TOTAL Spa 24 Hours - Hours 16, 17 & 18
Unrelenting Pace

Hour 16

As we head past the three-quarter mark, one of the consistently fast cars is the No. 8 Lamborghini. Although buried among the GT2s, the much delayed GT1 runner is being twirled about consistently under 2:20 by none other than Roman Rusinov.

The No. 102 McPorsche becomes a McMuffin when Kenneth Heyer finds the car on fire at the Bus Stop. The fast laps continue as Stephane Sarrazin is the quickest in the again momentarily second place Maserati with a 2:17.285, about one second off of the overall best. Pier Guidi has moved into the overall lead during the last set of stops.

Collard very nearly unlaps himself when the GT2 leading Ferrari of Camathias stops. The Porsche does owe a stop so the gap should regrow.

This time the overall lead changes under racing conditions. Sarrazin is mighty quick and after a run of 3-4 laps much quicker than the other Maserati he passes Pier Guidi. It is now a 1-2 1-2, as the Vitaphone team would like it to be.

The Juniper team’s once fine race has continued to deteriorate. Shaun Juniper goes off at Pouhon and it takes several minutes until the No. 75 Porsche makes it back to the pits.

Positions after 16 hours:

1 1   GT1 Bertolini/Bartels/Sarrazin/Van De Poele Maserati MC 12 16:01:42.112 383  167.36
2 2   GT1 Negrao/Ramos/Lemeret/Pierguidi Maserati MC 12 16:01:48.946 383 6.834 167.34
3 10  GT1 Turner/Simonsen/Peter/Thompson Aston Martin DB9 16:03:37.904 380 3 LAPS 165.71
4 6   GT1 Fassler/Hezemans/Deletraz/Gollin Corvette Z06 16:02:43.133 378 5 LAPS 165.00
5 15  GT1 Ferte/Aucott/Daoudi Maserati MC 12 16:03:42.037 371 12 LAPS 161.78
6 77  GT2 Malucelli/Ruberti/Camathias/Rigon Ferrari F430 16:03:26.387 368 15 LAPS 160.51
7 61  GT2 Collard/Westbrook/Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 16:02:49.156 366 17 LAPS 159.74
8 50  GT2 Bruni/Vilander/Melo/Salo Ferrari F430 16:03:49.153 366 17 LAPS 159.58
9 55  GT2 Mullen/Niarchos/Piccini/Shedden Ferrari F430 16:03:53.866 361 22 LAPS 157.38
10 57 GT2 Moser/Del Monte/Vannelet/Palma Ferrari F430 16:04:00.872 359 24 LAPS 156.49
11 62 GT2 Davies/Babini/Monfardini Ferrari F430 15:58:24.988 352 31 LAPS 154.34
12 59 GT2 Pompidou/Williams/Sugden/Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 16:01:57.958 352 31 LAPS 153.77
13 8  GT1 Kox/Rusinov/Lammers/Enge Lamborghini Murcielago 16:03:14.109 352 31 LAPS 153.57
14 56 GT2 Kirkaldy/Bell/Mueller/Sutton Ferrari F430 16:02:59.365 351 32 LAPS 153.17
15 123 G3 Thomas/Bermes/Basseng/Hemroulle Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 16:03:07.321 350 33 LAPS 152.71
16 160 G3 Heylen/Dermont/Lamot/Loix Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 16:01:33.457 349 34 LAPS 152.52
17 124 G3 Huisman/Khan/Voerman/Van Splunteren Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 16:02:22.260 342 41 LAPS 149.34
18 70 GT2 Baguette/Basso/Tenchini/Plati Ferrari F430 16:03:54.324 342 41 LAPS 149.10
19 75 GT2 Baird/Twigg/Juniper/Forbes Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 15:56:16.611 338 45 LAPS 148.53
20 112 G3 Campbell/Jakubowski/Barde/Zangarelli Ferrari 430 GT3 16:01:29.691 338 45 LAPS 147.72
21 145 G3 Kelders/Duval/Greisch/Kerkhove Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 16:03:31.981 335 48 LAPS 146.10
22 76 GT2 Lietz/Narac/Long Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 16:01:54.237 333 50 LAPS 145.48
23 106 G3 Coens/Fumal/Schroyen/Faggionato Ferrari 430 GT3 16:01:50.254 327 56 LAPS 142.87
24 141 G3 Noziere/Brouard/Stepec/Samon Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 16:02:23.413 307 76 LAPS 134.05
25 122 G3 Jones/Jones/Jordan Ascari KZ1R 15:57:02.028 296 87 LAPS 129.97
26 174 G3 Brandela/Lesoudier/Peyroles/Lester Ferrari 430 GT3 16:02:20.593 272 111 LAPS 118.77
27 108 G3 Duez/Sougnez/Wauters/Muytjens Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 12:35:10.099 267 116 LAPS 148.58
28 4  GT1 Longin/Kumpen/Mollekens/Bouvy Saleen S7 11:21:51.922 255 128 LAPS 157.15
29 116 G3 Geofroy/Chaillet/Galand/Rosoux Dodge Viper CC 11:04:12.328 229 154 LAPS 144.88
30 102 G2 Kaufmann/Talkanitsa/Ullmann/Heyer Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo (GT2-R) 15:21:35.203 229 154 LAPS 104.42
31 51 GT2 Biagi/Montanari/Farnbacher/Russo Ferrari F430 9:53:52.223 225 158 LAPS 159.21
32 115 G3 Rich/Knauss/Kraihamer/Kuzminykh Lamborghini Gallardo 11:59:15.418 196 187 LAPS 114.51
33 182 CdR Scheier/Ballay/Kuteman/Garbagnati/Comar/Rambeaud Ferrari 430 GT3 9:25:59.205 188 195 LAPS 139.58
34 60 GT2 Henzler/Palttala/Forsten/Horion Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 7:53:13.529 183 200 LAPS 162.51
35 33 GT1 Wendlinger/Sharp/Muller/Lichtner-Hoyer Aston Martin DB9 6:15:17.975 151 232 LAPS 169.08
36 101 G2 Leinders/Kuppens/Martin Gillet Vertigo 7:18:34.615 145 238 LAPS 138.93
37 5  GT1 Menten/Margaritis/Schlunssen/Alzen Corvette Z06 5:35:23.106 140 243 LAPS 175.42
38 175 G3 Renard/Hissom/Lacroix Wasover/Thirion Ferrari 430 GT3 5:49:06.330 122 261 LAPS 146.85
39 140 G3 Fournet/Baron/Corbel/Ferreira Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 4:15:20.727 92 291 LAPS 151.41
40 121 G3 Helary/Desbrueres/Desbrueres/Radermecker Ferrari 430 GT3 2:21:10.236 31 352 LAPS 92.28
41 3  GT1 Maassen/Soulet/Pillon/Bouchut Corvette Z06 55:40.024 12 371 LAPS 90.59

