan Charouz - "I had a good first stint and a very good second stint when I didn't suffer so much meeting traffic at the wrong place.
"I'll tell you if its been a good season at the end of this race!"
Antonin Charouz and George Howard Chappell meanwhile confirmed that the team will not be contesting Petit Le Mans.
"I cannot speak about next year because nothing is finally decided," said Antonin Charouz.
Juan Barazi: "The Maldives Porsche hit me at Bridge Corner. It cracked a rim but fortunately the guys spoted it when I pitted.
"Michael is in in the car to the end and could still get as high as 7th." - At this point Vergers pitted with a puncture.
"Yes I think we will be at PLM this year."
But the car won't finish today, the left rear suspension seems to collapse as Vergers powers through beckets, the wheel parts company with the car catapulting part of the rear bodywork skywards and pitching #32 into a wild spin into the gravel. Race over for Barazi Epsilon and Safety Car scrambled. Positions at five hours: 1 1 Run "LM"P1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI McNISH Allan 173
2 2 In "LM"P1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI PREMAT Alexandre 172
3 10 Run "LM"P1 Charouz Racing System Lola Aston Martin MUCKE Stefan 171
4 16 Run "LM"P1 Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo - Judd BOULLION Jean-Christophe 169
5 15 Run "LM"P1 Creation Aim Creation CA07 - Aim CAMPBELLWALTER Jamie 168
6 34 Run "LM"P2 Van Merksteijn Motorsport Porsche RS - Spyder VERSTAPPEN Jos 167
7 17 Run "LM"P1 Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo - Judd TINSEAU Christophe 167
8 5 Run "LM"P1 Oreca - Matmut Courage-Oreca LC70 - Judd AYARI Soheil 166
9 27 Run "LM"P2 Horag Racing Porsche RS - Spyder LAMMERS Jan 165
10 6 Run "LM"P1 Oreca - Matmut Courage-Oreca LC70 - Judd PANIS Olivier 165
11 45 Run "LM"P2 Embassy Racing WF01 - Zytek KANE Jonny 164
12 40 Run "LM"P2 Quifel - ASM Team Lola B05/40 - AER AMARAL Miguel 163
13 25 Run "LM"P2 RML MG Lola EX 265C - MG ERDOS Tommy 162
14 4 Run "LM"P1 Saulnier Racing Pescarolo - Judd NICOLET Jacques 161
15 18 Run "LM"P1 Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo - Judd ICKX Vanina 161
16 41 Run "LM"P2 Trading Performance Zytek 07S - Zytek GOSSELIN Claude-Yves 161
17 32 Run "LM"P2 Barazi - Epsilon Zytek 07S - Zytek VERGERS Michael 160
18 31 Run "LM"P2 Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder ELGAARD Casper 160
19 44 Run "LM"P2 Kruse Schiller Motorsport Lola - Mazda NODA Hideki 160
20 8 Run "LM"P1 Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 158
21 59 Run "LM"GT1 Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 ENGE Tomas 156
22 55 Run "LM"GT1 IPB Spartak Racing Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT KOX Peter 156
23 72 Run "LM"GT1 Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R MOREAU Guillaume 152
24 61 Run "LM"GT1 Strakka Racing Aston Martin DBR9 TURNER Darren 152
25 35 Run "LM"P2 Saulnier Racing Pescarolo - Judd LAHAYE Matthieu 152
26 96 Run "LM"GT2 Virgo Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT BELL Robert 151
27 77 Run "LM"GT2 Felbermayr - Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR LIEB Marc 150
28 21 Run "LM"P1 Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi - Judd VALLES Adrian 150
29 90 Run "LM"GT2 Farnbacher Racing Ferrari F430 GT KAFFER Pierre 148
30 85 Run "LM"GT2 Snoras Spyker Squadron Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R CORONEL Tom 148
31 88 Run "LM"GT2 Felbermayr - Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR RIED Christian 142
32 98 Run "LM"GT2 JMB Ferrari F430 GT BASSO Maurice 140
33 93 Run "LM"GT2 James Watt Automotive Aston Martin Vantage V8 OUTZEN Michael 139
34 94 Run "LM"GT2 Speedy Racing Team Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R CHIESA Andrea 137
35 26 Run "LM"P2 Bruichladich Radical Radical SR9 - AER PETERSEN Jens 137
36 46 Run "LM"P2 Embassy Racing WF01 - Zytek MANNING Darren 133
37 99 Run "LM"GT2 JMB Ferrari F430 GT Ferrari F430 GT 123
38 75 In "LM"GT2 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR BALANDRAS Richard 91
39 14 In "LM"P1 Creation Aim Creation CA07 - Aim LEWIS Ryan 89
40 33 Run "LM"P2 Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola B08/80 Coupé - Judd Lola Judd 75
41 20 Run "LM"P1 Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi - Judd Epsilon Euskadi Judd 59
42 95 Run "LM"GT2 James Watt Automotive Porsche 997 GT3 RSR Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 55
43 91 Run "LM"GT2 Farnbacher Racing Porsche 997 GT3 RSR Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 51
44 7 Run "LM"P1 Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 45
45 76 Run "LM"GT2 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 38
47 37 Run "LM"P2 WR / Salini WR - Zytek WR Zytek 3 | 
