Isaakyan OK After Heavy Race-Ending Accident

The fourth-placed SMP Racing BR Engineering BR1 AER is out of the Total Six Hours of Spa following an accident for Matevos Isaakyan at Eau Rouge.

Footage showed the wrecked car stationary at the top of the hill with Isaakyan out of the car.

Shortly before the incident, the 20-year-old Russian was involved in a close battle with the No. 3 Rebellion Racing R13 Gibson of Thomas Laurent for the final podium position.

Isaakyan was forced to slow up behind a GTE-Pro running through the same high-speed section of Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, enabling Laurent to slingshot around the pair.

The incident has placed the FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener under its third safety car period as the race enters its final hour.

The first stoppage was caused by the Gulf Racing Porsche 911 RSR which went off on the opening lap, while the second occurred at the start of hour two when Harry Tincknell lost control of the No. 67 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT at Eau Rouge.

With the field behind the safety car, race leader Fernando Alonso has had his No. 8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid’s advantage cut to 20 seconds from the sister Toyota of Mike Conway.

Laurent will start the final hour in third for Rebellion, while Isaakyan’s incident promotes the second R13 into fourth, and the No. 4 ByKolles Racing ENSO CLM P1/01 NISMO into the top five.