It was the race nobody wanted to win at Spa, with endurance being the key word on a day where Audi was the last manufacturer willing to keep their hand on the winners’ trophy.
The run down to La Source at race start saw the Signatech Alpine punt the rear of Roberto Merhi’s Manor in the mid-field just as Audi were able to make a jump on the third placed Toyota of Stefan Sarrazin.
Likewise, Marino Franchitti was muscled wide as the pair of AF Corse Ferrari 488’s scampered away – mirroring the effort of the number 1 and 2 LMP1 Porsche’s at the front of the pack.
It was to go all pear-shaped for Porsche however, with the championship leading number 2 car losing Hybrid early on into the stint, leaving Marc Lieb to soldier on with a mere 500bhp and losing some 7 seconds a lap to their opposition.
Toyota however were on a mission and enjoying much better tyre life than both Audi and Porsche, effectively able to double stint their tyres and in the process seize the lead at the end of the first hour. A remarkable effort considering the Toyota’s started on the softer Michelin compounds, although Mike Conway endured a nervous moment clouting the rear of the number 37 SMP entry, but managed to continue after pitting for a new nose.
Timo Bernhard would close up behind the leading TS050 of Sebastien Buemi until a front left puncture forced the reigning champion to pit – losing second and third in the process. Mark Webber would step in as the tyre was changed and new nose cone was fitted. Webber would only get thirteen minutes running time before a puncture on the same wheel would force the number 1 Porsche to pit once again and be wheeled into the garage.
A rollover for Nicki Thiim in the number 95 Aston would bring out the yellows, giving Porsche a slight break as they appeared to be dealing with floor issues on the number 1 Porsche and work on the number 7 Audi (for a broken front underbody), which had to be lowered manually off the hijacks and spending another 4 minutes in the pits. Both Porsche and Audi lost approximately 5 laps to Toyota in the process.
Hartley would be back in the pits just 20 minutes later however to repair bodywork damage and front gearbox issue linking the hybrid drive to the front axle. Loic Duval would pit the number 7 Audi at the same time Kamui Kobayashi brought in the number 5 Toyota. Both would change to fresh tyres with a 2 second advantage not helping Toyota gain track position in the pits, but with Duval pitting again with a temperature issue (due to rubber caught up in the R18’s air-ducts) would hand the number 5 car a free goal.
In LMP2 Manor were enjoying a much less frenetic race than their debut at Silverstone, running 1 and 3, with James Jakes leading the way ahead of the SIgnatech Alpine of Stephane Richelmi. Strakka meanwhile would have to pit after laying oil out on track.