Badger's GT5 endurance races

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24 Heures du Mans: Race report.

It's the big day, and I mean a full day, 24 hours of racing at the Circuit de la Sarthe. I'm in France, but I'll be driving a British machine, the Bentley Speed 8.

Drivers no longer run across the track to get in their cars, start the engine and drive off, it's a rolling start these days, safer but not as cool. At the start I have the following opponents:

D. Fried: Audi R8 '01
E. Benton: Courage - Judd GV5 '04
P. Dupont: CLK-LM Race car '98
D. Abe: Bentley Speed 8 '03 (team mate)
C. O'Ryan: Viper GTS_R Team Oreca #51
M. Monti: BMW V12 LMR Race Car '99
Badger: Bentley Speed 8 '03
N. Bass: Audi R10 TDI '06
G. de Wit: C60 Hybride -Judd '05
R. Ferrand: Viper GTS-R Team Oreca #91
D. Banks: GT-ONE race car '99
I. Muller: Courage C60 - Peugeot '03

The race starts a bit later this year, at 17:00 due to some football game or something. We roll through the Ford Chicanes, the flag drops and we are away:

  • 1: 3'39.116 | Not a bad start, passed Monti and O'Ryan into turn 1, O'Ryan hit me from behind into turn 2. Passed Dupont on the first part of the straight and into 4th behind Fried, Benton and Abe.
  • 2: 3'35.621 | Small oversteer in Tetre Rouge Ess, recovered, but Monti and de Wit are now right behind me. Monti uses me as brakes in Mulsanne corner and pushes me into the gravel, but I pass him and de Wit into Indy. Much faster in Porsche and especially Karting than my opponents. Benton has passed Fried, and gap is about 6s
  • 3: 3'34.813 | Abe is just ahead though Dunlop, but again I overcook it in Chapelle, need to calm down. I'm now 8s behind the leaders, but at least Monti is behind de Wit who is too far behind to pass, but he's got heaps of power.
  • 4: 3'31.594 | Catch Abe on the first part of the straight, huge advantage to be able to sit in the draft and pass easily with much greater speed. Abe catches me under brakes, is he on medium tyres with more grip? But I get the power down out of the corners better and soon leave him behind, but there is a gap up to Fried who is ahead of Benton again. Fastest lap so far due to draft and I can see Benton and Fried ahead as I cross the S/F line
  • 5: 3'32.684 | Not as tidy and no draft, but I'm catching Fried, now just 5s
  • 6: 3'30.594 | I'm clearly getting a draft from the two up front even at 3 or 4s behind, and at the end of the lap it is now just 2s
  • 7: 3'33.173 | I'm right behind Benton through Chapelle and the Ess, expecting to draft him on the straight, but he's much slower through Tetre Rouge and I pass him onto the straight. I'm not far behind Fried now and getting a good draft. I’m right behind into the first chicane, well over 385km/h on the first part (usual top speed is 372), then an easy draft pass before the 2nd chicane. Again I'm on the power earlier and now in the lead. He brakes late and hits me from behind at the Mulsanne corner and dives up the inside, but doesn't have the line to put the power down to get in front. Again I'm much faster at Porsche and Karting and soon I have over 2s lead, but soon I'll have to pit, as I've been working the tyres a lot.
  • 8: 3'40.342 | The gap is out to 2.5s at the start of the straight, and I think he's too far behind now to catch me in the draft. Fried, Benton, de Wit then Abe and Monte. The tyres are just showing signs of being unhappy, so I decide to pit on lap 8, 65L used. PIT IN
  • 9: 4'14.995 | I put 40L in and new RH tyres. I had 2s advantage when I pitted, this time will be a short fill, but let's see where the other's pit… The pit stop drops me back to 8th place, right behind Banks and Muller with a big gap to Monti in 5th. Weather is still dry, good to work out who's fast and who isn't. I'm soon up on Banks and Muller on the straight, and I'm 44s behind Fried.
  • 10: 3'33.447 | As I cross the line I see de Wit in the pits after doing 9 laps, but the others are still ahead somewhere. As I enter the straight the gap has dropped to 40s, so I've gained 4s with the overlap, looking good. I'm trying to be easy on the tyres out of the corners to preserve them to do 9 laps - let's see. I'm still catching Fried, down to 36s at the line, but it's been 11 laps and he's yet to pit
  • 11: 3'30.594 | I can see Monti up ahead, but not close enough to draft yet, but suddenly as I exit Tetre Rouge I see he is close and now I am getting some benefit. I catch him all the way down the straight, am right behind at the Mulsanne corner and take 4th under power out of the corner. I see another car up ahead - surely I can't have also caught Abe? No, this car is red, and it turns out to be the dodge viper twins, O'Ryan and Ferand, already being lapped. They are easily dispatched at Boisson and Karting, and as I cross the line I see Fried, Benton and Abe are in the pits, and Monti dives in as well.
  • 12: 3'33.106 | De Wit has taken 2nd place while the others pitted, the gap back to him is now 40s, nobody to draft and looking after the tyres I'm still in the 3'33s. With my opponents on different strategies to me and each other, it will take a while to work out who's going to be fastest...
  • 13: 3'30.067 | The gap back to De Wit is staying about 39-41s, which looks good for the rest of the race, but I don't know how close Fried is behind him. FASTEST LAP
  • 14: 3'33.537 |
  • 15: 3'39.074 | After an uneventful almost 2 laps, I push a bit hard out of Karting and lose the rear end, a bit a of a spin loses me 4 or 5 seconds. I'm trying to get 2 more laps out of these tyres, need to take it easy, It was still 41s back to de Wit, but now it's 36.
  • 16: 3'38.06 | Tyres are going off, spinning the rears a bit out of the 1st chicane, but I didn't lose it. I should probably have pitted, but I've carried on to see how the 9th lap in the stint goes.
  • 17: 3'44.544 | I haven't seen another car since lap 11, and now, just as I'm about to pit I see someone up ahead on the straight. Coming up to Mulsanne corner I see the car is red, and I'm lapping the Vipers again. No real problems with this lap, although it maybe wasn't so fast? I think about carrying on, but look at the fuel gauge - I don't have enough fuel for another lap, so I duck in to the pits. 2L left in the tank. The gap back to de Wit was about 31s last marker, so he'll pass me while I'm in the pits for sure. PIT IN
  • 18: 4'44.861 | I put 85L in to make sure I can do 10 laps if needed, and a fresh set of RH tyres, but it doesn't seem worth trying to do 9 lap stints. The reduction in time in the pits for 9 laps vs 8 saves me about 0.3s per lap, but that's just 3s per stint and I surely lost more than that just in that last in lap. De Wit and Fried go past while I'm in t he pit, then Benton and Abe. I'm 44s behind after the pit stop.
  • 19: 3'34.049 | At the start of the lap the gap is down to 38s, but De Wit is in the pit and I can see Abe and Benton up ahead. Fried can't have been far behind de Wit, as the gap only drops to 34s. I'm just getting a small benefit behind Abe on the straight, and at the line I'm right behind him.
  • 20: 3'32.217 | I pass Abe in the Dunlop curve, and catch Benton on the straight, passing him in the 2nd chicane. I catch the other Viper coming up to Mulsanne, he moves out of the way and at the end of the lap Fried is just 28s up ahead…
  • 21: 3'40.1 | Fried must be struggling on worn tyres, the gap has dropped down to 26s on the straight as I pass another Viper. I'm still gaining and thinking about how awesome I am and just put a wheel in the grass in the Porsche curves, spinning and losing about 6 or7 seconds... Behind me Benton pits early.
  • 22: 3'32.413 | Fried is still slow and I quickly come back from a 30s deficit to 28s, but I need to stay focused and not push too hard. Still more than 22 hours to go. Abe and Fried pit, leaving de Wit with 2nd place and me back in the lead about 27s ahead of de Wit.
  • 23: 3'36.608 | A tidy lap until the Ford chicane where I get a bit excited and spin the rears running from one chicane to the next. Loses me a second or two. I really need to be gaining time on de Wit, not losing it.
  • 24: 3'36.125 | Lap is ok, but not fast, one more until I pit. Gap back to de Wit is now down to 21s.
  • 25: 3'37.189 | Good in lap, pit in 22L left in the tank. I decide to add 55L just in case I forget to pit and do 9 laps, but this is still a shorter fill which might help me stay ahead of Fried or be right behind them get some drafting… PIT IN
  • 26: 4'26.766 | De Wit passes me while I'm stopped in the pits, Fried goes past as the lollypop man releases me and I get out ahead of Benton. At the straight I'm 33s behind de Wit and I can see Fried just ahead. Both Fried and de Wit are faster on the straight so no draft until I can get close enough, I'm catching up in the last part of the track which is more technical.
