ILMC/LMS, Imola - Pre-Race And Hour 1

One hour before the start of the 6 Ore Di Imola and the weather is looking good. Track temperature is currently at 30.6C and the air temperature is at 24.6C.

DSC has been informed that the Genoa Racing car, fastest in FLM qualifying, will start at the back of the grid after post-qualifying scrutineering revealed they were running unapproved brake discs. This will also cost them the bonus point for taking pole position.

And while we're at it, Radio Le Mans will be providing their usual unmatched flag to flag coverage on 106.0 FM at the circuit or online at www.radiolemans.com 

Temperature and tension rising as the grid girls are allowed to go on the grid, still 50 minutes before the start of the race.

11:15 Pit lane open and the first cars roll down the pit lane to get to the grid. Where there is a big plume of smoke coming from the #1 Audi.

Unfortunately we've had a power outage in the media centre, but should be okay now.

Meanwhile we've had a major reshuffle on the grid as the cars are on the wrong side. All cars on the left now moved to the right and the ones that were on the right are now on the left.

11:45 Pit lane is now closed and VIP's, media and all others being cleared.

One minute before the formation lap!

And off we go - the first cars rolling now. All cars got away, nobody stalled.

12:00 Pace car in and off we go for 6 hours of racing! Green flag! Bourdais leads Fassler and Montagny into Tamburello for the first time.

Fred Makowiecki in the #59 Luxury Racing Ferrari seems to have had a problem, no first sector time.

Bourdais leads by just under 8 tenths after the first lap.

Sebastien Bourdais fastest driver out on the track as the RLR msport MG Lola comes back to the pit.

Kraihamer in the Boutsen Energy Racing Oreca Nissan wide and dropped to eighth in LMP2

The leaders hit GTE traffic and Fassler is now all over the back of the #7 Peugeot, gap gone down from almost a second to just two tenths.

Bourdais takes advantage of the CRS Racing cars ahead of him, quickly passed them whilst Fassler got stuck. Montagny now right behind the #1 Audi.

12:13 Jani and Moreau now also lapping the GTE Am cars, the OAK Racing Pescarolo and Rebellion Racing Lola battling for the LMP1-petrol lead.

Montagny takes a look at the inside of Fassler, then goes around the outside of the JMW Ferrari on the outside at Acque Minerali, almost over the grass.

12:15 Very slow second sector time for the Ralph Firman driven Luxury Racing Ferrari #58. Not the best race for the Luxury team.

Kraihamer fighting back and passing Meichtry, now going after Kimber-Smith.

12:19 Back into the box goes the #65 Lotus Evora as off goes Dominik Kraihamer again at the Rivazza. Backwards into the gravel. Second time he lost it.

Lucky there not to hit anyone as he spun and slid through the field backwards.

Tom Kimber-Smith fighting hard with Danny Wats now for fourth in LMP2.

15 laps into the 6 Hours of Imola and Bourdais is right behind the Race Performance Oreca, which is 15th overall. Fassler still just over a second behind the Peugeot.

Rob Bell passed Jaime Melo and moved up into third in the GTE Pro category.

Early pit stop for the Race Performance Oreca as Ralph Meichtry comes in after just 15 laps - and goes straight into the box.So Dunlop now 1-2-3 in GTE Pro.

Jody Firth extending his lead in LMP2 - already 14 seconds clear of Soheil Ayari and another 9 seconds clear of Alex Premat.

Half an hour into the race. Bourdais leads Fassler by half a second. Pat Long made an early pit stop as well - troubles for the American ?

Fassler trying to find a way past Bourdais, but as soon as the two diesels clear the GTE car ahead of them the Peugeot pulls away again.

But as soon as the Peugeot hits traffic again the Audi is right on his rear wing again, with Montagny still very close behind in third place. Bourdais had to brake trying to avoid the JMB FLM of Kyle Marcelli as he took the corner. Montagny just lost 3 seconds on that lap! 

And Montagny has just lost another 2,5 seconds on his team mate in the lead and half a second to McNish, who is now 7.5 seconds behind in fourth.

12:38 Montagny stuck behind Zhang Shan Qi for more time than he wanted and as he passed the FLM car he weaved in front of the Chinese. Tsk tsk...

Guillaume Moreau comes in for what looks like a routine pit stop, would be the first regular stopper of the race then.

Montagny sets the fastest sector time in the first sector, 1.2 seconds quicker than Fassler in that sector on this lap!

McNish first of the diesel drivers to pit after 27 laps, fuel only. Peugeot crew also getting ready - with tyres.

Fassler and Montagny pit at the end of lap 29, Bourdais stays out again. Fuel only for both cars in the pit, no tyres.

12:49 Bourdais pits from the lead after 30 laps.

Bourdais retains the lead, Fassler 2.638 seconds behind after the first sector. Fassler hits the traffic jam that is forming at the Variante Tamburello though and suddently Montagny is all over him again.

Montagny passes Fassler into the Variante Villeneuve and moves into second place, Peugeot now 1 and 2. The gap at the end of sector 1 just 0.047. Fassler not letting Montagny go for now.

Battle for second position in LMP2 also going on. Some smoke from the Signatech Oreca Nissan in the Rivazza and then onto the pit straight Premat put his OAK Racing Pescarolo next to the #26 and moved into second position. Jody Firth still half a minute ahead though.