Just the race appeared to be the MJC Limited squad's to lose they threaten to do exactly that with a strange strategy call that put them behind the Jet Alliance Porsche, now with one of the best drivers in the race behind the wheel.
The Ferrari began the hour in second place after its driver change pitstop, but once up to pace Keith Robinson picked up where John Gaw left off, taking chunks of time from the Porsche's lead and eventually taking the lead when Vitus Eckert gave way to Marco Seefield in a scheduled stop. The advantage, obviously, would have been Ferrari's had Robinson not brought the car in for a second stop for new tyres.
The additional stop – coming a race where the Ferrari has tallied the fewest stops of the front runners – put Robinson behind the fast German, and if he the Ferrari drivers were able to ease up to, and past, Eckert then Seefield would be a different proposition. He initially was able to expand he lead before being pegged back by Robinson before the lead stabilised at around 60 seconds.
Third overall remained the Neil Garner Motorsport Porsche, the Topcat Mosler now established in the six lap void between the Porsche and the AMR Jota Sport Aston at the head of class 3. The no.44 Welch Motorsport continued a quiet, trouble-free race in third, though holding only a lap lead over the Tischner Motorsport BMW in the fight for the class podium.
Team LNT still head the Class 4 rankings, with a potential fight developing for second in class as only a lap separates the Saxon Motorsport Honda from the Cox family – Race Car Spares Motorsport – Escort Cosworth Turbo, the latter lapping consistently, though perhaps marginally faster.
Class Standings After 20 Hours
Class 1
1 No.8 MJC Limited – Ferrari 430 GTC
2 No.1 Topcat Racing – Mosler MT900R GT2
3 No.4 Strata 21 – Mosler MT900R GT2
Class 2
1 No.22 Jet Alliance – Porsche 997
2 No.21 Topcat Racing – Marcos Mantis GT3
3 No.19 Chesterton Commercial Holdings – Marcos Mantis GT3
Class 3
1 No.42 Neil Garner Racing – Porsche 996 GT3 Cup
2 No.38 AMR Jota Sport – Aston Martin N24 GT4
3 No.44 Welch Motorsport – Seat Leon Supercopa
Class 4
1 No.83 Team LNT – Ginetta G40
2 No.81 Saxon Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R
3 No.73 Dave Cox Motorsport – Ford Escort Cosworth