Hour 17

The Ascari’s long stop out by Eau Rouge was not terminal but rather a lesson in endurance racing perseverance. Mike Jordan lost all electrical power, including power steering, coming through the daunting bend and thought that he was heading into the wall. He managed to bring it to a safe halt and then had to get access to the master switch. Using the only tool available, a vise grip, he got a jury-rigged system setup to restart the car and returned to the pits.

We’re having trouble coping with a new phenomenon. The sun has appeared for the first time all race.

Big change in G3. The long time leading No. 160 Prospeed car has stopped on course. It takes several laps but the previous leader, the No. 123 Porsche, now with Marc Basseng aboard, has moved to the front. However, a few minutes later it encounters trouble, pits, and suddenly Ian Khan’s chances have improved. He’s currently third in G2 with the No. 124 Mühlner Porsche.

At the 45-minute mark Sarrazin pits. He doesn’t lose the lead this time but Negrao comes within 26 seconds of the No. 1 Maserati. Sarrazin double-stints and is immediately up to speed, increasing the margin. Indeed he sets the car’s fast lap at 2:17.109.

Indeed a few minutes later Khan is in first in G3, the first time in the race that this particular car has led the class. It is handed over to Roeland Voerman with no loss of position. However, the No. 123 Porsche is moving again after repairs to the front section. Meanwhile, the No. 160 Prospeed Porsche has been in the pits for quite some time.