  • 27: 3'30.949 | I catch a backmarker who had helpfully held up Fried, but pass him at Tetre Rouge, so no drafting advantage to help catch up. The gap to de Wit is now down to 28s, then he pits.
  • 28: 3'30.662 | Fried has caught up with a viper, I dispatch the viper in the Ess, and draft Fried down the straight. I sit behind him saving fuel and tyres until Mulsanne, then fly past before Indy and at the end of the lap I'm 1s ahead.
  • 29: 3'34.172 | By Tetre Rouge I'm 2s ahead, and the grey skies have opened, it's started raining. I'm due to pit in 5 laps, but it's not really wet yet, let's see what happens… The lap is a bit slower as I'm being cautious, but still 2s ahead.
  • 30: 3'33.651 | The rain is still lightly falling, maybe slightly less grip, or maybe just the tyres? My team tell me the track is still "dry". I'm now 5s ahead of Fried thanks to some help from a viper.
  • 31: 3'32.106 | Still lapping well and the tyres seem to be holding up. Not sure if the rain helps to keep the temperatures down?
  • 32: 3'39.199 | Not sure what happened to Fried, but the gap suddenly jumps from 8s to 11.5s. This distracts me enough to spin the rears in Chapelle and I promptly lose time to bring the gap back to 7s… I'm pitting in next lap, it's still not wet but still raining, what should I do? I think about medium tyres to be safe... This lap quite a bit slower, but the car is still behaving on RH, and the track isn't getting wetter, so I'll try RH again.
  • 33: 3'38.587 | In lap is good, I'm back up to 12s ahead of Fried, it's only raining on part of the track, pit in and 14L left in the tank. The fuel economy is better, 2L of fuel saved by drafting Fried for 2/3 of the straight! 2 Hour mark has passed on lap 33 and I'm in the lead, but only until I pit... PIT IN
  • 34: 4'33.646 | I add 63L, again letting me do 9 laps if needed, fresh RH tyres and away. Fried pits behind me, and de Wit flies past just as I'm released. PIT I start off gingerly on cold tyres and de Wit is 12s ahead and on worn tyres. The gap increases to 13s on the out lap, but the rain seems to be reducing a bit too.
  • 35: 3'33.401 | A good lap and the gap is down to under 10s. De Wit is due to pit next lap, so it's unlikely I can catch him and get a draft - curses…
  • 36: 3'30.126 | As I turn onto the straight I can see a car up ahead, De Wit is now just 7s ahead. I chase and chase and put in a great lap, just in time to see him pit in from about 4s ahead.
  • 37: 3'33.866 | De Wit pitting leaves me in the lead with Fried in second place, and he's 32s behind me, but this drops to about 30.5 s during the lap as I'm taking it easy on the tyres.
  • 38: 3'34.836 | I'm getting away from Fried slightly, the gap is up to 32s again, but I catch one of the vipers in the Porsche curves and lose a second or two
  • 39: 3'33.9 | I think I can see the red of the second viper up ahead, but it seems he's just as fast as me on the straights, I catch up a bit at the back of the circuit and hopefully I'll be right behind him on the straight this time.
  • 40: 3'39.536 | I catch the red car at Tetre Rouge and it turns out to be Bass in the R10. I sit behind him a bit on the straight to save fuel, but he's so slow out of the corners that in staying behind I've lost serious time to Fried - just 25s ahead now.
  • 41: 3'31.92 | A better lap, the tyres are holding up so I decide to push for an extra lap before pitting. The gap to Fried has pushed out to 31s now.
  • 42: 3'38.431 | This lap I catch Muller on the straight, and go past him on the way out of Mulsanne corner to take a lap. The tyres aren't their best and I'm wide and slow into the Porsche curve and he sails past again, but at Karting I pull ahead, and straight into the pits. 6L of fuel left. The track is now up to 1% wet, but I'll stick with RH. The 2L of fuel I saved while losing 3-4s behind Bass will save me about 1.2s of fuelling time in the pits - certainly not worth it! PIT IN
  • 43: 4'37.31 | I put in 69L of fuel and the fresh RH tyres and head out. Fried passes me while I'm stationary, but no sign of de Wit as I am released, but he goes past while I'm in the exit and I come out a few seconds behind him. Gap to Fried is 33s as I tiptoe on cold tyres and 2% wet, but I press on and by the end of the lap it is down to 31s and I can see de Wit and Dupont just ahead - should get a nice draft on the straight.
  • 44: 3'33.811 | De Wit pushes Dupont off the track at the Ess, I follow up the inside of Tetre Rouge and soon I'm drafting de Wit up the straight. He has much more power than I do, so I should gain time behind him. I follow him all the way to Mulsanne corner, then a better exit and drafting means I pass him well before Indy and he's soon 3 seconds behind me. Fried pits at the end of the lap so I'm back in the lead. It's hard to tell who's actually leading given the pit stops are so out of sync.
  • 45: 3'35.976 | The track is now up to 7% wet, but it's not raining at all from Mulsanne corner to Buisson. This lap wasn't the fastest, but I'm looking after the tyres and pressing on. De Wit pits from a 3s deficit and gives Fried back second place, and my lead is now about 52s
  • 46: 3'36.941 | A bit slower lap, track is now 11% wet, but I only lost 1s to Fried behind me, so it's probably the wet track rather than me. If it keeps raining then I might switch to medium tyres next stop
  • 47: 3'35.239 | 15% now, still dry at the north of the track, the gap is still sitting at 50s
  • 48: 3'39.079 | A bit slower now, gap is creeping down to 48-49s, 19% wet. Much wetter at Mulsanne corner, I'm having trouble slowing down enough to hit the apex.
  • 49: 3'36.111 | A better lap, braked earlier at Mulsanne corner, cleaner through Porsche The 3 hour mark comes and goes.
  • 50: 3'38.19 | Something's happened to Fried, the gap that was hovering around 48s is suddenly 55s at the start of the lap has he spun at Porsche or Karting? The track now up to 25% wet. At the next marker the gap is 1'45, so clearly Fried has pitted - for different tyres? I'm still doing fine on the RH, a bit slower but no obvious signs of wear, so one more lap and I'll come in.
  • 51: 3'45.335 | I'm gaining on Fried a little, and then miss my braking marker for the 1st chicane, ending up in the gravel and it has to have cost me a few seconds. The tyres are behaving well though, and if I had the fuel I'd consider another lap, but I pit in as I have just 5L left. At 35% wet and climbing I'll switch to RM tyres and see how we do. PIT IN
  • 52: 4'53.494 | I decide to fill up with 85L, as in the wet the tyres seem to be lasting longer before they go off. Not sure if the mediums will last 10 laps, but I'll have the fuel to try if it seems ok. After the long pit stop I'm still 39s ahead of Fried
  • 53: 3'41.929 | I'm quite ginger at Dunlop and Chapelle where it is wettest, but it's working, the gap has increased to 44s by the start of the lap and 47 by Mulsanne. Nearly up to 47% wet though, so I'll see how it goes… Lap times are much slower but still acceptable
  • 54: 3'44.232 | I see a car up ahead over the S/F line, it's hard to see with the spray out the back, and I realise it is Monti in the V12. With the draft up the straight I catch up and pass him between Mulsanne and Indy. Track at 55% now, lead up to 55s over Fried. De Wit is 2nd, then Abe, Benton, Monti, Muller and Banks. I need to build a lead because I'm expecting to be slower in the dark and it's getting dark early with the rain and black clouds...
  • 55: 3'54.098 | It's still not obviously raining at the north end of the track, but there is spray coming off the road so it is getting wetter. I come up behind one of the Vipers at Golf, and just as I'm passing offline on the left he jinks left, causing a collision and an spin for me... I lose heaps of time, and resist the urge to return the favour as I pass him at Maison Blanche. The gap back to Fried was 65s, but drops to 58s
  • 56: 3'47.287 | It's now raining over the whole track and up to 73%, but the medium tyres are still going well enough. If my lap times increase to above about 3'55 It will be time for inters as I know I can lap under 3'58 easily at 100% wet.
  • 57: 3'56.544 | Right on cue, 3'56 with a little moment at Porsche spinning the rears up in 4th gear at 220km/h… I'll finish this lap and then pit in as the track is now 83% wet. I'll fill up with fuel as I expect the tyres may last the whole fuel load of 11 or maybe even 12 laps.
