Clash For Bamber Sees Lead Change Into Final Hour

With the final hour looming the lead changed in dramatic fashion after Earl Bamber stumbled on his out-lap in the leading #02 Ganassi Cadillac, tagging the #13 Duqueine of Kuno Wittmer into a spin at T13 – an immediate drive-through penalty, eating up the entire lead eked out in an excellent stint from Alex Lynn and more, Richard Westbrook sweeping by into the lead in the #5 Mustang Sampling / JDC Miller Cadillac.

The chase was on again with an hour to go.

There had already been trouble for another leading Cadillac, the #48 Ally/ Action Express car with braking trouble, 5 laps lost to replace a front disc.

Trouble too in LMP3 saw the elimination of the long-time leading #74 Riley Motorspot Ligier, a broken radiator after contact, the car out of th race with three hours remaining putting the #33 Sean Creech Ligier to the lead, still battling with the #30 Jr III JS P320 for class honours.

GTD also saw a decisive change as the final hour loomed as Antonio Fuoco caught and passed a seemingly hobbled #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 with ease, fuel saving, or nursing an issue? Bill Auberlen in his 500th race aboard a BMW did not defend.

A further retirement was posted by the troubled #8 Tower Motorsports Oreca with the #12 Lexus black-flagged multiple times to repair the front lights.