Porsche Claims GTE-Pro Honors in Shanghai

Photo: John Dagys

Porsche Team Manthey returned to the top step of the podium in the FIA World Endurance Championship with a 1-2 finish in GTE-Pro in Sunday’s Six Hours of Shanghai.

Aston Martin Racing, meanwhile, picked up top class honors in GTE-Am for the fifth time out of six races this season.

Fred Makowiecki and Patrick Pilet took the No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR to a 1 minute and 7-second victory over the sister entry, driven by Joerg Bergmeister and Richard Lietz in second.

The 1-2 sweep for the German manufacturer came after the No. 97 Aston Martin Vantage GTE of Darren Turner and Stefan Muecke suffered terminal engine failure with 90 minutes to go after dominating the race from the green.

Coupled with championship leaders Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander crashing out in the opening lap, it turned out to be a big points day for Porsche, which inched closer in the GTE title race.

The No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari recorded its first DNF since Shanghai 2012 after Bruni collided with the No. 47 KCMG Oreca 03R Nissan of Alexandre Imperatori, which suffered a fuel pressure issue on the opening lap.

It resulted in a 20-minute safety car period to clean up the wreckage. Both drivers were uninjured but their cars were destroyed.

A late charge by Davide Rigon saw the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia complete the podium in third with co-driver James Calado, salvaging points for Ferrari in the manufacturers’ championship.

Aston Martin Racing, meanwhile, went 1-2 again in GTE-Am, with the No. 98 entry of Pedro Lamy, Christoffer Nygaard and Paul Dalla Lana taking their second class win of the season, keeping the trio in the title chase.

Lamy edged out teammate Richie Stanaway in the championship-leading No. 95 Young Driver-backed Aston by 1 minute and 21 seconds, with the No. 90 8Star Motorsports Ferrari completing the podium in third.

RESULTS: Six Hours of Shanghai

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