The first part of the race went without problem for IDEC SPORT, now in fourth place in LMP2 and tenth overall. Time to look back at the first part of the race.
After setting off in pole position in LMP2, Paul-Loup Chatin avoided all the problems at the start of the race in particular avoiding an LMP1 in difficulty after contact with another car. He dropped back a spot in the rankings, but the IDEC SPORT regained that place a few laps later. The first three LMP2s remain close together just a second or so apart. Very quickly they entered the pit. This year the drivers are allowed to fill up while the tyres are changed, unlike last year when this required a separate stop.
“We decided to do three stints with our tyres, unlike our rivals who change every other time. We are limited in the number of tyres, so they will catch us at some point,” explained Nicolas Minassian (director of racing), who was pleased with the start of the race. “It’s going to get cooler out on the track, so it’s going to get easier to deal with the tyres. For the moment, we are keeping up a good pace.”
Paul Lafargue was the second driver to take the wheel after three stints by Paul-Loup Chatin. He also went into the pit several times while the remaining at the wheel. The silver driver then handed over to Memo Rojas shortly before the end of four hours of racing in seventh position. The Oreca #48 is now in fourth place in the LMP2s and tenth overall after eight pit stops and 78 laps in all. The leaders are not far ahead as the first five LMP2s are on the same lap.
