24h Le Mans
After the first race on Thursday, won by Nielsen Racing’s Anthony Wells and Colin Noble in the #7 Ligier JSP3, the Michelin Le Mans Cup contenders were back out on the prowl for a win today. Mühlner Motorsport was the first to cross the line after 13 sprint laps.
As is often the case at this traditional leg of the Road To Le Mans, the cars were keen to get past the first corner and start jostling for their positions under the Dunlop bridge. A few brushes occurred, but nothing major. The first incident struck a little further on, at the second chicane on the Mulsanne Straight. Things went awry for Eric De Doncker, affecting several cars in his wake. The collision put him out of the running and he was the first to retire from the race.
Meanwhile, after starting from pole, Moritz Kranz sped off at the wheel of Mühlner Motorsport #21 Duqueine M30-D08 – Nissan to build up a comfortable lead. Nielsen Racing’s Anthony Wells in the #7 Ligier JSP3 came out of the Forest Esses wide before having to pit. The bonnet came off, putting paid to the team’s hopes of a second win. After an obligatory pit stop to refuel, Mühlner Motorsport was still in front with Ugo De Wilde now at the wheel. In his rear-view mirror, Cool Racing’s Niklas Kruetten in the #19 Ligier JS P320 – Nissan went head to head with Leonard Weiss in the WTM Powered by Phoenix #11 Duqueine M30-D08 – Nissan, with Kruetten coming out on top. Leonard Weiss dropped back again three laps before the end when he was overtaken by Malthe Jakobsen in the #14 Ligier JS P320 – Nissan for RLR M Sport.
Over in GT3, an exciting three-way battle was thrashed out mid-race. Michael Dinan in Oman Racing’s #95 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 was chased by Iron Lynx’s Logan Sargeant in the #8 Ferrari 488 GT3 and Julien Andlauer driving for Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT in the #2 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Unfortunately, Dinan lost control of the #95 at the first Mulsanne Straight chicane. Julien Andlauer took victory after overtaking the Ferrari on the last lap! An excellent start to the day for Andlauer before getting back on the grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he will be driving the #88 Porsche 911 RSR-19 for Dempsey-Proton Racing.
LMP3
GT3