  • 58: 4'0.62 | With the track now up to 89% wet, I'm now losing a bit of time to Fried, the gap is 1'17 down from 1'18. The tyres are struggling to find grip out of nearly every corner so I pit in for some inters. I still have 37L left in the tank, so brimming the tank will still be a fairly normal stoppage time. PIT IN
  • 59: 5'5.189 | 63L and Inters put on and it seems like the inters have less grip than the Medium tyres did, a spin at Chapelle under power and squirmy under braking, but the track is now up to 98% wet so maybe it is just the water making it that slippery? Fried seems to have pitted too as the gap has increased to 1'30 instead of coming down.
  • 60: 4'4.692 | I'm much slower than I was in practice in 100% wet conditions, I'm tiptoeing around at Dunlop/Chapelle and in the Porsche curves. I'm still making time, the gap to Fried is now up to 1'46
  • 61: 4'0.706 | Going well, and tyres are staying cool - looks good for a long stint. Right at the S/F line I see I'm catching a few cars, the first is Dupont in the CLK. I’m now over 2m ahead of Fried.
  • 62: 4'2.176 | I'm catching the next car on the straight, and can't see much ahead, I lift and brake early for the chicane when suddenly out of the spray Benton's GV5 appears going very slowly in the braking area! Has he locked up or had a spin? I can't avoid a glancing blow and he goes straight on into the gravel. The gap to Fried is out to 2'14, so he's over half a lap behind when I catch Abe at Ford to end the lap.
  • 63: 4'7.188 | Suddenly there are heaps of cars around me! I pass Bass in the R10 at Tetre Rouge, and for the first time since lap 1 see Banks in the GT-ONE, catching him at Mulsanne corner. In the spray I lift off and brake early for Indy, but easily pass up the inside to be ahead for Arnage.
  • 64: 4'3.723 | At the S/F I'm 2'25 ahead of Fried and right up on Muller in the c60. He's super slow out of the Dunlop chicane and I pass him through Chapelle. I catch the other Viper at Golf, and this time pass very cautiously with no incident. 2'32 ahead at the end of the lap.
  • 65: 3'58.739 | A much faster lap, fuel is burning off but also it might be raining less, the sky is brighter. Out to 2'40 in front, but not long until it gets dark. I'm using less fuel too, after 7 laps the tank is just on half gone, I could do 13 laps at this rate...
  • 66: 3'53.302 | Faster again, and the gap is blowing out, over 3'25 now, did Fried pit already?
  • 67: 4'4.625 | The gap to Fried is increasing, over 3'30 now. It's getting difficult to see at Golf with the low sun in the mist rain and spray. The lap is going well when suddenly at Maison Blanche the rear steps out, and again on the front straight - have I cooked the tyres after just 9 laps? There is heaps of tread left, the wear markers show just 10% worn.
  • 68: 4'7.162 | I cautiously pass a Viper at the first chicane, and catch de Wit again, hard to see in the spray and I eventually get past at Karting. It's now 3'52 back to Fried, and I fancy I can see him up ahead although he must be over 15s ahead.
  • 69: 4'6.018 | It turns out to be Monti in the BMW up ahead, but during the lap my lead increases to over 4 minutes and now I can see Fried. I catch him in Porsche, but can't cleanly get past until leaving Ford where I get the power down much quicker and I'm soon a couple of seconds ahead. Tyres are still behaving and I have about 21 or 22 L of fuel left, maybe just enough for 3 laps, but two would be safer...
  • 70: 4'23.51 | Seems like the tyres are going off? A spin out of the 1st chicane, not enough braking at Mulsanne corner - I probably have enough fuel for one more lap, but I pit in anyway to change the tyres. Next time I'll just do 11 laps. PIT IN
  • 71: 5'10.517 | I add 82L to give me a buffer plus 11 laps. I go for Inters again - although full wets are suggested by the crew I think they would be slower. Might try them next stint. Fried also pits on this lap as does Monti who must be a lap down on Fried to be this close behind him on the lap.
  • 72: 3'58.209 | It's still raining and still 100% wet, but I'm lapping under 4minutes again. The gap to Fried is out to 1 lap and 44s.
  • 73: 3'59.265 | I pass Banks and one of the Vipers, at Tetre Rouge, both going very slowly, and catch Muller along the straight, easily going past under acceleration out of the Mulsanne corner. Another sub 4minute lap and I'm now 1lap and 1min ahead.
  • 74: 4'1.234 |
  • 75: 3'59.057 |
  • 76: 3'54.954 | A fast lap, I pass a Viper at the 2nd chicane, and easily pass Benton under acceleration out of Mulsanne corner. My set up gives me heaps more rear grip than the others, or I'm braver in the wet...
  • 77: 3'59.139 | It's getting darker now and still raining, I come up on a car but my lights in the spray make it nearly impossible to pass safely on the straight, I go past at the first chicane instead and see it is Abe in the sister car waving me through. No beautiful sunset today, and I'm now 1 lap and 2min ahead of Fried.
  • 78: 3'53.108 | A lonely lap in the gloom, but quick. The lights are on everywhere now, the Ferris wheel looks great all lit up. FASTEST LAP (100% WET).
  • 79: 4'7.709 | A slight spin out of the 1st chicane makes for a slow lap, but still going well, 1lap 2m44 ahead
  • 80: 3'57.729 | Now a lap and 2'52 ahead, I'm gaining a lot of time on these tyres. I might switch to full wets next stop to try them out.
  • 81: 3'59.549 | I catch Bass and Monti at Ford, and accelerate past them on the front straight like they are standing still. The gap back to Fried is now 1Lap 3m 13
  • 82: 4'1.006 | Tyres feel good and plenty of fuel for another lap, I push on…
  • 83: 4'10.223 | 5L left as I pit in, tyres were feeling a bit squirmy on that last lap, and a bit slow as I was delayed by catching a Viper at Porsche. Gap to Fried is 1 lap 3'30. PIT IN
  • 84: 5'28.128 | I put in the full 95L to brim the tank and take the full wets. Let's see what they are like. In that last stint the fuel economy and lap times were much better than the previous - usually the two don't go together… My lead is 1lap 4:10 as I go over the line into the pits, but it will drop back to about 1lap 3m with my stop. First impressions of the wets is that they don't work as well under brakes, but seem controllable. I'll give them a few laps to get the feel and see how they go...
  • 85: 4'15.478 | As I start lap 85, Fried comes out of the pits right next to me, he barges my out of the way at the Dunlop chicane, but I easily take him in the Ess and by the straight I'm long gone. I catch Bass in the R10 at Golf, but take it cautiously and go past out of Indy. I'm then blocked by Dupont through Porsche and Karting before he pits. Not a representative lap? Very slow though...
  • 86: 4'5.046 | Start out 2lap and 8s ahead of Fried. Lap was ok and pretty clean, although braking still an issue, especially into Indy where I'm not washing off enough speed for the fast entry, and squirmy under power even in 4th gear… 4'05 isn't a bad lap, but the average for my previous stint on inters was 3'59.17. Wets clearly don't work as well. I'll do a couple more laps then pit in for inters again
  • 87: 4'11.18 | At the start of the lap 2lap and 20s ahead of Fried. Wets still unhappy, braking much earlier and still not happy. Will pit in in a couple of laps to swap - if I'm losing 10s/lap it's not worth staying out.
  • 88: 4'11.09 | Tried adjusting the brake bias for the front, and the ABS, maybe the fronts are locking up? Didn't seem to help, still terrible under brakes.
  • 89: 4'14.333 | Pit in, add 32L and back onto inters. I come out right behind Fried who is now only 1 lap down, but I quickly catch him on the straight and pass under acceleration out of Mulsanne corner. It also seems like there is a bit less spray than before? Maybe the rain is easing off? I hope so. PIT IN
  • 90: 4'43.338 |
  • 91: 4'1.064 | Going well, much happier with tyres that work under brakes!
  • 92: 4'4.355 | Not as fast as previous stints, am I tired, is the track colder now it's night?
  • 93: 3'57.379 | Apparently not, I'm still sub 4 min even after 6 hours at the wheel.
  • 94: 4'3.217 | What looked like a nice lap was slowed by catching Bass in the Porsche curves, had to wait until the Dunlop chicane to dispatch him. No fireworks tonight because of the rain? I'm up to 2 laps 1'11 ahead of Fried.
  • 95: 4'0.388 | Not bad, caught Benton in Porsche curves and he slowed me in the last section.
  • 96: 4'1.224 |
  • 97: 3'58.039 | 2 laps plus 3'31 ahead of Fried, he must have pitted again.
  • 98: 4'7.13 |
  • 99: 4'1.103 |
  • 100: 4'0.589 | Pit in next lap
  • 101: 4'13.860| Spin at Tetre Rouge, got a wheel on the paint under power. Tyres a bit rough, time to pit. 4L left in the tank. PIT IN

