FIA GT - Spa 24 Hours - Hours 13 & 14

04:00 The hour begins with another safety car deployment, one assumes to facilitate the recovery of the #124 Porsche.

04:18 Racing resumes, with everyone bunched up again, and a tight battle reinstated for the overall lead. Kumpen begins lap 275 with just seven tenths separating his leading Corvette from Soulet in the #3 and 1.5 seconds back to Muller third. A late pitstop from Cadei, back in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari once more, drops the F430 down to second in GT2, handing the class lead to Bruni in the #50.

04:23 Anthony Kumpen thunders across the line to set a new fastest lap for the race, setting 2:16.836 in the #4 Corvette, slicing nearly two-tenths off Oliver Gavin’s earlier time in the #3 Corvette.

Others too are finding the conditions to their liking; Anthony Davidson clocking a new best for the #35 Nissan and Eric Helary posting an improvement for the #145 Christian Keifers Porsche, currently 20th overall and fifth in G3.

04:28 Another quick lap from Kumpen, who manages 2:16.467 on the #4 Corvette’s 278th lap. However, if these blisteringly quick laps have given Kumpen a three-second lead, Soulet has not been able to shake off Muller, who remains just three tenths shy of the second-placed Corvette.

04:35 Kumpen’s hard work and effort proves to be for little reward, and just a couple of laps through traffic and he’s back into the clutches of Soulet. Just one second separates these three.

In GT2 Bruni leads in the #50 from Cadei in the #51 with Garcia third in the #56 and Holzer fourth in the #97. There’s roughly a lap between each and little likely to change that before the next round of pitstops. The #111 Audi remains unchallenged in G2, with the second-placed Jet Alliance Porsche 997 22 laps behind in 21st position overall. The G3 leader is currently Hennerici in the #121 Ford GT, four laps ahead of Oliviera in the #122 and the Koen Wauters third in the Barwell Aston, two minutes further back.

04:47 Lemeret in the #33 Maserati spins at La Source, but recovers his composure fairly swiftly and continues. Although 11 laps down on the leaders, the Vitaphone MC12 is not under any pressure, and occupies a secure 7th overall pending any more incidents.

Hour 13 Times

Pos  No  Name  Nat  Class  Car  Laps  On Track  Stops  Gap  Diff  S1  S2  S3  Last Lap  Best Lap 
1 4 KUMPEN BEL 1 Corvette Z06 292  10     39.097 1:04.055 35.523 2:18.675 2:16.462
2 2 MULLER GER 1 Maserati MC 12 292  10 0.700 0.700 39.330 1:03.770 35.334 2:18.434 2:17.136
3 3 SOULET BEL 1 Corvette Z06 292  10 11.944 11.244 39.005 1:04.708 39.991 2:23.704 2:17.011
4 35 DAVIDSON GBR 1 Nissan GT-R 283  12 9 Laps   40.209 1:06.509   2:23.926 2:19.960
5 111 MOSER SUI 4 Audi R8 LMS 283  13 9 Laps 50.764 40.278     2:22.750 2:22.454
6 50 BRUNI ITA 2 Ferrari F430 281  11 11 Laps 12.703 41.611     2:25.032 2:23.970
7 33 LEMERET BEL 1 Maserati MC 12 280  10 12 Laps   40.036     2:23.515 2:17.483
8 51 CADEI ITA 2 Ferrari F430 279  11 13 Laps   41.806 1:07.462   2:28.767 2:22.603
9 97 HOLZER GER 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 277  12 15 Laps 18.662 42.225     2:26.832 2:23.155
10 56 GARCIA ESP 2 Ferrari F430 276  13 16 Laps   3:28.651 1:07.086   2:32.929 2:24.496
11 59 ORTELLI MON 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 276  14 16 Laps 5:06.325 41.871 1:08.400 37.933 2:28.204 2:25.128
12 121 HENNERICI GER 5 Ford GT 275  13 17 Laps 34.870 41.834 1:09.602   2:30.874 2:22.475
13 61 SPLUNTEREN NED 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 273  10 19 Laps 7.168 41.912 1:07.903   2:29.653 2:27.918
14 77 MALUCELLI ITA 2 Ferrari F430 273  16 19 Laps 1:27.551 41.800 1:08.022 37.989 2:27.811 2:22.014
15 122 OLIVEIRA JR BRA 5 Ford GT 271  12 21 Laps 1:41.359 42.373 1:19.836 1:03.835 3:06.044 2:29.016
16 55 GOODWIN GBR 2 Ferrari F430 270  11 22 Laps   43.717     2:30.834 2:25.179
17 172 WAUTERS BEL 5 Aston Martin DBRS9 269  14 23 Laps   42.267 1:07.858   2:29.735 2:27.523
18 123 VERBIST BEL 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 268  10 24 Laps 47.626 43.880     2:32.546 2:28.608
19 60 COLLARD FRA 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 267  13 25 Laps   42.086 1:08.909   2:30.336 2:24.396
20 145 HELARY FRA 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 265  11 27 Laps   41.849 1:08.673   2:29.967 2:26.578
21 116 SHARP GBR 4 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 261  9 31 Laps 1:32.942 44.368     2:35.999 2:33.117
22 174 PRIGNAUD FRA 5 BMW Alpina B6 GT3 261  11 31 Laps 15.559 42.859 1:10.911 38.702 2:32.472 2:29.458
23 161 SLINGERLAND NED 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 259  11 33 Laps   44.210 1:11.302   2:35.971 2:25.952
24 70 NARAC FRA 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 258  10 34 Laps 1:40.596 41.957 1:07.693 38.007 2:27.657 2:23.358 25 160 BROUARD FRA 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 255  10 37 Laps 1:06.318 44.555     2:40.415 2:32.599
26 110 DEKEERSMAECKER BEL 4 Mosler MT900 254  12 38 Laps   43.708 1:12.239   2:35.858 2:29.196
27 99 BASSO SUI 2 Ferrari F430 250  11 42 Laps 2.138 44.130 1:11.799   2:36.194 2:27.720
28 120 LUDWIG USA 5 Ferrari 430 GT3 245  17 47 Laps 55.826 44.422     2:36.886 2:33.233
29 124 KONSTANTINOU GRE 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 234  9 58 Laps 1:49.946 42.451     2:31.831 2:29.853
30 1 BERTOLINI ITA 1 Maserati MC 12 224  10 68 Laps   40.155     2:20.274 2:17.340
31 117 HIRSCHI SUI 4 Porsche 996 (GT2-R) 159  12 133 Laps   45.765 1:19.982 45.320 2:51.067 2:30.178 rtd
32 40 LEINDERS BEL 1 Ford GT (001 PT GT1) 146  8 146 Laps   41.674 3:47.114 50.200 5:18.988 2:20.711

