LMS – Nürburgring – Sunday – Race – Hour 6

Mücke takes over from Enge to the end. 

17:37 Shouts from the Dutch camp as Beltoise tags the rear of the Spyker exiting the Mercedes Arena, pitching Coronel into a wild spin.  Radio Le Mans report that it was actually the second bit of contact from Beltoise on Coronel.

The Dutch car was now 7 seconds down in 3rd.  Kaffer 45 seconds behind.

Stop and go penalty for Beltoise, this should bring the Hankook-shod Kaffer right back into it.

17:42 #90 is in for its stop go, rejoining 19.5 seconds behind the Spyker now, 38 seconds to Kaffer giving encouragement, but it’s surely a bridge too far. 

After Mansell’s problems, Modena are circulating 9th, Garcia driving at real pace but well down on the others.

Mucke is whittling down Primat’s lead, though only because Primat is running at a reduced pace as we enter the final 20 laps.

17:54 Zwolsman took a (large) splash and dash, fourth place at least seemingly in the bag now.  Only a problem or two for AMR will prevent 8 gulf-coloured bodies swarming all over the podium though.

17:57 The leader is in for a splash, #009 a bit reluctant to get away again.  #007 now easily into the lead, perfect for their championship hopes.

18:06 Buncombe splashes and dashes, all the AMR cars now primed for the finish.  He rejoins 20 seconds ahead of the 4th placed Zwolsman.

10 laps to go, 20 minutes to do it. 

18:11 3rd placed in P2 Andrea Piccini loses the right rear wheel, which appears to have disintegrated.  As he crabs it back round the track there is contact between him and the leader – shouts go up but Mucke seems to survive unscathed.

Half a lap later Piccini pits and has a new wheel on, but then goes straight on from the pit exit and the car is stuck in the gravel.  There was no need for any such haste as #35 was over a lap down, but now the #35 Oak Racing would take the final podium place.  #30 got going again but the damage was done, back to the pits, rejoining 6th in class and circulating at walking wounded pace to take the finish.

18:15 Coronel takes a splash, putting the Spyker back behind Beltoise, who then pits, so order is restored in GT2 for the last five lap run to the flag.

18:20 A very late splash and dash for the P2 leader blows any chance of Pla finishing in fifth overall as Mailleux moves back ahead.  It’s actually not much of a dash, the team taking the time to do a legality check around the car to give it the best chance of clearing post-race scrutineering.

To the flag:

Kaffer has stretched the Ferrari mileage, completing 1000kms on 4 stints just like the leader but only managing fourth place in the end.  Lieb and Lietz drove a great race, beating the Spyker by a lap.  Beltoise was just 5 seconds further back in second and doubtless ruing his impatience that earned him the penalty and cost him the runner-up spot.  Garcia and Bruni ultimately came in 8th and 9th, disappointed for their own reasons.

P2 was a strung out affair, #40 winning by over two laps from #29, #35 a further two laps back.  In GT1 only the Saleen took the flag, 23rd overall. Update - the Corvette rejoined just before the end to take the flag and be classified as a finisher; in the process, we believe, taking the GT1 title.

P1 was a Gulf blue-wash, Mucke bringing #007 home 1:05 ahead of #009, #008 two laps down; the first time since August 2004 that the same cars will have filled all three podium places in LMS.  Kolles’s surviving Audi was a very respectable 4th, less than 15 seconds behind  Signature were a full 3 laps further back in 5th.

This was a good race, particularly in GT2, with some real plot-turns, intrigue and upset.  P1 had some dramatic moments too and the result, whilst excellent for AMR, if taken at face value distorts a race that captured the imagination throughout.  The beautiful weather endowed by the Eifel weather gods just added yet more feel good factor to this one.  More of the same at Silverstone please...

Paul Slinger & Marcus Potts