H16: Audi lead as Peugeot close in
The No.2 Audi continues to lead this year's Le Mans 24 hours at the 16 hour mark, but Peugeot's Marc Gene reduced the gap to the leader as conditions began to improve
Tom Kristensen had started the hour with a lead of more than 30 seconds, but as the visibility began to improve for the Peugeot drivers, the French cars were able to get back on the pace.
Gene closed the gap to as low as 15 seconds, but Allan McNish did his best to respond, and he was able to prevent the gap decreasing any further.
The No.9 Peugeot also had a good hour, with Franck Montagny moving into third as Mike Rockenfeller had to pit four laps early on one of his stints. It was suspected that the German had worn his wet tyres, as there was a brief period where the rain had stopped.
Behind the remaining Audi and Peugeot that complete the top six, the No.17 Pescarolo now has a comfortable lead in the 'petrol' class, as its two main pursuers - the No.16 Pescarolo and No.5 Courage - both suffered mechanical problems.
Pescarolo couldn't solve the engine problems on their No.16 car, so they retired it at the end of the hour.
The Van Merksteijn Porsche holds a comfortable lead in LMP2 as the Essex car continued to suffer a misfire, which has allowed the No.35 Saulnier car into second in class.
The No.009 Aston Martin holds a lead of more than two minutes over the No.63 Corvette, which suffered an off in the hands of Ron Fellows at the end of the hour. The second Corvette in third is two laps adrift.
The Risi Competizione Ferrari still leads GT2, with an advantage of nearly two laps over the No.96 Virgo Motorsport Ferrari.
The hour didn't pass without incident despite the improving conditions, with Joey Foster crashing the Embassy LMP2 car, and the No.4 Saulnier Pescarolo crashing at the esses just before Tetre Rouge with Richard Hein at the wheel.
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