(NOTES: This started as my trial race - planned to do 2-3 stints to check out the AI pace, but since I was competitive and fighting for the lead I decided to keep going. It started raining just before the 2 hour mark, and has been raining ever since, which kind of spoils things because I'm much faster in the wet. I started out keeping detailed notes, but it takes quite a lot of time - 10-30s per lap to write the notes, so I'm going to be a bit more terse from now on, just record the lap times and important things. 6.5 hours in and I'm going well - it's about 2330 now and it should start getting light about 0515, so about another 6 hours of driving in the dark. )
 
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24 Heures du Mans: Race report part Deux:

  • 102: 5'10.26 | Put in 85 L for another 11 laps. Cautious out lap.
  • 103: 3'55.178 | Back on the pace, now 2lap 3'15 ahead of Fried. Wish it would stop raining.
  • 104: 3'58.363 |
  • 105: 4'2.643 | After a few laps alone, I'm happy to see tail lights up ahead, and I pass a couple of backmarkers. I'm close to lapping Fried again, and I can see him up ahead now..
  • 106: 4'1.591 | Fried has been held up a bit by Dupont and gets past him in Dunlop. I easily go past Dupont in Chapelle and I'm behind Fried on the straight. Again with the spray I can't tell where he is or braking markers, I have to sit carefully behind until Mulsanne corner where I drive up the inside after braking early and easily power away with superior grip. Now I'm 3 laps ahead, a good buffer if it ever stops raining...
  • 107: 3'58.594 | Much faster not being in the spray behind another car on the straight. 3laps and 30s ahead of Fried
  • 108: 4'2.295 | I'm noticing a bit more grip in Porsche, has the rain slackened? 3laps and 45s ahead of Fried
  • 109: 3'53.478 | Yes, the rain has stopped and the track is drying, down to 89% at the end of the lap and grip is noticeably better.
  • 110: 3'53.984 | Much better grip now, a few backmarkers slowed the lap a bit, but the spray isn't as bad either now the track is drying to 82% A couple more laps, have to decide when to change from inters to slick tyres.
  • 111: 3'57.008 | Fried is now 3laps and 2'30 behind, must have pitted, maybe onto inters? Hope that makes him a bit more competitive. I have fuel for 2 more laps. It's dried to 78% and it was 83% when I needed to switch from the slick tyres to wets. I'll stay out for 1 or 2 more and see how it goes
  • 112: 3'52.417 | Still going nicely on the tyres, track is drying slowly, 73%. Maybe I'll stay on these for another stint?
  • 113: 3'53.49 | Still going fine, the water on the track is helping to keep the tyres cool, still 69% wet. 3L left in the tank, I'll brim it. Fried is still 3laps and 2'30 behind, he's doing better on inters. PIT IN
  • 114: 5'5.796 | I put on another set of inters and fill the tank. After the stop, Fried is 3laps and 1'22 behind me
  • 115: 3'43.973 | A good lap at 60% wet, better than I did on the medium tyres. Let's see how they last though, if it dries out too quick the inters might burn up
  • 116: 3'47.551 | Fried is now back to 3 laps 2'30 behind - I guess he's pitted too.
  • 117: 3'54.807 | Track down to 50% wet, and I miss the braking point at Mulsanne corner and end up in the gravel, losing heaps of time. Tyres are going well though
  • 118: 3'49.009 |
  • 119: 3'47.143 | Fried's been at 2'30 for a couple of laps now, so we must be doing similar lap times. Track down to 42% wet. Tyres still going well. When it started raining, I stopped using 1st gear out of Arnage and Ford, staying in 2nd instead and then short shifting to 3rd while traction limited. That's surely improving my fuel econ as well as tyre life, so I'll stick with it in the dry.
  • 120: 4'37.955 | I run wide in Chapelle for no apparent reason, put the rear tyres in the grass and spin. The rears are slippy onto the straight and in the chicanes too - and I realise the tyres are nearly completely worn out suddenly - must be too dry for them and they have melted! I tiptoe my way back to the pits, another spin under braking at Indy and slowly slowly through porsche - must be time to put the RH tyres back on again. The Track is now just 37% wet. PIT IN

  • 121: 4'37.646 | I put on some fresh RH tyres and 37L - this fuel load will get me at least 10 laps although not sure if the tyres will last that long.
  • 122: 3'46.997 | Fried at 1'27 (and 3 laps) after my pit stop. Track drying down to 30% wet.
  • 123: 3'48.698 |
  • 124: 3'46.997 | Fried's now at 1'58, I guess another pit stop, but that would only be 8 laps and he was doing 11 in the dry - I wonder what tyres he's on?
  • 125: 3'43.686 | Track now just 14% wet. It looks like the sky is starting to lighten a bit even though it is only just past 2 in the morning… Maybe it is just the clouds have cleared away and I can see sky glow ?
  • 126: 3'46.093 | Down to 12% wet, I can clearly see the clouds against the sky. Fried 1'59 (+3 laps) behind)
  • 127: 3'44.022 | Now just 7% wet, tyres still seem ok. Fried out to 2'20 behind.
  • 128: 3'43.937 | Track is finally fully dry, Fried comes back a bit 2'11 behind (+3 laps!)
  • 129: 3'46.6 | Still 25L in the tank as I start the lap, should be ok for 3 laps on fuel, but how are the tyres? I think they are starting to be a bit unhappy, I've just passed Banks in the GT-ONE but he's keeping up with me in the twisty bits. Fried is 2'08 behind, so is catching me, slowly. I pit in with 17L left in the tank. PIT IN

  • 130: 4'42.126 | I put another 60 L in the tank, and fresh RH tyres. Now the track is dry I should be able to get back into the 3'30s Fried's at 1'49 as I leave the pits…
  • 131: 3'41.509 | Fried is at 40s behind after the pit stop. I'm driving smoothly let's see if the times come to me…
  • 132: 3'41.851 | Fried now 33s behind - he's way faster than I am… I'm not doing anything wrong that I can tell, but maybe I'm still in low grip mode…
  • 133: 3'39.781 | Finally under 3'40, and for a couple of laps I've been noticing someone catching me, they are getting closer and closer. It's not Fried as he's still 23s behind, who could it be? I've been losing a bit of time by braking too much for the fast left before Indy, too used to driving it in the wet.
  • 134: 3'36.622 | At the end of the straight I come up on the Vipers side by side, they pull in to let me past for Mulsanne corner. I'm going too fast to read the door numbers and see who's in the lead. Faster again and whoever was chasing me pits at the end of the lap.
  • 135: 3'37.4 | I'm keeping Fried at bay, still 23s ahead. I brake way too early at Mulsanne and lose at least a second, lap is ok and I'll pit in soon
  • 136: 3'38.983 | I've gained back 1s from Fried, 24s. Still running well, pit in next lap
  • 137: 3'40.385 | Tyres are feeling good, so I stay out one more lap.
  • 138: 3'44.437 | Fried pitted last lap, so the gap is back up to 1'37 +3 laps), but I'll pit in this lap, so we should be close on the lap again. I've realised that with lap times coming down in the dry he's been catching me faster than I thought, as the full laps ahead count for less time. My lead has come down from 3 laps and 2'30 at lap 113. I've been losing 4-6s per lap for the last 18 laps with the track drying out. I pit in with 8L left in the tank. PIT IN

