Audi takes victory in the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps. Oliver Jarvis took the chequered flag at Spa to clinch win for No.8 Audi R18 which he shares with Lucas Di Grassi and Loic Duval. The pole-sitting Porsche of defending world champions Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard and Mark Webber started well but two punctures and a gearbox failure pushed them down to 26th overall.
The #8 Audi R18 did not experience issues and battled with two Toyotas with the Porsches out in front. Toyota’s #5 car of Anthony Davidson, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima. Buemi cycled to the lead of the race with a quicker first pit stop, and despite coming under intense pressure from Bernhard was able to create a clear gap when the Porsche encountered its first puncture.
In terms of the championship, the #2 Porsche continues to lead with 43 points with the #13 Rebellion close behind on 30. Victory for the #8 Audi means its drivers climb to third in the standings with 25 points.
Porsche continues to lead the manufacturers’ championship with 56 points, although the margins have tightened up heading into the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota is 13 points behind on 43, while Audi is on the Japanese marque’s tail with 41 points. RGR Sport by Morand and Signatech Alpine are tied at the top of the LMP2 championship, with ESM a further point behind. Two wins from two for Ferrari puts the Scuderia clearly ahead in the GT manufacturers’ race, 32 points ahead of Aston Martin.
The next round of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship is the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 18-19.
Race facts from the final 90 minutes:
20:39:51 Toyota #5 finishes 4th in P1 and Porsche #1 5th in P1
20:38:24 Toyota #5 is doing a final lap on hybrid power to be classified 29th overall
20:37:22 Porsche #1 will be a classified finisher in 30th place
20:36:17 Aston #98 wins GTE Am from #83 Ferrari and #50 Corvette
20:35:30 Ferrari #71 wins GTE Pro from #67 Ford with #97 Aston in 3rd
20:34:01 Alpine #36 wins P2 from #31 ESM Ligier with #45 Manor Oreca in 3rd
20:32:53 Audi #8 wins from #2 Porsche with #13 Rebellion 3rd
20:31:31 Last Lap
20:29:55 Toyota #5 on pit apron
20:29:28 30 seconds stop & go for Porsche #86 for violating SC procedure
20:28:19 Corvette #50 takes 3rd in GTE Am
20:27:33 Ford #67 up to 2nd in GTE Pro
20:25:28 Ferrari #83 retakes 2nd in GTE Am as Long in #88 Porsche stops
20:24:48 Alpine #35 has stopped Paul Frere Corner
20:24:07 P2 leader #36 pits
20:23:36 Ferrari #71 takes lead from #51 Ferrari which goes into garage
20:22:31 Alpine #35 has rear puncture
20:21:46 Front bodywork damage for Audi #7 after incident at La Source
20:19:52 Audi #7 was hit by #43
20:08:37 Manor #45 has drive through penalty for leaving pit exit with red light still on
20:06:45 SMP BR #37 has drive through penalty for overtaking behind safety car
20:03:00 Porsche #88 takes 2nd in GTE Am from #83 Ferrari
20:00:19 Aston #98 retakes lead in GTE Am from #83 Ferrari
19:54:46 Stefan Mucke reported OK but with some bruising after crash in Ford #66
19:49:49 Tail section was changed on leading Audi #8
19:49:21 Green Flag
19:48:50 Safety car in this lap
19:46:11 Audi #8 rejoins
19:44:41 Leading Audi #8 pushed into garage
19:41:57 Pit entry now open
19:35:02 SMP #27 got puncture after running over debris from #66 crash
19:33:45 After 5 Hours in GTE Am #98 Aston leads from #83 Ferrari with #88 Porsche in 3rd
19:32:24 After 5 Hours in GTE Pro #51 Ferrari leads #71 Ferrari with #67 Ford GT
19:31:09 After 5 Hours in P2 #36 Signatech Alpine leads #43 RGR Ligier & #45 Manor oreca
19:29:58 After 5 Hours Audi #8 leads from #2 Porsche & #13 Rebellion
19:25:49 Ford #66 into tyres head on at Raidillon
19:23:56 Safety Car
19:23:27 Ford #66 has big accident
19:19:17 Ford #66 rejoins after 40 minute pit stop for turbo problem
19:13:59 Strakka Gibson #42 has retired
19:12:07 Audi #8 has telemetry problems
19:08:53 Bernhard takes over Porsche #1
