Ferrari take clean sweep in LMGTE to increase lead in GT World Championship
Ferrari claimed maximum points in the LMGTE Pro and Am categories today at a severely weather-disrupted 6 Hours of Fuji, the 7th round of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship. The race was eventually stopped with 4 hours 24 minutes and 50 seconds on the clock.
AF Corse Ferrari’s James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi took their No.51 Ferrari 458 GTE to first place in the LMGTE Pro category and their third win of the season, eventually finishing just 0.96s ahead of the No.91 Porsche 911 RSR of Frédéric Makowiecki and Richard Lietz.
In third place was the second Porsche GT, the No.92 of Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen, with the No.66 Ford Chip Ganassi GT, No.71 Ferrari 458 GTE and the No.97 Aston Martin Vantage taking the remaining positions in the top six.
The race was disrupted by six safety car periods and two red flag stoppages during an afternoon which saw fog and rain cover the Fuji Speedway track frequently, and in different intensities. Low visibility was the reason for both the red flag periods, with drivers’ safety being paramount at all times.
Calado and Pier Guido now lead the GT FIA World Endurance Drivers’ Championship and Ferrari has extended its lead in the GT Manufacturers’ title race to 47 points. Porsche has overtaken Ford for second place after the American manufacturer had a tough weekend and were not able to follow up their 2016 victory.
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