The #1 Erebus Motorsport Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 has been up front for nearly the entire race but it has a tough challenger in the #37 VIP Holdings McLaren MP4-12C GT3.
The two teams have been neck-and-neck for the last few hours with the two cars getting into a great battle at the top of the Mount Panorama Circuit when Bernd Schneider and Shane van Gisbergen were behind the wheel of the respective cars. Nico Bastian is currently behind the wheel of the #1 and made a great save after sliding off course at the top of the circuit. Andrew Kirkaldy is in the #37.
The #88 Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 of Mika Salo is in third. Laurens Vanthoor is fourth in the #3 Phoenix Racing Audi but that car did have a brief electrical problem. The #9 Network Clothing/Hallmarc Audi R8 LMS Ultra is running fifth with Marc Cini behind the wheel.
The #25 United Autosport Audi of Markus Winkelhock is sixth. The #63 Erebus Mercedes is seventh with Greg Crick behind the wheel. The #84 HTP Motorsport Mercedes of Thomas Jäger is eighth.
The top Class B car was the #45 Rencorp Hyundai Forklifts Porsche 997 GT3 Cup of Duvashen Padayachee before he had an off and lost the class lead. The #12 Competition Motorsports Porsche of Alex Davison leads Class B, ninth overall. The #4 Grove Group Porsche of Ben Barker is tenth and second in Class B. Padayachee dropped to eleventh and third in class before going off course again and beaching the car in the sand trip causing a safety car.
Some notable retirements include the #23 JBS Swift Lamborghini Gallardo whose day ended on lap five after hitting a kangaroo. The #14 Oakley Motorsports Audi R8 LMS had a engine problem drop them out of the race while leading Class B. The one major accident involved the #32 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 and the #33 Clearwater Racing Ferrari at the top of the circuit. The #33 of Hiroshi Hamaguachi was leaking fluid and spun, creating a massive dust cloud. Katsumasa Cyio had nowhere to go and the backend of the Nissan collided with the Ferrari.
One hundred and forty-four laps have been completed at halfway.
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