  • 139: 4'40.864 | 70L in, fresh RH tyres, let's see if I can get the lap times down a bit. It's still very dark and cold and that may be the reason I'm slower… I had thought about using RM tyres at night to make up for the cold temps at night, but Fried doesn't seem to be slower than he was during the afternoon - maybe it's just me?
  • 140: 3'33.672 | I pretty much nailed every section of this lap, much better through indy, good exit from Mulsanne and Arnage, high speed through Porsche, Karting and Tetre Rouge.I don't know if I can do this every lap without making a mistake though… Fried is 19s behind me on the lap.
  • 141: 3'33.102 | Another tidy lap, the gap back to Fried still 19s, I tried first gear out of arnage, not sure if got me that extra 0.5s from the previous lap
  • 142: 3'34.901 | Not as tidy, but still ok, happy if I can keep lapping in the mid 3'30s
  • 143: 3'34.78 | Ok lap, caught a viper just before the 1st chicane, so not much drafting benefit
  • 144: 3'37.141 | Déjà vu, caught the second viper just before the 1st chicane, like his team mate he moved across to block the inside line just as I was about to pass, so I'm held up again. I have adjusted to the dry grip and hitting full throttle sooner in 2nd gear, that won't be as good for tyre life or fuel economy, but if each lap is 0.5s faster then it's worth it to pit in at 8 laps instead of 9. Still 19s to Fried.
  • 145: 3'36.659 | Another tidy lap, 20s back to Fried
  • 146: 3'37.603 | Chasing someone, I think Dupont in the CLK, not a bad lap. Now up to 22s over Fried, I'll be pitting next lap, but he should be able to stay out a couple more and get back to 2 laps down.
  • 147: 3'39.692 | It turns out to be Monti in the BMW, I catch him in the first part of the straight, he drafts me for the remaining straights but at Indy I make a gap and then into the pits. PIT IN

  • 148: 4'35.738 | 70L of fuel again and fresh RH tyres. Tyres easily lasted 9 laps and the fuel econ is good. As I leave I see my team mate has just gone past on the pit straight. He helpfully gives me a draft all the way along Hunaudieres, and I pass him just before the Mulsanne Corner, taking the outside line to give him room, and letting him draft me through Golf. He slips up a bit and taps me into Porsche, but no damage done.
  • 149: 3'36.429 | Abe is still pretty close behind, gets a bit of benefit on the straight. Fried must have also pitted, he's back to 51s behind now
  • 150: 3'37.168 | The timing says Fried is only 38s behind on the lap, surely he's not that much faster in a single lap? Abe is still right behind me, getting benefit from the tow. He's up alongside at Mulsanne corner again, I give him lots of room but since I'm on the outside he can't get the power down. I'm not sure how far behind de WIt in 3rd place Abe is, but maybe I can give him a hand to catch up? No team orders though, if he can't keep up then I won't slow for him
  • 151: 3'36.754 | Fried now 31s behind, so maybe I misread the previous 51s? 41s perhaps? Abe is a bit further behind on the straight this time, and I'm catching someone else, could make or break his bid to catch de Wit. It's Dupont in the CLK, I draft him and Abe drafts me. I'm past Dupont out of Arnage, let's see if Abe can get past Dupont quickly and into my draft.
  • 152: 3'37.35 | Fried back 29s, looks like Abe got past Dupont, but isn't as close, hope he can stay in the draft, but where is de Wit?
  • 153: 3'37.694 | Fried at 26s, Abe's still right behind me, nice team work, although my lap times aren’t as good as I would have hoped
  • 154: 3'36.448 | Abe still back there, gaining from the draft
  • 155: 3'39.838 | Looks like I might have broken the elastic to Abe with a better run through Dunlop and Chapelle. Tyres are squirming a bit under power, so I'm going to pit at 8 laps to be safe. PIT IN

  • 156: 4'30.214 | I have 15L left in the tank, so I put in 60L and a fresh set of RH. That stint I was as fast as Fried, but if he's pitting every 11 laps and me every 8 or 9 then he's going to gain a minute or so while I'm in the pits every 5 or so stints. After my stop he's now at 2laps and 3'57 behind, about 33s in front of me on the lap
  • 157: 3'34.726 | Fried is at 2laps 3'07 with a normal lap, I'm working through some traffic but they are mostly helpful being passed on the straight
  • 158: 3'33.236 | A great lap and now it's 3'14. He's about 20s ahead, but is probably close to pitting in, maybe already in the pits?
  • 159: 3'36.236 | Fried has pitted. The gap is now back up to 3laps and 55s, and I'm gaining time again
  • 160: 3'31.848 | A great lap, I drafted Muller down the whole straight, right past under power out of Mulsanne corner. Best lap time for ages…
  • 161: 3'34.869 | 58s to Fried
  • 162: 3'35.233 | 57s to Fried, and Muller is still behind me gaining a bit of lap time from my draft, but dropping back little by little
  • 163: 3'36.289 | 54s back to Fried, he's going fast, but obviously using more fuel than me and longer pit stops
  • 164: 3'38.559 | 50s (+3 laps) back to Fried, he's going fast… I pit in this lap, tyres still fine, the lap was very fast, but just 6L of fuel left. PIT IN

  • 165: 4'38.617 | I drop in 70L of fuel and fresh RH tyres. A good stint, I made up over 2s per lap on Fried, mostly in the pits though…
  • 166: 3'33.665 | Lapping well, Fried is 2 laps and 3'26 behind, which means he's just 7s ahead of me on the track. I have a chance of catching him before he pits in again…
  • 167: 3'35.491 | I can see Fried's tail lights down the straights, and it's now 3'31, I'm catching him and soon I"ll be in the slipstream…
  • 168: 3'29.576 | A smashing lap, I was getting some draft from 5s back as I catch him up the straight, he's catching someone else too, I don't seem that close until at Ford I'm right on him and up the inside under brakes to take the lap, and a new fastest lap too! FASTEST LAP
  • 169: 3'33.162 | Another good lap with no drafting help
  • 170: 3'36.96 | 12s ahead of Fried, I start catching Monti on the straight, get past him at Golf, but mess up the entry to Porsche let him past again, until Ford where I take back the lap.
  • 171: 3'34.549 | Fried has pitted, and I'm told de Wit is back in 2nd place! It must be pretty close, and once de Wit pits again I'm guessing Fried will take the position back.
  • 172: 3'35.848 | De Wit is at 3laps 1'25behind me, so he and Fried must be very close together, within a few seconds. Fried will be going well on fresh tyres, and de Wit on worn tyres, and just like that, Fried pops up back in 2nd place...
  • 173: 3'38.833 | Fried is at 3laps 1'24 now, I pit in after 9 pretty good laps, I've made up nearly 4s per lap in that stint… PIT IN

