Leading Porsches Collide; Buurman Takes Lead

Image: SRO

Porsche has lost the lead of the Kyalami 9 Hour with Michael Christensen and Nick Tandy colliding from first and second, allowing Mercedes-AMG’s Yelmer Buurman to inherit the top spot.

Christensen, driving the Gulf-livered GPX Racing Porsche, and Tandy in the Frikadelli Racing car came together shortly before the halfway mark in Saturday’s Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli season finale.

Danish driver Christensen was caught in traffic approaching a corner, slowing him down and allowing Tandy to catch up.

Tandy didn’t slow down sufficiently and ended up tapping the GPX car, with both cars subsequently spinning out.

They both recovered but headed straight into the pits for repair work, with Buurman taking the lead in his No. 10 SPS Automotive Performance Mercedes-AMG GT3.

It comes as a hint of luck for Mercedes-AMG with Buurman driving its only remaining Pro class entry. Both the GruppeM and Strakka Racing cars have already retired.

Oliver Jarvis sits second in one of KCMG’s Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3s, having passed Markus Winkelhock’s Audi Sport Team Land car.

Christensen rejoined the race in sixth, with Tandy’s teammate Dennis Olsen emerging 13th after serving a drive-through penalty.

Jake Kilshaw

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