[FIA GT Race] 2017 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

[chernaudi]

Still, IMO, the FIA and their track graders were asking for it with their Grade 1 requirements.

Such things occupy the race director and officials when there's probably other things they can be looking at.

[J Jay]

What's this FCY for? The slow Lambo?

Edit - Nevermind.

[gert]

Originally Posted by J Jay

What's this FCY for? The slow Lambo?

Edit - Nevermind.

Stopped Lambo on the GP S/F straight. It was going again when the FCY was called
So, that was a 20 second FCY. Brilliant.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by gert

Stopped Lambo on the GP S/F straight. It was going again when the FCY was called
So, that was a 20 second FCY. Brilliant.

Get ready, here comes another one for debris at Bruxelles.

[gert]

Another FCY ... piece of junk somewhere on track.
-
20 seconds or less ?

[gert]

Not really sure how many get points at 6H, I think the order was: 55-63-84-2-8-85

[Akrapovic]

#55 B/W Flag for flashing the lights too much. Keep an eye on that one.

[J Jay]

#84 off at Radillon.

[gert]

84 crashed

It's turning out to be a FCY-party

[gert]

Fireworks at 22:52? Really? What are we celebrating?

[Akrapovic]

Nobody pitted during this FCY according to live timing. How has the Bentley jumped to the lead the 63 is 5th?

[gert]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Nobody pitted during this FCY according to live timing. How has the Bentley jumped to the lead the 63 is 5th?

At least 55 and 63 did. Right at the start. Maybe even before the FCY was called.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by gert

At least 55 and 63 did. Right at the start. Maybe even before the FCY was called.

I think the live timing is a bit off.

Bentley waited until the SC again, rather than FCY. So that's going to throw it right back down the order again.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Bentley waited until the SC again, rather than FCY. So that's going to throw it right back down the order again.

That's a tactical error I think. A car off at Radillion takes ages to clean up, everyone knows that. Just think about the time for the truck to even get there.

[greeny12]

Whoever is running race strategy for Bentley needs taking out the back of the paddock and shooting! Amateur hour at the Big Top...

[gert]

SC will come in, but we will be watching race highlights...

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by gert

That's a tactical error I think. A car off at Radillion takes ages to clean up, everyone knows that. Just think about the time for the truck to even get there.

I think the plan was if it stays at FCY, they'll pit at the end of the FCY and thus have a more flexible strategy. But it was obviously going to go to SC, so they lose out. Very very stupid call, and the second time they've done it in this race.

[Articus]

#117 Pro Porsche (Vanthoor, Estre, Christensen) is only a lap down with all of the safety car and yellow help. 17:00 hours left and they might have something to say about victory tomorrow.

[J Jay]

Did I hear that right - Miguel Ramos (of GT Open fame) just upped and left so now the #78 Barwell Lambo is down to three drivers?

[greeny12]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I think the plan was if it stays at FCY, they'll pit at the end of the FCY and thus have a more flexible strategy. But it was obviously going to go to SC, so they lose out. Very very stupid call, and the second time they've done it in this race.

Such a shame, as the #8 car is obviously very quick and the drivers are doing a sterling job. Lions led by donkeys...

[gert]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Did I hear that right - Miguel Ramos (of GT Open fame) just upped and left so now the #78 Barwell Lambo is down to three drivers?

You did.

lol. Miguel Ramos decided to go home since his car had to start a few laps late and there was little chance for points.

[Starfish Primer]

Aaron Scott wearing a European Le Mans series overall

[gert]

Another FCY coming up

[gert]

I don't know why but I very much prefer this commentator to John Watson

[Akrapovic]

Photo: Blancpain

Spa 24: Hour 7 - BF1.exe has stopped working

The #84 HTP Mercedes has retired from the race after a large accident at Raidillon. Jimmy Eriksson clipped the inside kerb, sending the car to the right of the circuit, making heavy contact with the barrier. The car was in a solid podium position at the time and had the pace to challenge for the lead.

The resulting FCY brought out another strategy error down at M-Sport Bentley. The #8 had fought back to a top 5 position, but the team chose not to pit the car under FCY and instead waited until the field was bunched under the Safety Car to make the stop. This dropped the car from 5th to 16th on the restart.

As the light levels dropped, the amount of penalties for track limits dropped in parallel. Are drivers being better behaved in the reduced visibility, or are the stewards just unable to see the infringements?*

On the move…

#55 Ferrari still leads and is still the fastest car on track. No matter which driver you put in that car, it is able to gap the field.

#25 Santiloc Audi is now into the top 5 and matching times with the leaders.

#16 Mercedes leads Pro-Am and is in the top 10. It has a lap lead over the #97 Aston Martin.

Bad times for…

#75 ISR Audi is now officially retired. The car sustained engine damage whilst overheating earlier.

#1 Audi was given a track limits penalty. The car was in second but now sits in eighth position.

#84 has retired after the accident at Raidillon. It was the leading Mercedes at the time of the accident.

#8 Bentley poor pit stop strategy dropped the car out of the top 5, down to 16th. The car has so far recovered to 10th place.*

#97 Aston Martin has lost a lap to the #16 Mercedes, which now comfortably leads the Pro-Am class. This seemed to happen during the FCY and Safety Car procedure as the race leader was between the 2 Pro-Am leaders.

Despite the drivers reporting that the cooler temperatures help, the #23 Nissan has dropped back. Coincidentally, it's managed to find the back of the delayed #8 Bentley again.

Keep an eye out for…

The #55 Ferrari may be leading, but the #2 Audi is matching the Cioci on lap times. A bit of traffic might cause a lead change, keep watching the front of the race.

The #63 Lamborghini has not been hiding its speed, but currently sits third. Perhaps the cooler temperatures aren't working to the GRT Grasser cars favour.*

#8 Bentley will have to make another recovery drive after the error. Watch the timing screens during the night.*

#1 Audi is also on a recovery driver after the penalty. The sector times suggest it has the pace to lead too.

#117 has managed to get a lap back during Safety Car procedures. If they manage to get the second lap back, the car could be a contender for the win.*

Report: Dave Ellis / theRacingLine.net