fact, it was literally raining yellow flags due to tyre pressures dropping, with Kazuki Nakajima looping the number 1 Toyota Hybrid right in front of pit-lane just as the track went green.
Porsche took the opportunity to pit while Audi stayed out. Lucas di Grassi’s decision to go around once again proved strategical masterstroke, crossing the line just ahead of the number 17 Porsche of Timo Bernhard. This in-turn backed Bernhard into the clutches of Benoit Treluyer in the sister Audi and a potential nightmare for Porsche.
Treluyer made short work of Bernhard and set about hooking onto the back of the number 8 Audi for a change in team orders. They would make a ham-fisted job of it however, with di Grassi chopping Treluyer into turn one and allowing the #17 Porsche to close in GT traffic. Treluyer eventually got the job done half a lap later just as Bernhard began to find pace again.
Alex Brundle had now used the 4-5 second Michelin-wet tyre advantage over Dunlop to its full potential, taking over the lead of LMP2 and pulling 16-second gap over the #28 G-Drive Ligier of Felipe Luis Derani.
Meanwhile, Porsche Team Manthey had a 1-2 stranglehold on LMGTE Pro, with Mathias Lauda holding sway for Aston Martin in LMGTE Am.
As conditions began to dry, the fresher tyres on the number 18 Porsche enabled Neel Jani to catch Benoit Treluyer napping and take the lead for Porsche once again – an incredible turn of events after falling back to last at the start of the race. The way the cards were falling however would enable Porsche to keep a careful eye on Audi’s pit strategy before making their own move.
Audi realised this and stopped both their cars early while Porsche opted to stay out on worn wets which weren’t getting any better in the drying conditions. In particular, Bernhard was now complaining of his rears going off. Whose advantage the move would play to would be a guessing game.
Back in the field, another twist in the LMP2 story was taking place with the number 26 G-Drive Ligier forced to take a stop-go penalty for not respecting Full Course Yellow speed conditions. The penalty left them just two spots ahead of a closing KCMG Oreca, keeping the LMP2 championship battle well and truly alive.
Porsche’s tyres were now hurting, with both the number 17 and 18 cars falling off track within seconds of each other. Audi again seized the opportunity to take another tyre stop and force Weissach’s hand. Surely stopping the number 18 car early would be of benefit, although track position may have been playing on their minds. Their decision would be made for them as their pace began to stabilize – along with a few heartbeats in Porsche’s garage.
Race - 6 Hours of Shanghai
Images: Paolo Depalmas / Adrenal Media