presented by
Austin
2016 WEC Austin
Live text
WEC
Austin
Austin WEC
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Summary
Live Text
Chequered Flag
We're going to wrap things up here. Thanks for your company over the last six or so hours, it's been a blast.
Next stop, Fuji in Japan. Until then... See y'awl!
Plenty of Porsche flags down there in parc ferme. You get the feeling this victory really meant a lot, after Audi outpaced them convincingly on raw speed this weekend.
Bernhard confirms there was no late issue with the #1 Porsche. Webber carries Bernhard around the car! Time for the team photos.
Quote
Bernhard: "I can get used to this! It was a hard-earned victory, unbelievable, just mega. We just keep going. Audi was maybe quicker, but we made no mistakes."
And Aston also won GTE Am.
Thiim takes the chequered flag and GTE Pro honours. Lapierre has done likewise in LMP2.
At Audi, by contrast, it's disconsolate handshakes.
The rock music is blearing out of the Porsche garage and it's man hugs all around.
Chequered Flag
A third victory on the trot for Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard. A really opportunistic victory – they really grabbed this one away from Audi.
It will feel sweet, for sure.
He is such a dogged driver, Sarrazin. Like a terrier.
Stopwatch
Sarrazin starts the final lap 3.758s behind di Grassi, that's a bit close for comfort...
Mechanical problem
Ben Barker touring in the Gulf Porsche.
But this is Porsche's day – and night.
Pit Stop
It's the #7 car, it needs a splash of diesel.
Late drama at Audi?
The next closest battle on track is for second overall, with Sarrazin 5.9s behind di Grassi.
One late position change, and its for fourth in LMP2. Mediani passes Dalziel at Turn 1.
Toyota are going to be chuffed with this podium finish. That's a great result to beat a Porsche and an Audi.
So, any late drama? Just 6 minutes to go.
Porsche really grabbed the opportunity tonight when Audi let its dominance slip. Its fair to say the R18 was the quickest car this weekend, but Porsche really maximised what it had got with the #1 car – although the #2 has been a little lacklustre again.
Not the greatest race we've had this year, but there's still been plenty of intrigue. And much more entertaining than last year's event here! That was a stinker.
In the classes, it's all over bar the shouting. Signatech Alpine have really bossed LMP2, and it's Aston Martin Racing's day again in GTE Pro – and GTE Am too.
Stopwatch
Bernhard's lead is 21s with 10 minutes to go. Sarrazin is 7s behind the second-placed Audi #8.
No dramas for the #2 Porsche, it's still clear of the #5 Toyota in fourth.
Or maybe they just wanted to give those tired mechanics one last workout!
That must've been a flatspot or simply too much pick-up.
Pit Stop
This is odd, the #2 Porsche has stopped for another set of tyres.
Stopwatch
Sarrazin is having a little push right at the end here, he's got to gap down to the second-placed Audi to 5.3s.
That car was a clear fourth in LMP2. But its race has been ruined with just over 20 minutes to go.
Mechanical problem
Disaster for Manor, the #44 Oreca appears to have a suspension failure at the left-rear corner.
And it's always the LMP1s that have to go off-line to lap the slower cars.
The amount of tyre debris on this track today has been enormous, almost like the marbles on an oval.
Quote
Di Grassi reporting a "huge vibration". He's told to get on with it, as it's likely tyre pick-up. Easy for us to say, of course!
Rapid lap from Dumas in the #2 Porsche, down in the 1m48s. That's a bit too little, too late.
Treluyer and his team manager have been summoned to Race Control, no doubt about that race-defining clash with the Ford GT.
With just half an hour to go, why not catch up with what's happened so far...
Stopwatch
The top four cars lap within three tenths of each other on that tour.
By:
Published:
Lap:
