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2016 WEC Silverstone
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WEC
Silverstone
Silverstone WEC - Race
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Summary
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That's it from us at Silverstone today – thanks for your attention, it's been a blast.
See you next time!
See you next time!
The season has started in fantastic style, but want to know the best thing about the FIA WEC? It's Spa-Francorchamps next. The final warm-up before Le Mans...
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Race winner Marcel Fassler: "It's just unbelievable for us. First time in the new car: pole position and now the win, it's a great achievement from Audi Sport. They put a lot of effort into this car. We are really, really happy. An amazing day for us."
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LMP2 winner Ricardo Gonzalez: "Our first race, my first time as a team owner, it couldn't have been a better start. It wasn't easy, but we were troublefree. I can't say anything else, I'm so happy!"
And GTE Am honours to AF Corse again, it's #83 458 taking the flag.
Davide Rigon brought the Ferrari home for GTE Pro victory, of course. A lap clear of the sister car, that had to take that three-minute penalty. A third place for Aston, beating the works Ford GTs on their FIA WEC debut. They were fourth and fifth.
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GTE Pro winner Sam Bird: "It feels amazing, for everyone at AF Corse and Ferrari, and the sister car came home second. Everything had to be right, and everybody did their job."
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Dr Wolfgang Ullrich: "Now we just take the joy of winning this first race. We adapted our strategy twice today, and we had a clear run with car #7. "
Lovely stuff from RGR Sport by Morand, which claims LMP2 victory over ESM and G-Drive. Bravo.
Porsche will finish a well-beaten second, but will consider itself unlucky after losing the #1 car to that huge crash and Jani's late puncture. Jani crosses the line 46s down.
Chequered Flag
It's a great win for Audi, who repeat their win of 12 months ago – a fantastic result for the all-new R18. All that hard work in testing, and the spectre of reliability issues, are all forgotten now.
It's party time for Ingolstadt!
It's party time for Ingolstadt!
LAST LAP
Mechanical problem
Late drama for Lapierre, a puncture for the fourth-placed LMP2 Alpine. That promotes Strakka to the position.
The abiding memory of this race will be that Hartley crash. But let's remember it also for a great Audi v Porsche battle too, plus some terrific LMP2 action too.
Five minutes to go, and all is well for Audi, RGR and AF Corse.
How did we get to this point? Catch up with these highlights...
It's time to count some chickens: Audi is going to win this by a convincing margin, but that late puncture for Jani ruined the prospect of a tasty battle to the flag.
In LMP2, RGR Sport by Morand will claim a great win over ESM and the delayed G-Drive.
In GTE Pro and Am, AF Corse is ruling the roost with its 488 Pro machine, and old faithful 458 in Am.
In LMP2, RGR Sport by Morand will claim a great win over ESM and the delayed G-Drive.
In GTE Pro and Am, AF Corse is ruling the roost with its 488 Pro machine, and old faithful 458 in Am.
Pit Stop
It's a quick one, with just 10 minutes remaining. Toyota has followed suit with its #6 car.
Pit Stop
Jani pits for a splash'n'dash.
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Audi's Wolfgang Ullrich isn't counting his chickens: "It was really thrilling until now. With our #8 we can see what can happen, we had hoped that problem had been solved, and I hope nothing unpredictable will happen to Marcel."
Both Alpines take an unusual line through the first corner, as Rast picks up third in the G-Drive Oreca.
Just a quarter of an hour to go, and Fassler has a 8.7s advantage out front. Still no signs of Jani stopping for a last pitstop.
Merhi passes Panciatici at The Loop for sixth in LMP2. Cheers ring out across Yorkshire.
Stopwatch
You're not missing much up front, Fassler->Jani gap is 9.9s.
Cloud
KCMG's Porsche now in trouble! That was second in GTE Am.
Cloud
Ritchie Stanaway's Aston explodes on the approach to Copse corner. And fourth in GTE Pro goes up in smoke.
And just to ice AF Corse's cake, it's going to sweep the GTE Pro class, as Bruni emerges from his final pitstop clear of Thiim's Aston.
Fassler has enjoyed some clear laps, eeking out his lead to 7s.
Looks like AF Corse will take a clean sweep of the GT classes, as its #83 car now leads.
Such a shame, that car was right in the hunt for victory.
Oh no! Not again. It's deja vu (all over again) for Proton, as its Am class car goes the same way as its Pro cousin. A right-front suspension failure by the looks of things.
Not a great lap for Jani, he was plagued by GTs.
Less than 20 laps to go now.
Jani is hustling, though. 6.3s now.
Porsche's #2 crew look a little demoralised. Jani is 7s behind still.
No more pitstops for Joest today. The boys have done their bit. Will it be champagne for them later?
Pit Stop
Leader Fassler pits. Fuel only. And he's on his way. Tidy stuff.
Spectator figure for the weekend: 52,000.
"Don't forget GTE Am", I hear you cry: Good stuff from KCMG's Porsche trio, who hold a 20s lead over the AF Corse Ferrari.
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