Toyota takes the lead at Spa after an hour

Toyota domine après une heure de course à Spa, au terme d’une première partie de course largement perturbée par la météo et le retour de la neige en Belgique.

On a track declared wet by the race management, but with clearings above the Belgian route, Mike conway (Toyota n°7) maintains the advantage at the start over Sébastien Buemi (Toyota n°8), while Thomas Laurent (Rebellion R13 n°3 – Rebellion Racing) comes to interfere in the fight for the podium with the BR1 – SMP Racing.

In LM P2, Giedo van der Garde (Dallara P217 n°29 – Racing Team Nederland) took advantage of the scrum braking in Les Combes to get the better of Jean-Eric Vergne (Aurus 01 n°26 – G-Drive Racing).

No changes in GTE Pro with the No. 67 Ford GT of Harry Tincknell at the front but the two BMW M8s No. 81 of Tomcyzk and No. 82 of Felix da Costa quickly climbed into 2nd and 3rd positions, both Aston Martin Vantage n°97 and n°95 having immediately plunged into the pitlane, and for good reason: the snow reappeared.

A sudden change in weather with which Toyota takes no risks by stopping the two leading TS050 Hybrids, unlike the two BR1 – SMP Racing of Stéphane Sarrazin and Stoffel Vandoorne, who continue one more lap, just like the Ferrari or the BMWs in GTE Pro.

After the various stops in the pits to put on the rain tires, Mike Conway regains the lead ahead of Thomas Laurent, Sébastien Buemi and Stoffel Vandoorne (BR1 n°11). Giedo van der Garde dominates LM P2, ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne and Matthieu Vaxivière (Oreca 07 n°28 – TDS Racing).

En GTE Pro, Nicki Thiim a profité de son arrêt anticipé face à la concurrence pour émerger en tête devant Antonio Felix da Costa (BMW M8 n°82) et Kévin Estre (Porsche 911 RSR n°92). Mais la course est finalement neutralisée sous régime de voiture de sécurité en raison de la météo après 24′ dans l’épreuve.

Buemi on the attack

After a little less than half an hour, the Safety Car released the peloton and Sébastien Buemi did not wait long before taking second place from Thomas Laurent before taking the advantage over his teammate Mike Conway, following a small error from the latter at the last chicane

Change of leader also in GTE Pro since the two Porsche 911 RSR n°92 of Kévin Estre and n°91 of Gianmaria Bruni emerge at the front in front of the Aston Martin n°95 of Nicki Thiim.

But a second neutralization occurred shortly after the first hour of racing, after the incident involving the ENSO CLM P1/01 n°4 – ByKolles Racing of Tom Dillmann, sent off course by Jordan King (Oreca 07 n°37 –Jackie Chan DC Racing).

Currently, the two Toyotas of Buemi and Conway are ahead of the #1 BR11 of Stoffel Vandoorne, Thomas Laurent and Neel Jani on the #13 R1. Giedo van der Garde retains the lead in LM P2, just like the two official 911 RSRs in GTE Pro.

The German brand is also at the forefront in GTE Am with Egidio Perfetti's 911 RSR No. 56 – Team Project1.