Proton Competition wins LMGTE at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet

ELMS

Jul 18

The LMGTE race was animated, mostly dominated by Proton Competition with two of the four prepared Porsche 911 RSR-19s finishing first and second.

Porsche scores the double.

📷 Luc Warnotte at 4 Hours of Le Castellet: LMGTE start, #77 Proton Competition Porsche takes the lead ahead of Spirit of Race Ferrari and #93 Proton Competition sister. From lap 2 until 27 both Porsche Proton pranced in the lead.

📷 Luc Warnotte at 4 Hours of Le Castellet: #77 Proton Competition Porsche

Christian Ried, team owner’s Proton Competition #77, G. Levorato and J. Andlauer took the lead during 83 laps of the 118 covered, essentially contested by Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE Evo #55 during 23 laps. Both TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage AMR were in the lead 4 laps for #72 and 2 laps for #95. Both Ferrari 488 GTE Evo AF Corse #51 and Formula Racing #50 took also the lead for one lap each during pit stops.

📷 Luc Warnotte at 4 Hours of Le Castellet: Christian Ried, G. Levorato and J. Andlauer with Proton Competition #77 win.

J. Andlauer took the lead back at the entrance of the fourth hour and held it firm until the end to cross checkered flag first with 11.410 seconds margin.

Iron Lynx leads LMGTE Championship.

📷 Luc Warnotte at 4 Hours of Le Castellet: #60 Iron Lynx Porsche 911 RSR-19 in back of LMGTE field.

As usual (also in WEC), the bronze driver Claudio Chiavoni with the #60 Iron Lynx Porsche 911 RSR-19 was in the back of the field during his stint until two LMGTE’s collided triggering a Safety Car. The team took the chance to pit before the pits were closed, and Chiavoni handed over to Cressoni who rose progressively from last before handing over to Cairoli in second position. Cairoli extended his lead to sister #16 and crossed checkered flag second.

📷 Luc Warnotte at 4 Hours of Le Castellet: #60 Iron Lynx Porsche 911 RSR-19 is now leading the LMGTE championship ahead of #16 Proton Competition for 2 points.

TF Sport clinches podium thanks to stewards decisions

J. Hartshorne, B. Tuck and J. Adam with #95 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage AMR came into the top 6 after the first safety car reaching P5 at best but were classified third after Ferrari #57 was handed a 35 seconds penalty and Porsche #16 was handed three penalties: 10 and 35 seconds for making contact with #57 and an additional 35 seconds due to contact with #28 LMP2.

📷 Luc Warnotte at 4 Hours of Le Castellet: #95 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage AMR.

#57 Kessel for Racing downgraded from P3 to P4.

📷 Luc Warnotte at 4 Hours of Le Castellet: #34 start second LMP2 Pro/Am behind #99 Proton Competition and the 6 LMP2.

T. KIMURA / G. HUFFAKER II / F. SCHANDORFF with #57 Kessel for Racing Ferrari 488 GTE Evo emerged in P4 at the beginning of the last hour of race. We then saw an intense fight for P3 between Picariello in #16 Proton Competition Porsche and Schandorff in #57 Ferrari ending with a contact. Schandorff crossed checkered flag third but classified in fourth after being handed a 35 seconds penalty for the contact with #16.

#16 Proton Competition loses championship lead

📷 Luc Warnotte at 4 Hours of le Castellet: #16 Proton Porsche Competition.

Despite crossing the checkered flag in P4, R. HARDWICK / Z. ROBICHON / A. PICARIELLO were dropped down to P9 for two contacts with #28 and #57 cars. They score 2 points and lose their Championship lead after winning at Barcelona.