Positions after 17 hours:

1 1 GT1 Bertolini/Bartels/Sarrazin/Van De Poele Maserati MC 12 17:01:17.557 408  167.88
2 2 GT1 Negrao/Ramos/Lemeret/Pierguidi Maserati MC 12 17:01:50.926 408 33.369 167.79
3 10 GT1 Turner/Simonsen/Peter/Thompson Aston Martin DB9 17:03:28.182 405 3 LAPS 166.29
4 6 GT1 Fassler/Hezemans/Deletraz/Gollin Corvette Z06 17:03:26.782 402 6 LAPS 165.06
5 15 GT1 Ferte/Aucott/Daoudi Maserati MC 12 17:02:16.734 395 13 LAPS 162.37
6 77 GT2 Malucelli/Ruberti/Camathias/Rigon Ferrari F430 17:03:25.656 391 17 LAPS 160.55
7 61 GT2 Collard/Westbrook/Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 17:03:06.020 390 18 LAPS 160.19
8 50 GT2 Bruni/Vilander/Melo/Salo Ferrari F430 17:03:21.558 388 20 LAPS 159.33
9 55 GT2 Mullen/Niarchos/Piccini/Shedden Ferrari F430 17:03:32.738 384 24 LAPS 157.66
10 57 GT2 Moser/Del Monte/Vannelet/Palma Ferrari F430 17:01:48.720 381 27 LAPS 156.69
11 8 GT1 Kox/Rusinov/Lammers/Enge Lamborghini Murcielago 17:01:45.065 376 32 LAPS 154.64
12 59 GT2 Pompidou/Williams/Sugden/Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 17:01:17.316 375 33 LAPS 154.30
13 56 GT2 Kirkaldy/Bell/Mueller/Sutton Ferrari F430 17:01:43.255 373 35 LAPS 153.41
14 124 G3 Huisman/Khan/Voerman/Van Splunteren Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 17:00:57.948 364 44 LAPS 149.82
15 123 G3 Thomas/Bermes/Basseng/Hemroulle Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 17:02:35.668 364 44 LAPS 149.58
16 160 G3 Heylen/Dermont/Lamot/Loix Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 16:56:43.458 361 47 LAPS 149.21
17 112 G3 Campbell/Jakubowski/Barde/Zangarelli Ferrari 430 GT3 17:01:01.691 361 47 LAPS 148.58
18 62 GT2 Davies/Babini/Monfardini Ferrari F430 16:54:46.723 357 51 LAPS 147.84
19 76 GT2 Lietz/Narac/Long Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 17:02:37.011 357 51 LAPS 146.70
20 145 G3 Kelders/Duval/Greisch/Kerkhove Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 17:02:28.935 353 55 LAPS 145.08
21 70 GT2 Baguette/Basso/Tenchini/Plati Ferrari F430 16:14:24.415 346 62 LAPS 149.22
22 75 GT2 Baird/Twigg/Juniper/Forbes Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 15:56:16.611 338 70 LAPS 148.53
23 106 G3 Coens/Fumal/Schroyen/Faggionato Ferrari 430 GT3 16:16:13.341 332 76 LAPS 142.91
24 141 G3 Noziere/Brouard/Stepec/Samon Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 16:50:17.466 324 84 LAPS 134.77
25 122 G3 Jones/Jones/Jordan Ascari KZ1R 17:02:31.796 309 99 LAPS 126.99
26 174 G3 Brandela/Lesoudier/Peyroles/Lester Ferrari 430 GT3 17:03:19.845 294 114 LAPS 120.73
27 108 G3 Duez/Sougnez/Wauters/Muytjens Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 12:35:10.099 267 141 LAPS 148.58
28 4 GT1 Longin/Kumpen/Mollekens/Bouvy Saleen S7 11:21:51.922 255 153 LAPS 157.15
29 116 G3 Geofroy/Chaillet/Galand/Rosoux Dodge Viper CC 11:04:12.328 229 179 LAPS 144.88
30 102 G2 Kaufmann/Talkanitsa/Ullmann/Heyer Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo (GT2-R) 15:21:35.203 229 179 LAPS 104.42
31 51 GT2 Biagi/Montanari/Farnbacher/Russo Ferrari F430 9:53:52.223 225 183 LAPS 159.21
32 115 G3 Rich/Knauss/Kraihamer/Kuzminykh Lamborghini Gallardo 11:59:15.418 196 212 LAPS 114.51
33 182 CdR Scheier/Ballay/Kuteman/Garbagnati/Comar/Rambeaud Ferrari 430 GT3 9:25:59.205 188 220 LAPS 139.58
34 60 GT2 Henzler/Palttala/Forsten/Horion Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 7:53:13.529 183 225 LAPS 162.51
35 33 GT1 Wendlinger/Sharp/Muller/Lichtner-Hoyer Aston Martin DB9 6:15:17.975 151 257 LAPS 169.08
36 101 G2 Leinders/Kuppens/Martin Gillet Vertigo 7:18:34.615 145 263 LAPS 138.93
37 5 GT1 Menten/Margaritis/Schlunssen/Alzen Corvette Z06 5:35:23.106 140 268 LAPS 175.42
38 175 G3 Renard/Hissom/Lacroix Wasover/Thirion Ferrari 430 GT3 5:49:06.330 122 286 LAPS 146.85
39 140 G3 Fournet/Baron/Corbel/Ferreira Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 4:15:20.727 92 316 LAPS 151.41
40 121 G3 Helary/Desbrueres/Desbrueres/Radermecker Ferrari 430 GT3 2:21:10.236 31 377 LAPS 92.28
41 3 GT1 Maassen/Soulet/Pillon/Bouchut Corvette Z06 55:40.024 12 396 LAPS 90.59