  • 174: 4'41 | 70 L and RH tyres again. I should come out just ahead of Fried (and de Wit unless he also pits). It's 4:11AM and soon the sky will start to get light, I'm looking forward to it!
  • 175: 3'46.126 | Fried is 12s behind now, and I'm feeling a bit a pressure. I'm a bit eager at Karting, too much throttle before I'm straight and a quick spin. Now Fried (and maybe de Wit) will be right behind me.. First spin since the intermediate tyres wore out 55 laps ago...
  • 176: 3'54.877 | After the spin at the end of the last lap, Fried is right behind me, less than 2s, and someone else is right behind him (de Wit?). At Tetre Rouge they are right behind me, and as they draft and pass me and each other, I get hit by both cars who bash into either side of me and I end up spinning on the straight. Huge loss of time doing 0 instead of 300km/h!
  • 177: 3'31.059 | It looks like it was de Wit behind Fried, obviously lost out last lap too, as I catch and draft him all the way down the straight and now I'm 3'26 (+2laps) ahead of Fried (so he's about 5s in front of me - hopefully I can get enough draft to put him behind me again
  • 178: 3'33.06 | I come up on another car between Fried and myself, it's my team mate Abe, but he doesn't actually help very much with draft down the straight, I'm past him and chasing Fried again.
  • 179: 3'38.098 | Fried is now 3'29 behind, just 2 s ahead, so surely I've got him on the straight. I end up catching him at Tetre rouge, but again he crashes into me causing me to lose speed. I then draft down the straights and pass him at Porsche, and he bashes and crashes into me from behind all the way through Karting. I don't understand, risking their own race to take me out? As soon as I'm clear, he peels off into the pits
  • 180: 3'39.575 | A slower lap as I recover from the excitement!
  • 181: 3'36.086 | An OK lap Fried is 1'27 (+3laps) behind after he's pitted
  • 182: 3'37.571 | Even with all the excitement in this stint the tyres are still fine on the 9th lap, I'm going to try a 10 lap stint and see how that does. I pit in with 5L left, so I'll need to add a bit extra this time to make 10 laps in the next stint. PIT IN

  • 183: 4'47.399 | I add 78L and fresh RH tyres, let's see if they last 10 laps
  • 184: 3'39.005 | After my stop, Fried is just 5 s behind (+3 laps). I need to keep him from gaining an advantage in my draft..
  • 185: 3'33.725 | It's not working, he's still 3-4s behind me, catching me at indy and bashing me in Porsche. Maybe I can gain an advantage by dropping back 3s and sitting in his slipstream? I need to be careful, he's been pretty nasty every time I've been around him lately
  • 186: 3'40.955 | This time I let him pass me on the straight, I'm losing time messing around with him
  • 187: 3'34.663 | I sit behind him, saving fuel and being gentle on my tyres out of the corners, he's not that fast when in front
  • 188: 3'50.38 | I sit behind him again, but this time go past before Mulsanne corner, he takes me out in the corner and we both end up in the gravel. Abe goes past while we recover, but I recover better, getting on Abe's tail and getting a bit of draft. The gap is out to 10 seconds
  • 189: 3'40.956 | I'm taking turns with Abe up the straight, but it isn't that fast and keeps getting in the way. Fried pulls off into the pits from about 8s behind
  • 190: 3'42.286 | Abe's sitting behind me now, getting benefit from my slipstream. I'm doing well, but again get a tyre on the rumble strips at Karting and have a spin, need to be careful here instead of pushing Abe peels off into the pits
  • 191: 3'40.593 | I thought that Fried had pitted, but it seems he's still behind me about 5-6 seconds back. How has he stretched the stint to more than 12 laps? My tyres are going off, so I'm going to pit at 9 laps anyway, let's try 10 laps next stint. I pit in, 17 L of fuel left, at least the drafting helped with that. A terrible stint, I've lost nearly 7s a lap to Fried PIT IN

  • 192: 4'42.606 | 66L of fuel to allow me 10 laps if needed, fresh tyres and I'm away from Fried who surely must be going to pit soon - and he does, right behind me… Lucky I have a shorter fill, so I should be a bit ahead for a few laps… De Wit has gone past while Fried was in the pits and must be not far behind me on the lap. Sure enough, De Wit catches me in the straight, but isn't quite fast enough to get past. I'm happy for him to draft me as long as he doesn't get in the way. Fried can't be that far behind him
  • 193: 3'38.552 | Not a great lap, de Wit is right behind, passes me on the second part of the straight, I draft and pass him at Mulsanne corner. It's still slower than I'd like, but if I keep de Wit away from Fried until he pits then that might help
  • 194: 3'38.209 | Same same, it's a bit annoying having de Wit get in the way
  • 195: 3'36.382 | A better lap but not as fast as I want, but I can see that it's starting to get light, it's now gone 5:30 AM. De Wit is not close enough to pass me in the straights any more, but there are 2 cars not far behind him - I suspect that Fried is one of them…
  • 196: 3'36.312 |
  • 197: 3'33.871 | De Wit has dropped back a bit and no longer close enough to me to draft, and but Fried is close enough to him, and half way along the straight Fried takes back 2nd place. Hopefully de Wit can keep up and be as annoying to Fried as he was to me :)
  • 198: 3'33.508 | At the line, Fried is just 3s behind. I'll need to push to stay ahead, but also save my tyres for the 10th lap…
  • 199: 3'33.584 | I've pulled out to 5s ahead at the line, and it seems enough to break the tow on the straight
  • 200: 3'33.656 | Now it's 8s and I catch Monti and draft him down the straight to gain some time.
  • 201: 3'43.073 | 10s gap, and the rear end is just getting a little bit loose. Glad I'm pitting in this lap. 5L left in the tank, not sure if it was worth staying out for the extra lap - might have cost more than the 3.5s it saves doing the extra lap in a stint… PIT IN.
 
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24 Heures du Mans: Race report part Troi:

Well over half way now, almost at the 13 hour mark, and things are looking good:

  • 202: 4'44.059 | Add 77L to allow 10 laps again, RH tyres, and I'm away. I did lose more than 3.5s on that tenth lap, should I stick with 9 lap stints? Or just be more careful with the tyres?
  • 203: 3'35.282 | Fried has pitted and de Wit is back in 2nd place.
  • 204: 3'41.713 | De Wit is just 5s behind as I go over the line and I'm busy looking in the mirror instead of the track at Chapelle and miss the turn in, sliding over the grass and now de Wit is in front of me... I get a bit of a draft down the straights and I'm closer at the end of the lap.
  • 205: 3'34.506 | This time I'm right behind him and get a nice draft down the straight. I see one of the vipers ahead after the 2nd chicane and go past before Mulsanne. The AI always brake late at Mulsanne corner and get past up the inside but can't turn in and power out, so I pull ahead easily, draft the Viper through Golf and I'm well ahead at the line. The sun is coming up and it's a bit glarey at Porsche and Chapelle, I don't have my sunglasses in the car, have to grab them at the next stop.
  • 206: 3'34.096 | It's just 4s over the line, but I see Banks in the GT-ONE ahead and we have a drafting duel up the straight, keeping me out of the clutches of de Wit for another lap. Hopefully Banks will hold de Wit up rather than help him catch me.
  • 207: 3'34.302 | 5s back to de Wit on the line, but it does seem that Banks is returning the favour and holding him up
  • 208: 3'32.656 | Banks is still holding up de Wit, and another player is right behind them too. I wonder how far back Fried is? He can't have caught up the full minute he must have been behind after the pit stop. One of the three peels off into the pits at the end of this lap. The glare is a bit annoying, I might have to channel my inner Ari Vartinen and hold my hand up as a sunshade
  • 209: 3'35.914 | It was de Wit who pitted, so Fried is back in 2nd place. Another clean lap
  • 210: 3'35.4 | Fried is just 14s behind me, but I've gained a few seconds in this stint… The tyres feel ok, so I'll risk it with another lap
  • 211: 3'40.705 | Fried still 14s behind, tyres still good, another nice in lap, it was worth staying out this time. PIT IN

