CP Racing Mercedes Leads at Halfway in 16H Hockenheimring

CP Racing leads the Hankook 16H Hockenheimring at the halfway point after a topsy turvy opening eight hours.

The No. 85 Charles Putman, Charles Espenlaub, Joe Foster and Shane Lewis driven Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo held a firm lead in the overall standings at the mid-race overnight break due to noise restrictions.

Equipe Verschuur’s No. 9 Renault RS01 led the first four hours from pole in Creventic’s first-ever endurance event in Germany but brake problems saw the Renault fall behind the Mercedes.

The Renault, shared by Harrie Kolen, Erik van Loon and Mike Verschuur then came to a halt at Turn 16 with what was reported as a driveshaft failure and has yet to return to the track.

CP Racing pushed through a brief rain shower stopping for wets four laps later than its rivals as the Mercedes-AMG holds a six-lap advantage having completed 236 laps heading into the overnight intervention.

TOPCAR Sport leads the TCE class with its No. 131 Cupra TCR entry of Fabian Danz, Karen Gaillard and Kai Jordan having fought back from a bizarre start-line incident on lap one.

Racing is scheduled to resume on Sunday at 12 p.m. local time.