The #50 Ferrari 499P of Antonio Fuoco was circulating nearly 20 seconds clear of the chasing pack when the safety car was called due to heavy rain at the Porsche Curves just before the end of the third hour.
Fuoco’s team-mate Nicklas Nielsen had moved the #50 into the effective lead by pitting early in the opening hour. It put the car out of sequence with the rest, but Fuoco was able to move back in front when the two Toyotas came into the pits under a FCY in the third hour.
