LMP2 @ 6 Hours of Portimao 2021
The Qualifications at Portimao saw the JOTA Team dominate the LMP2 class for the second race of the 2021 WEC (9th) season . JOTA got first row as Tom Blomqvist set fastest lap in #28 Oreca-Gibson and Antonio Felix Da Costa P2 in # 38 just 0.045s off sister car’s time.
Job van Uitert qualified Racing Team Nederland #29 third and dominated the new PRO/AM class.
The usual ceremony was still part of the show even though the race took place behind closed doors.
Back to the pit for Racing Team Nederland #29 as Job van Uitert broke back suspension after trying to pass a Ferrari. “A mistake”, as he says, which cost the team the leadership in LMP2 Pro/Am. Still three hours to go.
Suspense in LMP2 with many leaders during the race. Tom Blomqvist was spun around by sister car and lost P2 in turn 1 just after the start. We then thought the race was over for JOTA #28. Antonio Felix Da Costa in sister car #38 was third, attacked by Phil Hanson in #22.
JOTA #28 progressively made their way back from the last position in class to the first.
Antonio Felix Da Costa got first at checkered flag in LMP2 class.
½ hour before the end, Antonio Felix Da Costa (JOTA # 38) gained up on Blomqvist, then led LMP2 until Da Costa took over with 6 minutes to go.
JOTA achieved a memorable 1-2 result with Antonio Felix da Costa, Anthony Davidson and Roberto Gonzalez (#38 Oreca-Gibson).
Tom Blomqvist, Stoffel Vandoorne and Sean Gelael finished second, just three seconds adrift of their team-mate’s car.
Pole-sitters Paul Di Resta, Wayne Boyd and Phil Hanson (#22 Autosports USA) were competitive throughout the race but the reigning LMP2 Champions’ advantage dissipated early on following a safety car development.
Sorry for the poor quality of the photo’s. Due to pandemic we had to follow the race on YouTube and get those instants on an iPad.