  • 212: 4'43.074 | 77L in, RH tyres and away.
  • 213: 3'37.845 | Fried is now 2laps 2'46 behind (but about to pit), but de Wit is right behind me and catching me on the straights. Fried pits at the end of the lap, leaving de Wit in 2nd
  • 214: 3'33.783 | De wit is just 5s behind, but I'm going nicely
  • 215: 3'33.006 | De wit still 5s back, he's pretty fast but just can't catch me on the straights
  • 216: 3'32.006 | Another good lap, I'm letting the engine rev out to 6500 in the higher gears to gain a little more acceleration, but it will also use more fuel. The gap is now out to 8s, so I'm now safe from him drafting me
  • 217: 3'30.641 | A really nice lap, hit all the corners, De Wit pits in, so I'm safe until I pit again
  • 218: 3'32.186 | Now that de Wit has pitted, Fried's back in 2nd, he's 31s behind, but I'm lapping very nicely, so I don't expect him to trouble me in this stint.
  • 219: 3'33.349 | Still 31s back
  • 220: 3'34.202 | Fried now 33s behind, tyres going well, fuel ok for lap 10
  • 221: 3'44.947 | Fried at 34s, 10th lap was good and fast, until I pushed it a bit hard out of Karting, got a bit sideways, no spin, but lost some time and wasted the benefit of the 10th lap. I should be more careful on the final laps of the stint. 4L left, so letting it rev out cost me an extra L. PIT IN

  • 222: 4'47.292 | Put 78L in, fresh RH tyres, I'm gaining a small amount of ground on Fried now… After the stop he's 2'52 (and 2 laps) behind, but someone else is looming in my mirrors - it's de Wit again
  • 223: 3'39.382 | Dicing with de Wit is costing me time, I should let him through, after all I'm 3 laps ahead - although there are still nearly 10 hours left of the race and who knows what might happen. If de Wit is catching me, then he must be catching Fried as well.
  • 224: 3'37.506 | Fried is now 2'55 behind, and I'm not worrying about de Wit, if he gets past he gets past. The only concession I'm making is not driving on the normal line on the straight so as not to help him out too much with the draft. He's not any faster than me it seems without drafting me
  • 225: 3'35.965 | de Wit still not catching up or dropping back, but Fried pits putting de Wit back in 2nd place.
  • 226: 3'32.492 | Some assistance appears in the form of Monti and Benton on the straight, I get in their tow but de Wit misses out! I hit 389 before braking for the first chicane. De Wit dives into the pits at the end of the lap, leaving 2nd place to Fried.
  • 227: 3'38.023 | A bit untidy as Monti drafts and tries to pass me in the straight, but hasn't thought it through, as soon as he pulls out into the air he slows down again, and I'm ahead into the chicane. Doesn't stop him trying to push me out of the way and costing me time. Fried is back to 3laps and 30s behind
  • 228: 3'34.049 | Monti now losing time and not able to catch me in the draft. 29s to Fried now
  • 229: 3'35.621 | Lapping nicely, 27s to Fried
  • 230: 3'42.276 | 24s to Fried. Some signs that the tyres aren't so happy, spinning up a bit in 2nd and 3rd gear, so I call it and pit after 9 laps. Not a bad stint. PIT IN

  • 231: 4'41.398 | I drop in 75L, fresh tyres and we are off.
  • 232: 3'32.897 | After my stop Fried is 2lap 2'54 behind. Smooth fast lap
  • 233: 3'38.243 | I'm slowly catching someone up ahead, someone pretty fast. I'm pushing, gaining on Fried (2'57) and then off on the grass in Porsche and lose some time.
  • 234: 3'36.9 | Pushing again and mess up the entry to Porsche on what was a fast lap. I can see the car up ahead of me but I'm not catching him
  • 235: 3'35.478 | Still trying to catch the car ahead, is it de Wit? He pits at the end of the lap, right on time for de Wit. 2'30 to Fried
  • 236: 3'33.791 | I catch Bass in the R10 instead, get some drafting assistance for a good lap
  • 237: 3'36.287 | Fried has pitted but stayed ahead of de Wit, he's at 3laps and 42s now, so I'm gaining a little in the pit stops
  • 238: 3'35.509 | Fried still at 42s, stint is going well
  • 239: 3'37.139 | Tyres seem fine, even though this one was slow, doing a 10th lap
  • 240: 3'38.279 | Fried at 37s, tyres just feeling it, but still good. I tried revving to 6500 rpm this whole stint, let's see how much more fuel I used. In testing, shifting at 6500 instead of 6000 saved me about 0.2 s in acceleration 100 to 300km/h and there are at least 4 of those per lap, so it should be worth 0.8s per lap. 8L left when I pit, 79L used over 10 laps, so 1 to 2 L extra, which costs 1.2s extra in the pits, or 0.12s per lap - should be worth it. PIT IN

  • 241: 4'42.19 | I add 75L, fresh tyres and away we go. The sun is nice and bright now.
  • 242: 3'34.202 | Fried is 2laps 3'05 behind now. Lapping nicely and smooth.
  • 243: 3'35.76 | Fried 3'04
  • 244: 3'36.35 | Fried 3'02 - he's slowly catching me, but I have a good buffer.
  • 245: 3'35.103 | Fried out to 3'06 now, tyres going off at the end of the stint?
  • 246: 3'35.478 | Fried at 3'13 and in the pits one lap early
  • 247: 3'35.31 | Fried's at 3laps and 55s after pitting
  • 248: 3'37.909 | Slower lap after an altercation with Monti at Mulsanne corner, he drafted me on the straight then smashed right into the back of me at the corner. Fried comes back to 49s
  • 249: 3'34.731 | Benton has caught me after the slower lap, and drafts on the straight
  • 250: 3'41.342 | Benton catches me and shoves me around at Indy and Arnage, but I go past again at Porsche. Right into the pits, 4L left in the tank, a good in lap. PIT IN

  • 251: 4'43.246 | Fried is at 2laps + 3'06 behind.
  • 252: 3'35.901 | 3'05 back to Fried
  • 253: 3'35.355 | 3'04, he's slowly catching me.
  • 254: 3'33.127 | 3'06 again, I'm faster
  • 255: 3'33.847 | 3'08, still faster. The sky is no longer blue with white clouds, but fully overcast
  • 256: 3'34.169 | 3'12 now, I'm gaining, but he's on worn tyres and about to pit
  • 257: 3'33.768 | Fried pits on schedule and I have 3 more laps of this stint. De Wit is back into 2nd place…
  • 258: 3'34.381 | Another nice lap. The skies are looking grey now - could more rain be coming?
  • 259: 3'37.325 | De Wit is at 3laps and 56s, I wonder how far ahead of Fried he is? They must be close… Lap a bit untidy due to traffic
  • 260: 3'41.020 | De Wit still in 2nd, 52s behind. I pit in with 5L left. Fried is close behind in 3rd, then Abe, Benton, Monti, Muller and Banks. PIT IN

After 16 and half hours of racing I'm still well in the lead. It's looking grey and if it rains then I'm sure to get more lead, but even in the dry I'm fast enough to make up for the 10 vs 11 lap stints.
 
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24 Heures du Mans: Race report part Quatre:

  • 261: 4'45.632 | I add 78L, put on RH tyres and back out, with an eye on the sky for rain.
  • 262: 3'40.632 | De Wit pits, giving 2nd place back to Fried, who is 2 laps and 3'04 behind, but I miss the turn in for Porsche and lose a few seconds in the gravel, so it will be a bit less next time around. Otherwise the lap was good.
  • 263: 3'33.689 | A nice lap, Fried now at 3'09 behind which puts him about 25s up the road.
  • 264: 3'33.281 | Another good lap, Fried at 3'11. I could possibly catch him before he pits next if I keep taking so much time
  • 265: 3'34.258 | Fried at 3'13.
  • 266: 3'33.63 | Fried at 3'15, I'm making up good time on him, he must be lapping in the 3'35-36s, which is a bit slow for him, his average is 3'34-35, is he caught behind someone else?
  • 267: 3'33.178 | now 3'20, he must be losing time - worn tyres or traffic?
  • 268: 3'33.158 | 3'29 and I can see him going into the pit as I drive past Maison Blanche
  • 269: 3'34.711 | With Fried in the pit, De Wit takes 2nd place again, he's about 47s behind me on the lap, so must have been about 50s behind Fried, but he's going to have to pit again soon too.
  • 270: 3'39.817 | De Wit now at 3laps and 45s, he's gained 7s on me since the last stint which isn't a good sign… I pit in, 3L left, so 80L used this stint, not really any drafting at all. PIT IN

