The FIA World Endurance Championship’s 5th season started with a bang at the 6 Hours Of Silverstone race, when a LMP1 Porsche 919 Hybrid collided with a 911 RSR.
Since the 24 Hours of Le Mans race is included in the WEC calendar, expect the same Intercontinental Le Mans Cup format, with 32 cars – divided in four categories – competing for a place on the podium in their respective class.
That translates into a lot of LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am cars hindering the blistering-fast LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes, which in some cases – like this one – could escalate into a disaster. That doesn’t mean the GTE drivers are usually at fault, as they have to cope with racing their class rivals, and dodging the “hybrid projectiles” coming from behind as well.
Two hours into the race at the Farm Curve, Brendon Hartley’s leading No.1 Porsche 919 Hybrid collided with Michael Wainwright’s 911 RSR after the latter ran wide, closing the gap on the Hartley as he was trying to pass on the outside. The result sent the Porsche into the air, almost flipping it over, although both drivers eventually ended the right side up, without any injuries.
Hartley was quoted by Cambridge News saying: “I wanted to get past a GT car on the outside, which is quite normal through that corner, but the driver didn’t see me and used all the road. I don’t want to blame anyone. It was a shocking moment and it is a true shame.”
Even so, the stewards found him at fault after examining the incident:
“You are reminded that LMP1 drivers are liable for the way they overtake slower cars such as LMP2 and especially LM GTE cars. “In this case, the stewards consider that Mr Brendon Hartley is responsible for the lack of caution and didn’t watch out before overtaking car #86.”
Thanks to P.R. for the tip!