The Lineup: 191 a-spec points
Nissan R89C Race Car 968hp, 900kg
Audi R8 834hp, 900kg
Sauber Mercedes C9 Race Car 987hp, 893kg
Nissan R92CP Race Car 1001hp, 900kg
BMW V12 LMR Race Car 839hp, 900kg
Mazda RX-8 Concept LM Race Car 877hp, 1,100kg, Stage 4 turbo, Oil change
Rules: 1. Must use each set of tyres (R1s, R2s, R3s) for at least 20 laps of the race; 2. Cutting the chicane in the pits and getting a time gain will result in a stop-go penalty at the start-finish line;3. Rejoining the track unsafely and hitting another car will resul t in a 10-second stop-go penalty at the start-finish line.
Hour 1, May 26, 17 laps completed
Race start time: 7:23pm. Start on R1 tyres. Struggle for grip on lap 1 and run wide at Indianapolis and drop back to last place. Repass the BMW at the final chicane to end the lap with a 3:44.517. 6.8s behind the leading Sauber.
Do a 3:34.948 on lap 2 and the gap remains the same.
I have a spin at the esses on lap 3 after passing the R92 and the result is a 3:37.103. I am now 12.7s behind the Sauber.
By the time we make our first pitstops on lap 7, I am in 3rd, 23s behind the leader. But I brake too late entering pitlane and cut the entrance chicane slightly and thus get served with a stop-go penalty, which I perform at the start-finish line at the completion of the lap.
I thus drop back to 4th behind the R89. Lap 9 is a disaster as I spin at Mulsanne corner and then have an off an Indianapolis. This puts me down to 5th behind the BMW. The lap time is 3:54.344, which I hope is my worst for the race.
I am now 46s behind the Sauber.
I am still in 4th and the gap to the Sauber is 1:02s when we all pit again on lap 14. Decide to change to R3 tyres. Rejoin in 5th. My fastest lap on the R1s was a 3:30.741 on lap 4.
The R3s work beautifully and I begin to drag myself back into the race. I immediately pass the R89 for 4th on our outlap at the first Mulsane chicane and the next lap is a 3:24.082, followed up by a 3:26.097. This puts me in 3rd (the BMW pitted on lap 16) and I end an intriguing first hour 36.1s behind the Sauber.