  • 271: 4'44.956 | I put 82L in to ensure I have a reserve of fuel, and during the stop, spots of rain appear on my windscreen… I come out of the pits right behind Bass and Fried in the Audis. I quickly dispatch Bass in the Dunlop chicane and draft then pass Fried on the straight. He's right behind me but I pull ahead with better pace through Porsche and Karting. I'm on fresh tyres so I might be able to get a buffer, although the rain is a bit worrying.
  • 272: 3'33.392 | Just at the right moment, one of the Vipers appears, I drive past him in Chapelle, but it looks like he's delayed Fried onto the straight and I'm far enough ahead to avoid being drafted, Bass is sitting right behind Fried, good for him. Light rain all over the track, but still 0%
  • 273: 3'32.902 | 4s ahead over the line, I'm not quite far enough ahead to totally stop him benefitting from my slipstream
  • 274: 3'33.38 | Still 4s ahead
  • 275: 3'31.833 | This time over the line it's 7s, and I nail Dunlop and Tetre Rouge and pull out a gap and he's now too far back to benefit. Looks like I've broken the elastic. Track is 1% wet now, have to be careful
  • 276: 3'34.522 | 9s at the line, I've got him covered as long as I keep it consistent. Bass seems to have dropped back.
  • 277: 3'33.604 | Rain still falling, up to 6% wet. Some traffic helps me on the straight and holds Fried up at the end of the lap.
  • 278: 3'36.155 | 10% wet now, 14s ahead of Fried. Braking distances a bit longer, I'm short shifting 2nd to 3rd to avoid wheelspin at peak power.
  • 279: 3'37.057 | 15% wet, 17s to Fried, tyres seem to be ok. Don't want to go to inters until it's at least 50% wet, will stick with RH when I pit next lap. Fried pits and hands 2nd place back to de Wit
  • 280: 3'45 | 20% wet now. 3 laps and 20s ahead of Fried before he pitted. Lap times only slightly up considering I'm being careful. 7L left in the tank, better fuel consumption of 76L in that stint, all that short shifting and throttle control in the wet? If it keeps raining I'll probably have to pit for inters before I manage 10 laps, so I should probably go with the medium tyres, although the pit crew are suggesting inters, could be a mistake... PIT IN

  • 281: 4'44.29 | I drop in 76L and RM tyres. 25% wet now, will have to watch myself. Out lap is ok, braking distance is shorter.
  • 282: 3'36.396 | De Wit is at 3 laps and 46, as he's just pitted two laps ago, no real change from the last stint. I'm taking it easy, but 3'36 is much faster than the 3'43 that was my best lap on the inters, and I don't think it is wet enough to prevent them getting melted yet.
  • 283: 3'39.396 | 40% wet and now 55s to Fried (who is now back in 2nd) - I wonder if de Wit didn't change to inters at the last stop and pitted again to put them on, or Fried has passed him on track… Lost a second or so in lap 283 braking too late at the Mulsanne corner and missing the apex.
  • 284: 3'40.917 | 48% wet, still going ok, but starting to notice the lack of grip. 1'05 to Fried now. I catch Abe on the straight - I'm sure he followed the crew chief's instructions and is on inters, but I'm much faster. Braking much worse now, but still managing good times with care.
  • 285: 3'44.456 | 54% wet, Fried now at 1'15 behind, lap time still ok
  • 286: 3'48.217 | 65% now, 1'24 to Fried, just two more laps on these medium tyres and it will be time to pit for inters
  • 287: 3'57.079 | 74%, 1'37 to Fried, the front tyres aren't getting enough temperature in them to grip now, and the rears are struggling to get the power down, pit at the end of this lap. 30L left in the tank, the mediums were barely worn. PIT IN

  • 288: 5'3.2 | 85% wet, I top the tank up fully, as on inters in the last rainy period I was able to do up to 13 laps. It's so slippy out here, and the tyres are cold, I do a doughnut out of the 1st chicane and the car is squirming around under brakes, but other than that it's fine!
  • 289: 3'56.279 | 94% wet now, and I'm up to 3 laps and 49s ahead of Fried
  • 290: 3'57.82 | It's now officially 100% wet, Fried has pitted and dropped back to 2'16 (+3 laps). It's squirmy, but I'm going ok.
  • 291: 3'57.774 | Fried at 2'39 now. I catch Dupont and pass under brakes at Arnage - he's going so slowly!
  • 292: 3'58.636 | Fried at 2'56, I'll be lapping him again soon. It's easier dealing with the spray during the day without the glare of headlights.
  • 293: 4'5.81 | Fried at 3'16 now. I come up on Bass, a Viper and Muller in Porsche/Karting, they are tiptoeing side by side and delay me quite a lot.
  • 294: 3'57.356 | 3'26 back to Fried. It's great to see the huge crowds cheering me on at Indy, still keen despite the rain.
  • 295: 3'58.588 | I catch de Wit at Mulsanne corner but there is too much spray to get past before Indy, but I easily pass under brakes into Arnage. I don't envy him, 905 hp in this weather can't be fun. He must be close behind Fried though, so good on him! Gap to Fried is up to 3'47 and he's not far ahead now.
  • 296: 3'57.158 | I was hoping de Wit would get some advantage to catch Fried by drafting me, but he's so slow through Dunlop and Chapelle that he's way too far behind. I can see Fried, and am right behind him at the Mulsanne corner, but I can't get past in the spray until I dive up the inside at Indy. He's now 4 laps down.
  • 297: 3'56.825 | I'm already up by 10s over the line. It's still raining quite hard, and my projected race distance has surely dropped - I calculated 381 if it stayed dry…
  • 298: 3'58.019 | 32s ahead of Fried. I have fuel for 3 more laps, but I'm not sure about the tyres, they seem to be a bit more squirmy, although not that worn and the rain is still pelting down
  • 299: 4'4.535 | 53s back to Fried, I catch Monti and Abe on the straight, out-braking Abe around the outside of Mulsanne corner! Tyres are a bit squirmy in Porsche and Karting, so I pit in to be safe. 13L left in the tank. PIT IN

  • 300: 5'16.642 | I top up the tank with the full 87L just in case I run 13 laps next stint. I come out of the pits right behind Fried, but I'm past him at Chapelle, even with cold tyres.
  • 301: 4'0.673 | I'm already 14s up at the start of the lap, I catch Banks in the GT-ONE on the straight, he's very slow out of the chicanes so I go right past and then he can't get back in the draft.
  • 302: 3'59.494 | Fried pits at the end of the lap. He's got enough lead on de Wit to stay in 2nd this time. De Wit can't use that extra power in the wet.
  • 303: 3'56.094 | Lead over Fried is now 2'11 (+4 laps)
  • 304: 4'3.027 | I catch up to Benton and Bass at Arnage, they are like mobile road blocks and delay me quite a few seconds.
  • 305: 3'53.341 | Fried now 2'53 behind. A quick smooth lap. The sky is brightening to the north, maybe it will stop raining soon?
  • 306: 3'54.08 | Fried out to 3'15, still raining pretty hard around Mulsanne.
  • 307: 3'59.358 | What looked like another good lap, I catch a good draft before the 1st chicane, but under braking at Arnage the brakes just don't work, and I end up wedged against the barrier and have to reverse back onto the track! I'm cautious into Porsche, but they work ok there - not sure what's going on…
  • 308: 3'49.622 | A fantastic lap, maybe it is raining less for the first part of the circuit with a bit more grip, but there is clearly a pool of water at Arnage, there is no grip there! Even though I braked nice and early I still struggled to make it around the corner, but it also made it easy to pass Fried out of the corner to put him another lap down. A new lap record for 100% wet track, much faster than my previous best of 3'53.108 on lap 78. FASTEST LAP 100% WET
  • 309: 4'1.465 | I'm already 10s up at the line, and draft past Dupont on the straight, but I'm too keen on the throttle out of the chicane and around I go again.
  • 310: 3'52.296 | 38s up at the line
  • 311: 3'53.435 | 53s up at the line, tyres still seem good, so I press on for a 13th lap.
  • 312: 3'55.179 | 1'17 (+5 laps) ahead now, tyres a bit squirmy, but I manage them ok and there is 5L left in the tank. PIT IN

Almost at the 20h mark, just over 4 hours left. I have a good lead now, should be no problem from here.
 
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