4H Abu Dhabi – H+1: Chaotic start for 99 Racing, Proton takes advantage

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LM P2

What a hectic start to these 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi! The LM P2 classification was turned upside down after just one hour of racing from the starting grid. The Oreca 07 of the 99 Racing team, which started in pole position, found itself 12th, one lap behind the leaders after experiencing a chaotic first part of the race.

Ahmad Al Harthy was first hit at turn 12 on the first lap by the #90 TF Sport (which then took a drive-through penalty). While trying to restart, the Omani spun again in the middle of the GT peloton, almost being hit! A maneuver logically punished by a drive-through penalty for having rejoined the track in a dangerous manner... but the troubles did not end there, since Al Harthy then ran out of fuel on his entry lap to the pits, wasting precious seconds!

Result: it is the No. 22 Proton Competition driven by Giorgio Roda which is in the lead after an hour of racing ahead of the No. 90 TF Sport, while the 99 Racing is relegated to one lap! The #3 DKR Engineering completes the Top 3, despite a big scare caused by Alexander Mattschull while trying to enter the pits…

Among other incidents, the No. 4 Crowdstrike Racing by APR spun at turn 14 at the start of the race, fortunately without consequences, while the No. 47 COOL Racing had to return to the pits to repair a bodywork. and a rear wing damaged following contact with the wall.

LM P3

In LM P3, the start was a little quieter, and the COOL Racing no.17 was able to maintain its pole position advantage thanks to James Winslow, ahead of the Bretton Racing no.26.

GT

Saintéloc has made a great comeback in the GT category! The No. 8 Audi R42 driven by Christopher Haase, who started 8th in the category, leads the way ahead of pole sitter Anthony Liu and his Mercedes-AMG n°7 from the Almanar Racing by GetSpeed ​​team. Marco Pulcini had a huge scare coming out of turn 3 with his Ferrari #98 of the Dragon Racing team, spinning at high speed, but without hitting anything.

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