The 2018/2019 FIA WEC season started with predictions being confirmed as Toyota dictated the race with a convincing 1-2 finish led by the No. 8 TS050, which was driven by Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Fernando Alonso.
Despite some body bits flying in the first corner, the race started with only one major event, as the No. 86 Gulf UK Porsche found its way into the barriers at Les Combes after avoiding the No. 70 MR Racing Ferrari, which spun after contact, and this brought the first Safety Car intervention to the race.
Most of the classes were having uneventful races, with LMGTE-Pro going against the current and showing a Ford vs. Porsche clash for the lead, with the Chip Ganassi Fords having a minimal advantage. The first hour pit stop went smooth for the Fords and they were following each other but then a left front wheel failure in the No. 67 Chip Ganassi Ford made the car bottom out and sent Harry Tincknell into a front end crash in the barriers at Eau Rouge. The car’s front was entirely destroyed but Tincknell walked away of it, even though he was a bit shaken due to the impact.
The crash left a lot of damage in the barrier, which took half an hour to be properly repaired, with the race going green afterwards. Toyota was pretty much in contention mode, while sparks were flying in the GTE camp, as Porsche and Ford continued their battle in LMGTE-Pro while the No. 90 TF Sport Aston Martin was holding off the No. 77 Dempsey-Proton Porsche in LMGTE-Am. Things soon turned bad for the Proton side as the No. 77 went straight to the garage and the No. 88 Porsche crashed, which brought another caution period.
The No. 7 Toyota was is a recovery race as they departed from the pits, and after three hours climbing the field, the No. 7 was able to rise to second place, though still a minute behind the sister No. 8 car. The LMP2 class had the G-Drive Oreca leading with a lap ahead of Signatech Alpine and the pair of DC Racing Orecas, while LMGTE-Pro still had unfinished business between the two Porsches and the Ford between them, with both AF Corse Ferraris rounding out in fifth and sixth, and in LMGTE-Am there was an Aston Martin show with the works car leading the TF Sport one by a good margin.
Between the LMP1 privateers, electronic issues and penalties halted the progress of the two Rebellion Racing cars, with the No. 17 SMP BR1 joining the fight for third place, when a heavy crash at Radillion sent Matevos Isaakyan to the barries. The driver was OK but the car was left in a complete mess.
The AF Corse Ferraris were being successful in getting close to the LMGTE-Pro top 3, but during the fourth hour routine stop, the No. 51 Ferrari got clipped in the left side by the No. 56 Project1 Porsche and stopped in the pitlane, being brought to the garage for checks and repairs.
The final hour had the two Toyotas firm in their 1-2 while G-Drive was securing LMP2 honors, what in fact lasted until the checkered, with the No. 8 Toyota crossing the finish line first after not being threatened during the whole race with a flawless run.
The No. 1 Rebellion finished third behind the Toyotas, but was disqualified due to a skid block measurement infraction, so the No. 3 Rebellion gained the final podium position.
As for LMGTE-Pro, the last hour saw the No. 91 Porsche fall from the podium in an incredible manner, losing the lead to the No. 66 Chip Ganassi Ford, which won in class, and then losing second and third at the Bus Stop chicane in distinctive moments to the No. 92 Porsche and the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari.
The LMGTE-Am had a final British clash between Aston Martin Racing and TF Sport Vantages that was won at the line by the works-supported car as TF Sport finished just 0.221 seconds behind, while Clearwater Racing completed the class podium a lap behind the Astons.
All preparations now shift to the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16th and 17th, but the first visit will be a bit earlier, on June 3rd, as the Journée Test will serve as the first meeting of drivers and teams with the La Sarthe track.
PHOTO: Michelin
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