by stephendell » Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:34 am
Race was red flagged about 3/4 way through and ended early due to rain. Alpine was fourth at that point. Had been leading at the start. Report here:
The all British Jota Sport Zytek Nissan of Simon Dolan and Oliver Turvey won a shortened 3 Hours of Silverstone as the great British weather played an important role in deciding the opening round of the 2013 European Le Mans Series. The weather conditions, which worsened as the race progressed, forced a long safety car period and then the red flags came out to end the race after 75% distance.
The Signatech Alpine of Nelson Panciatici made a great start as the rain clouds gathered over the track and it soon made rain tyres the required choice and the cars that had started on slicks made a dash for the pits.
The battle for the lead was between the Signatech Alpine, the Murphy Prototype Oreca Nissan, the Morand Racing Morgan Judd, the Thiriet by TDS Racing Oreca Nissan and the Jota Sport Zytek. In the wet conditions Brendon Hartley built up a big lead in the Murhy prototype LMP2 but a mistake at Stowe saw the car beached in the gravel. Franck Mailleux in the Morand Racing Morgan inherited the lead before he aquaplaned off the track and hit the wall heavily. All of the leaders suffered setbacks in the conditions as the drivers fought hard just to keep their cars on the track.
Reigning champions TDS Racing re-took the lead of the race as reached the half way point before the safety car was deployed due to the fact the conditions had worsened considerably. The safety car stayed on track for nearly 50 minutes and the order was shaken up when the cars had to make their stops. Jota Racing moved to the head of the field and they claimed the first round of the season after 48 laps, in front of Switzerland's Race Performance Oreca Judd, driven by Michel Frey and Patric Niederhauser, which finished on the same lap 4.619 seconds from the leader and in front of the Thiriet by TDS Racing Oreca.
Trafic, Twingo GT, Vel Satis Turbo x 2, Clio V6 Proto Ph2, Vel Satis 3.5, Avantime, Alpine A610, GTA Atmo x 3, GTA Turbo x 3, R5 Gordini Turbo Mid Engine, Alpine A310 4cyl, Alpine A110, Yellow Smart
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