H5: Peugeot reclaim the lead
The pace of the Peugeot 908 paid off for the French manufacturer in the fifth hour of the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours, as the No. 7 car regained the lead from the No.2 Audi
Nicolas Minassian closed in on Rinaldo Capello before the Audi came in for its stop, allowing the Peugeot back into the lead. A quick stop for No.7, in which only fuel was added, allowed Minassian to retain the lead.
Capello held on for a couple of laps before Minassian upped his pace and started drawing away. He increased the lead to more than 30 seconds prior to the next round of stops. Jacques Villeneuve took over the Peugeot, while Capello stayed aboard the Audi, reducing the gap to under 20seconds.
The No.9 Peugeot has also been fast and holds down a safe third as it closes on the No.2 Audi.
The other two Audis continue to run reliably, but lack the pace of the Peugeots or the No.2 Audi.
The No.8 Peugeot, the erstwhile leader, has been the fastest car on the track for much of the hour. Pedro Lamy has now brought the car up into 14th after its earlier delays.
The No.5 Courage Oreca, driven by Laurent Groppi during hour five, continues to lead the petrol cars. It is now over a minute ahead of the No.17 Pescarolo, which is a similar distance ahead of the battle for third (eighth overall) between the Dome and the No.6 Courage Oreca.
The Essex Porsche RS Spyder continues to lead LMP2, having extended its lead over the similar machine of Van Merksteijn Motorsport. The pair are now a lap clear of the rest of the class, which is lead by the No.33 Lola coupe.
A strong stint from Darren Turner has extended Aston Martin?s lead in GT1. Despite not taking new tyres at his last stop, Turner pulled away from Max Papis in the No.64 Chevrolet Corvette and is now over 20seconds ahead.
Papis, in fact, was gradually caught during the hour by Ron Fellows in the No.64 Corvette, the pair running together with only the second works Aston being on the lead lap.
The No.82 Risi Ferrari has been swapping the GT2 lead with the No.77 Porsche. The two cars have been evenly matched on pace, with the advantage swinging back and forth with the pitstops.
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