G-Drive in Garage, Loses Long-Held LMP2 Lead

Image: ACO

G-Drive Racing has lost its long-held LMP2 class lead after its Aurus 01 Gibson refused to fire up at the end of a routine pit stop with a little under six hours left to run.

The Russian team had held a healthy lead in the secondary class for most of the race but dropped back during its 28th stop with Roman Rusinov at the wheel.

The TDS Racing crew, which operate the G-Drive entry, pushed the car into the garage, quickly dropping Rusinov down the order with the team forced to replace the starter motor on the Aurus-badged Oreca 07 Gibson.

The car rejoined after 20 minutes in the garage, dropping to seventh position.

Signatech Alpine Matmut has inherited the class lead with its Alpine A470 Gibson, also a rebadged Oreca, driven by Pierre Thiriet.

Jackie Chan DC Racing is second with its No. 38 Oreca of Ho-Pin Tung, while the pole-sitting No. 28 TDS car of Loic Duval is third.

Mike Conway is 1:44 ahead of Sebastien Buemi in the overall standings, while Corvette Racing’s Mike Rockenfeller holds an eight-second lead over AF Corse’s Alessandro Pier Guidi in GTE-Pro.

Keating Motorsports still leads GTE-Am, with Jeroen Bleekemolen now in the Riley-run Ford GT after a lengthy stint for the Bronze-rated American.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.