As darkness fell in Bahrain the nr7 Toyota maintained a comfortable lead over the nr1 Audi R18 after the second of the scheduled pitstops. Alex Wurz, now back in the driving seat of the Toyota TS030, was 19.8 seconds ahead of Andrea Lotterer in the R18 e-tron quattro. Allan McNish ended the second hour in 3rd place, but one lap adrift of the two leaders, after he and Tom Kristensen regained the ground they lost in the lengthy pitstop to repair the headlight on the nr2 Audi R18.
The nr12 Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota maintained the lead built up in the first hour, with Nicolas Prost holding a large lead in the LMP1 Privateer battle. The nr13 Rebellion Lola of Andrea Belicchi was a lap down in second place and fifth overall after a great drive from the back of the grid. Disaster struck the nr23 JRM HPD when Karun Chandhok was handed a 30 second stop go penalty for speeding in the pitlane and then further problems forced the team to push the car back into the garage.
The nr32 Lotus Lola still held the LMP2 lead with Vitantonio Liuzzi holding a 13 second advantage over the nr 49 Pecom Racing Oreca of Pierre Kaffer. The nr24 Oak Racing Morgan, which held the early lead, was pushed back into the garage with the mechanics stripping off the bodywork of the car to make repairs.
The nr71 AF Corse Ferrari of Andrea Bertolini ended the second hour in the lead of the LMGTE Pro but the Italian had only completed one stop against his rivals two stops.
In the LMGTE Am the nr57 Krohn Racing Ferrari ended the hour at the top of the class after a strong drive by Michele Rugolo, the Italian holding a nine second advantage over the nr88 Felbermayr Porsche of Gianluca Roda.
Jeff
Track Data
Air t° :33.4°C
Track t° :38.3°C
Wind :NW at 3.2 kph
Humidity :62%
Michelin Green X Challenge Top 3 at the end of Hour 1
2-1-24
RACE FACTS – HOUR 2
16:08:33 #61 AF Corse - Waltrip Ferrari is the final car to make a routine pit stop (32 laps)
16:12:36 Great wheel to wheel battle for top of LMGTE Pro between current leader #97 Aston Martin and #51 AF Corse Ferrari
16:13:54 Fastest lap for Nicolas Lapierre in Toyota #7 - 1:47.463
16:16:19 30s stop and go penalty announced for #22 JRM - Karun Chandhok
16:19:33 Neel Jani in Rebellion Lola #12 is in 3rd overall (1 lap down from lead) and leads the LMP1 private teams
16:21:50 Another quick lap for Nicolas Lapierre in Toyota #7 - 1:47.538
16:22:49 Darkness is falling over the circuit as the race goes into the night
16:27:35 The battle for the lead for LMGTE Pro continues between Mucke in the leading Aston Martin #97 and Vilander in the #51 AF Corse
16:29:55 Leading LMP2 #49 Pecom makes 2nd routine stop
16:32:30 2nd routine stop for Toyota #7 and hands lead to #1 Audi
16:35:25 The heat is affecting all drivers, not much sign of multiple stints for leading teams.
16:36:58 #7 Toyota team manager summoned to race control
16:38:55 #1 and #2 Audis enter pitlane together for routine stops
16:41:53 McNish takes over from Kristensen in Audi #2 - Lotterer double stints #1
16:48:27 After pit stops, Wurz aboard the #7 Toyota leads by 22.581s from Audi #1
16:49:38 Sparks seen from rear of Aston Martin #97
16:54:04 More problems for #25 ADR Delta as it returns to pit garage once again
17:00:20 #24 Oak pushed into pit box
17:00:47 After 2 hours, Toyota #7 leads LMP1 from Audi #1
17:01:37 Lotus Lola #32 leads LMP2, #71 AF Corse leads GTE Pro and #57 Krohn Racing Ferrari GTE Am