Hour 13 Review

The hour started at 04:00. It ended at 05:00. In between, a bunch of cars kept making noise and going around and around.

Well, okay, a tad more. . .

The safety car was dispatched because the No. 124 Mühlner Porsche had stopped in a bad spot. The Audi’s back and forth placement relative to the Nissan came because of a change of brake pads.

It was a short yellow flag period this time.  It is also pretty much the same situation as before with the gaps removed and a new race unfolding.  It started out Kumpen – Soulet – Müller. It scrambled at about halfway through the hour to Kumpen – Müller – Soulet.

The No. 33 Maserati has dropped back after Lemeret spun at La Source.

Hour 14

A couple of hours of - let's call it sleep in a floodlit car park and the Ed is back in the chair as Marcus Potts makes his wobbly way to Hotel Audi A6 for some much deserved shut-eye

05:04 - The screens flash up with a message that the leader has a fire in the front left of the car - it continues so we can presume the brakes are getting a bit toasty on the #4 Corvette!

05:15, Muller has been stalking and now the #2 MC12 takes the lead, some very fast lappery ensues form all of the top 3 - Muller takes fastest lap of the race so far - a 2:16.067, Menten a 2:16.512 and Soulet a 2:16.476

05:30 - we have a top 3 still separated by around 3 seconds!

05:39 - the #122 Ford retires from fifth in G3 in the pits - It had led the class at one point - the sister #121 car still leads the class though 12th overall!

05:38 - Carl Rosenblad puts the increasingly luckless #33 Maserati into the gravel at Turn 13 - it was in 7th position at that point and begins another downward run.

The #116 G2 JetAlliance Porsche is into the top 20, Ryan Sharp at the wheel - It has 23 laps to make up on the class leading Audi though!

The leading trio are pacing each other all into the 2:18s again at 05:42

05:44 - The #33 Vitaphone Maserati rejoins after losing three laps and 7th place (to the #51 AF Corse Ferrari.

ACO General Manager Remy Brouard is up into 6th in G3 in the #160 Prospeed Porsche

05:48 - Basseng posts the Audi R8s fastest lap thus far - 2:22.040 - as he continues his pursuit of the Nisan (70 seconds ahead) - The german follows that up with a 2:21.621 next time around as daylight starts to play a part.

05:50 - Muller is edging away from the chasing Vettes - 9.5 seconds to the good from Menten in #4 with Soulet in #3 a further 3.5 further back.

05:58 - The lead gap is growing quite rapidly now - 15 seconds up as the top of the hour approaches