18 Hours

The No. 160 Porsche had damaged its right rear driveshaft. Later it returned to the its with the right rear hub needing work. The other G3 leader, the No. 123 Porsche had an off and came in to fix it.

The No. 124 Porsche’s work forward has been thwarted by a bout of food poisoning attacking Ian Khan. The BMS team attributes their success with the GT leading Ferrari to the quality Pirelli intermediates, which guided them through the wet periods of the night. Also regarding things which went bang in the night,

Karl Wendlinger has accepted blame for the incident that took his Aston out and damaged Hezemans’ Corvette. The blame game went the other way in the McBox of No. 102. The Piranha noted that Kenneth Heyer needn’t have overcooked the McPorsche. He failed to activate the on-board extinguisher and by the time he reached a marshal’s post the car was too well-done to be served back to the quick German driver.

The No. 59 Porsche has again gone off track, this time at Fagnes. The No. 123 Porsche has recovered nicely in G3, grabbing the class lead by sheer speed during this past very bright hour. Jean-Denis Deletraz progress n the No. 6 Carsport Corvette has been stymied by a misfire—yes, just what we need, another gimpy GT1 car.

Depending upon one’s perspective, there are only six hours left, or there are still six hours left. The “only” perspective notes that the Maseratis are on their own, and that even the order between them is pre-determined. The “still” perspective argues that there are two other cars within striking distance were the MC 12s to falter. These would be the Gigawave DBR9 and the last Corvette in east Belgium.

The “still” argument holds more water in GT2 where Lieb is several seconds per lap faster than Malucelli and indeed the Prospeed Porsche is at least at the moment on the class lead lap. The No. 61 owes a stop so there is a fair mountain to climb there as well.

The G3 contest has swung decidedly in favor of the two-car Mühlner Motorsport team, with the perennially quicker No. 123 leading—but not by much.

Positions after 18 hours:

1 1 GT1 Bertolini/Bartels/Sarrazin/Van De Poele Maserati MC 12 18:01:03.897 433  168.31
2 2 GT1 Negrao/Ramos/Lemeret/Pierguidi Maserati MC 12 18:01:29.070 433 25.173 168.25
3 10 GT1 Turner/Simonsen/Peter/Thompson Aston Martin DB9 18:03:22.482 430 3 LAPS 166.79
4 6 GT1 Fassler/Hezemans/Deletraz/Gollin Corvette Z06 18:03:08.771 427 6 LAPS 165.66
5 15 GT1 Ferte/Aucott/Daoudi Maserati MC 12 18:02:18.266 420 13 LAPS 163.07
6 77 GT2 Malucelli/Ruberti/Camathias/Rigon Ferrari F430 18:03:09.064 415 18 LAPS 161.01
7 61 GT2 Collard/Westbrook/Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 18:01:24.147 414 19 LAPS 160.88
8 50 GT2 Bruni/Vilander/Melo/Salo Ferrari F430 18:03:16.679 412 21 LAPS 159.82
9 55 GT2 Mullen/Niarchos/Piccini/Shedden Ferrari F430 18:02:43.475 407 26 LAPS 157.97
10 57 GT2 Moser/Del Monte/Vannelet/Palma Ferrari F430 18:02:35.195 405 28 LAPS 157.21
11 8 GT1 Kox/Rusinov/Lammers/Enge Lamborghini Murcielago 18:02:47.514 401 32 LAPS 155.63
12 56 GT2 Kirkaldy/Bell/Mueller/Sutton Ferrari F430 18:01:56.348 397 36 LAPS 154.20
13 123 G3 Thomas/Bermes/Basseng/Hemroulle Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 18:03:18.115 388 45 LAPS 150.51
14 124 G3 Huisman/Khan/Voerman/Van Splunteren Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 18:01:57.490 387 46 LAPS 150.31
15 59 GT2 Pompidou/Williams/Sugden/Ashburn Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 17:19:12.372 382 51 LAPS 154.47
16 112 G3 Campbell/Jakubowski/Barde/Zangarelli Ferrari 430 GT3 18:01:50.496 382 51 LAPS 148.38
17 76 GT2 Lietz/Narac/Long Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 18:01:03.087 380 53 LAPS 147.71
18 160 G3 Heylen/Dermont/Lamot/Loix Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 18:03:16.831 378 55 LAPS 146.63
19 62 GT2 Davies/Babini/Monfardini Ferrari F430 18:01:34.794 377 56 LAPS 146.48
20 145 G3 Kelders/Duval/Greisch/Kerkhove Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 18:01:53.696 375 58 LAPS 145.66
21 70 GT2 Baguette/Basso/Tenchini/Plati Ferrari F430 17:13:53.132 350 83 LAPS 142.26
22 106 G3 Coens/Fumal/Schroyen/Faggionato Ferrari 430 GT3 18:03:24.531 346 87 LAPS 134.20
23 141 G3 Noziere/Brouard/Stepec/Samon Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 18:02:07.354 345 88 LAPS 133.98
24 75 GT2 Baird/Twigg/Juniper/Forbes Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 18:01:55.891 341 92 LAPS 132.45
25 122 G3 Jones/Jones/Jordan Ascari KZ1R 17:40:56.600 323 110 LAPS 127.94
26 174 G3 Brandela/Lesoudier/Peyroles/Lester Ferrari 430 GT3 17:59:31.948 316 117 LAPS 123.01
27 108 G3 Duez/Sougnez/Wauters/Muytjens Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 12:35:10.099 267 166 LAPS 148.58
28 4 GT1 Longin/Kumpen/Mollekens/Bouvy Saleen S7 11:21:51.922 255 178 LAPS 157.15
29 116 G3 Geofroy/Chaillet/Galand/Rosoux Dodge Viper CC 11:04:12.328 229 204 LAPS 144.88
30 102 G2 Kaufmann/Talkanitsa/Ullmann/Heyer Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo (GT2-R) 15:21:35.203 229 204 LAPS 104.42
31 51 GT2 Biagi/Montanari/Farnbacher/Russo Ferrari F430 9:53:52.223 225 208 LAPS 159.21
32 115 G3 Rich/Knauss/Kraihamer/Kuzminykh Lamborghini Gallardo 11:59:15.418 196 237 LAPS 114.51
33 182 CdR Scheier/Ballay/Kuteman/Garbagnati/Comar/Rambeaud Ferrari 430 GT3 9:25:59.205 188 245 LAPS 139.58
34 60 GT2 Henzler/Palttala/Forsten/Horion Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 7:53:13.529 183 250 LAPS 162.51
35 33 GT1 Wendlinger/Sharp/Muller/Lichtner-Hoyer Aston Martin DB9 6:15:17.975 151 282 LAPS 169.08
36 101 G2 Leinders/Kuppens/Martin Gillet Vertigo 7:18:34.615 145 288 LAPS 138.93
37 5 GT1 Menten/Margaritis/Schlunssen/Alzen Corvette Z06 5:35:23.106 140 293 LAPS 175.42
38 175 G3 Renard/Hissom/Lacroix Wasover/Thirion Ferrari 430 GT3 5:49:06.330 122 311 LAPS 146.85
39 140 G3 Fournet/Baron/Corbel/Ferreira Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 4:15:20.727 92 341 LAPS 151.41
40 121 G3 Helary/Desbrueres/Desbrueres/Radermecker Ferrari 430 GT3 2:21:10.236 31 402 LAPS 92.28
41 3 GT1 Maassen/Soulet/Pillon/Bouchut Corvette Z06 55:40.024 12 421 LAPS 90.59