Magnussen, Estre Crash Out While Battling for GTLM Lead

There’s been drama in the battle for GT Le Mans class honors, with the two class-leading cars taking each other out of contention with a heavy accident in the eighth hour.

The No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR of Kevin Estre made contact with Jan Magnussen’s No. 3 Corvette C7.R while getting around an Audi GTD car on the front straight.

Estre spun and made heavy contact with the tire barriers, enough to move the concrete wall, while Magnussen also ended up in the barriers.

The Dane attempted to drive his car back to the pits but pulled off course a few corners later. Estre was evaluated and released from the infield care center.

The accident brought out the sixth full-course caution of the race.

4:43 to go. Lap 119: Jan taken out in turn 1 by Porsche which tried to brake off line in the damp on slicks! (PR) pic.twitter.com/xGL4GqV007

— Jan Magnussen (@janmagnussen) March 19, 2016

It’s given the lead in the GTLM class to the No. 67 Ford GT of Scott Dixon, ahead of the remaining No. 912 Porsche North America entry, currently driven by Michael Christensen.

Scott Pruett leads overall, in what’s been an Action Express 1-2 for most of the hour.

A spin by Pipo Derani, while trying to get around the No. 31 Corvette DP for second, resulted in the Brazilian losing nearly 20 seconds.

Derani’s Tequila Patron ESM Ligier JS P2 Honda, on slick tires, was the quickest car on track in the mixed conditions. He currently runs in third.

Colin Braun leads the way in Prototype Challenge, while Patrick Lindsey is out front in GT Daytona in his No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John