It is another stunning day at Spa Francorchamps, the sun has been shining all weekend thus far and today, race day, we again have clear blue skies and unseasonably (and most un-Spa-like) temperatures. It seems that the public has responded, the autograph session was very well attended, some of the new big name drivers a clear draw.

It looks set to be a 33 car starting grid with both CEFC Ginettas, and the badly damaged #10 DragonSpeed BR1 conformed non-starters.

The #7 Toyota will start from pit-lane after the technical infringement in qualifying yesterday with the car set to lose a full lap at the start. Starting from the back of the grid will be the #17 SMP Racing BR1 AER after the car’s electronic glitch in qually.

With the #7 Toyota relegated to the back of the grid the #1 Rebellion R13 starts from the front row alongside the new pole sitter, the #8 Toyota.

That marks the first time that a non-hybrid LMP1 has started from the front row of an FIA WEC event since Silverstone in 2012 when Allan McNish put his Audi R18 TDI Ultra second in qualifying, the final event before Audi switched from a mixed entry to an all E-Tron hybridised line-up.

Starting Drivers in grid order:

8 – Toyota – Buemi

1 – Rebellion – Lotterer

3 – Rebellion – Laurent

11 – SMP Racing – Petrov

4 – ByKolles – Dillmann

36 – Signatech Alpine – Lapierre

26 – G-Drive – Rusinov

38 – JCDC – Tung

37 – JCDC – Jaafar

31 – Dragonspeed – Maldonado

28 – TDS Racing – Vaxivierre

29 – Racing Team Nederland – van der Garde

50 – Larbre – Canal

67 – Ganassi Ford – Tincknell

66 – Ganassi Ford – Mücke

91 – Porsche – Bruni

92 – Porsche – Estre

82 – BMW MTEK – da Costa

51 – AF Corse Ferrari – Pier Guidi

71 – AF Corse Ferrari – Rigon

97 – Aston Martin – Lynn

81 – BMW MTEK – Tomczyk

95 – Aston Martin – Thiim

77 – Dempsey Proton Porsche – Ried

98 – Aston Martin – Lauda

56 – Project 1 Porsche – Perfetti

88 – Dempsey Proton Porsche – Al Qubaisi

90 – TF Sport Aston – Yoluc

70 – MR Racing Ferrari – Ishikawa

54 – Spirit of Race Ferrari – Castellacci

61 – Clearwater Ferrari – Sawa

86 – Gulf Porsche – Wainwright

17 – SMP Racing – Sarrazin

Michelin fined

Michelin has been fined €5000 euros with €4000 suspended for its breach of Article 7.7.1 of the WEC Sporting regulations earlier this week.

The reason for the fine was explained below in a Stewards Decision:

“The representative of Michelin agreed with the report of the Technical Delegates that the final list of tyres eligible for the TOTAL 6 Hours of Spa, starting May 2nd, has been declared on May 3rd at 10:35

“Mr Mondain explained that iut was not possible in the factory to iderntify the tyre by RFID but only by barcode. Arriving in Spa Michelin realised an error in the amount of tyres and a difference if the accordance of RFID and the barcode. Due to the correction the final list has been declared so late.

“The late declaration delayed the planned schedule of the scrutineering and the scanning of the tyres by the scrutineers.

“In accordance with Art 13. 1.3. FIA WEC Sporting Regulations and Art 1.3 Internatuonal Sporting Code Michelin is considered as a Participant of the event and undertake himseld to the decisions of the Sporting authority.

“The Competitor is reminded of the right of Appeal under and in complicance with Art 4.11.2 b of the Sporting Regulations, Article 14 of the Interational Sporting Code and Art. 12 of the Judicial and Disciplinary Rules of the FIA.”

Gulf Racing to start at the back

The #86 Gulf Racing Porsche is set to start today’s race from the back of the grid, after the Stewards deleted all the car’s laps in Qualifying for speeding in the pit lane at the end of the session.