Hour 14 Times

Pos  No  Name  Nat  Class  Car  Laps  On Track  Stops  Gap  Diff  S1  S2  S3  Last Lap  Best Lap 
1 2 MULLER GER 1 Maserati MC 12 316  11     39.004 1:03.823 35.201 2:18.028 2:16.067
2 4 MENTEN NED 1 Corvette Z06 315  11 1 Lap 12.203 40.044 1:05.566   2:20.497 2:16.462
3 3 SOULET BEL 1 Corvette Z06 315  11 1 Lap 5.687 40.021 1:07.216   2:22.942 2:16.470
4 35 KRUMM GER 1 Nissan GT-R 306  13 10 Laps   40.702 1:05.321   2:22.427 2:19.960
5 111 BASSENG GER 4 Audi R8 LMS 306  14 10 Laps 1:08.468 40.262     2:22.506 2:21.621
6 50 COMPANC ARG 2 Ferrari F430 303  12 13 Laps 11.833 41.907     2:28.577 2:23.970
7 51 CADEI ITA 2 Ferrari F430 302  12 14 Laps 6.349 41.938     2:25.683 2:22.603
8 33 ROSENBLAD SWE 1 Maserati MC 12 300  11 16 Laps   41.735     2:20.585 2:17.483
9 56 GARCIA ESP 2 Ferrari F430 300  13 16 Laps 31.277 41.725     2:25.899 2:24.496
10 97 MILLER USA 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 299  13 17 Laps   42.152 1:07.910   2:27.517 2:23.155
11 59 SUGDEN GBR 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 297  15 19 Laps 5.655 41.766 1:07.328   2:27.474 2:25.128
12 121 MUTSCH GER 5 Ford GT 297  14 19 Laps 4.201 41.252 1:07.796   2:29.595 2:22.475
13 61 HOMMERSON NED 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 295  11 21 Laps 35.601 42.533     2:30.687 2:27.830
14 77 RUBERTI ITA 2 Ferrari F430 295  17 21 Laps 3.863 42.141     2:29.305 2:22.014
15 55 QUAIFE GBR 2 Ferrari F430 292  12 24 Laps   42.186 1:08.000   2:27.884 2:25.179
16 172 RENARD BEL 5 Aston Martin DBRS9 291  15 25 Laps 33.498 42.824     4:55.608 2:27.523
17 123 FORBES AUS 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 289  11 27 Laps   43.639 1:11.988   2:34.407 2:28.608
18 60 O'YOUNG CHN 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 289  14 27 Laps 57.391 41.951     2:28.065 2:24.396
19 145 KELDERS BEL 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 284  13 32 Laps   42.816 1:10.346   2:34.131 2:26.578
20 161 PALTTALA FIN 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 281  12 35 Laps 24.465 41.390     2:26.778 2:24.921
21 116 SHARP GBR 4 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 280  10 36 Laps 2:27.080 3:25.155 1:15.616 50.234 2:53.157 2:33.117
22 70 PILET FRA 2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) 280  11 36 Laps 5:39.045 40.963     2:24.795 2:22.658
23 174 LESOUDIER FRA 5 BMW Alpina B6 GT3 279  12 37 Laps   42.439 1:08.853   2:29.915 2:27.122
24 160 NOZIERE FRA 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 276  11 40 Laps 59.820 43.821     2:37.953 2:32.599
25 110 SCHUYBROECK BEL 4 Mosler MT900 275  13 41 Laps   42.224 1:11.349   2:32.245 2:29.196
26 122 LUNARDI BRA 5 Ford GT 272  13 44 Laps 1:30.071 3:19.343 1:31.475 1:08.353 5:59.171 2:29.016 Rtd
27 99 HARTSHORNE GBR 2 Ferrari F430 271  12 45 Laps 50:44.526 43.772     2:34.405 2:27.720
28 120 SHOVLIN IRL 5 Ferrari 430 GT3 266  18 50 Laps 11.177 44.014     2:34.032 2:32.720
29 1 BERTOLINI ITA 1 Maserati MC 12 247  11 69 Laps   40.007 1:06.885   2:21.761 2:17.340
30 124 KONSTANTINOU GRE 5 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S 234  9 82 Laps 1:49.946 42.451     2:31.831 2:29.853
31 117 HIRSCHI SUI 4 Porsche 996 (GT2-R) 159  12 157 Laps   45.765 1:19.982 45.320 2:51.067 2:30.178 Rtd
32 40 LEINDERS BEL 1 Ford GT (001 PT GT1) 146  8 170 Laps   41.674 3:47.114 50.200 5:18.988 2:20.711

Hour 14 Review -  Strange Fires

As advertised, the three-way battle continued unabated. Müller had one of the better stints thus far and really turned up the wick on the No. 2 Maserati. Of the three at the front the No. 4 Corvette had the worst of it, a small fire erupting on the front left side. It was doused immediately and Menten lost little time. The incident only dropped him to third, from he he recovered to second after Soulet stopped.

A similar small blaze hit the Audi. In like fashion Marc Besseng lost little time and no track position. Several cars had minor off-course excursions during the hour, including the No. 33 Maserati and the Trackspin Porsche (No. 59).

Companc is now aboard the No. 50 Ferrari, leading GT2 over Niki Cadei in AF Corse entry No. 51. There was some drama in G3 as the No. 122 Ford retired. Its sister Matech entry retained the class lead, but this elevated the Aston Martin to second, about six laps down. The remaining healthy Mühlner Porsche is next, a couple of more laps behind.

Dawn came about halfway through the hour, revealing a gloriously clear sky, apart from a few light and rising patches of fog. Look for speeds to increase dramatically in a short while.