Porsche has won the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Nurburgring 2016 extending their lead in the championship, despite an incredible pace from Audi. The latter led the race for most of the first half but a full course yellow session turned the tables over, allowing Porsche to climb to the top. The #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid led the race away from the #1 sister car, but a last minute incident prevented them from scoring a 1-2 victory. Marc Lieb made contact with the #88 Porsche 911 RSR in the last hour, had to pit to repair damaged bodywork and in the process lost the lead to the #1 car, while Audi moved swiftly to P2 and P3.
Audi thus claimed a two podium victory with the #8 car leading the #7 car home in 2nd and 3rd places respectively.
6 Hours of Nurburgring 2016 Results
LMP1
1. #1 Porsche 919 Hybrid
2. #8 Audi R18 e-tron quattro
3. #7 Audi R18 e-tron quattro
LMP2
1. #36 Signatech Alpine – Alpine A460 – Nissan
2. #43 RGR Sport by Morand – Ligier Nissan
3. #31 LIGIER JS P2 – Nissan by Extreme Speed Motorsports
LMGTE-Pro
1. #51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE
2. #71 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE
3. #95 Aston Martin Vantage V8
LMGTE-Am
1. #98 Aston Martin Vantage V8
2. #78 KCMG Porsche 911 RSR
3. #83 Ferrari 458 Italia AF Corse
Audi started from pole with two cars – Oliver Jarvis in the #8 Audi R18 e-tron quattro led the race after the 90-minutes mark. Brendon Hartley was second in the #1 Porsche 919 Hybrid, the first hour was nothing short of thrilling as the top four fought hard to outrun each other. Toyota meanwhile was struggling to get the right pace and held fifth and sixth places.
Ford, Ferrari and Aston Martin were engaged in an epic battle in the LMGTE class, Marco Sorensen led the Pro class in the #95 Aston Martin with the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE in second. The Porsche 911 RSR meanwhile led the AM class away from #83 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia.
Entering the halfway mark of the race, Audi had the upper hand after leading for most of the session. However, during a full course yellow, it was Porsche that took advantage and pitted on the same lap that caution was issued. The move promoted both Porsches into first and second places, with Neel Jani in the #2 car leading the #1 sister car.
Lucas Di Grassi was third after the 3-hour mark in the #8 Audi leading the #7 Audi while Toyota still held fifth and sixth.
Ferrari led the LMGTE Pro class in the #51 AF Corse car, with 1 hour left in the race, the #95 Aston Martin was second while the other AF Corse Ferrari (#71) was third. Ford had dropped down to fourth with the #66 car. Mathias Lauda in the #98 Aston Martin led the AM class.
Late drama unfolded when Marc Lieb in the #2 Porsche suffered significant damage after contact with the #88 Abu-Dhabi Proton Porsche 911 RSR. A fourth full course yellow was called to retrieve the #88 Porsche while Lieb had to pit in order to repair his bodywork. The #1 Porsche thus assumed the lead while the #8 Audi was promoted to second place, leading the #7 sister car in P3.
The #36 Signatech Alpine was not only leading LMP2 class with less than half an hour to go but the team also ranked seventh overall ahead of several LMP1 cars. AF Corse continued to lead the LMGTE-Pro class with two of their Ferrari 488 GT3s, while Ford held third with the #66 car. Aston Martin on the other hand led the Am class with the #98 car, followed by the #78 KCMG Porsche 911 RSR and the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia.
The 6 Hours of Mexico 2016 is up next on the calendar, scheduled to take place on September 3.
