H15: Gene remains in control

Debris on the track brought out the safety car just five minutes into the 15th hour, and the race did not restart for over half an hour.

As daylight broke, Gene continued to lead and now has around a lap over Bourdais, who is around another lap clear of Rinaldo Capello in the lead Audi.

Stefan Mucke's #007 Aston Martin continues to run fourth, albeit around four laps behind the Audi. The impressively driven Kolles Audi, currently with Charles Zwolsman aboard, is still on the same lap as the leading petrol runner in fifth position.

The second Kolles Audi is currently embroiled in a close fight for sixth, against Joao Barbosa's Pescarolo and the #11 Oreca Courage, the three currently circulating together. The Oreca grabbed the advantage just as the hour closed.

The Team Essex Porsche continues to lead LMP2 in 12th overall, despite a pitstop for work on the rear end. The chasing Team Goh Porsche is three laps behind, having required a front nose change.

The works Corvettes still convincingly lead GT1, with the #63 car holding an advantage of a little under three minutes over the #64 car.

GT2 is led by the #82 Risi Ferrari, currently with Mika Salo at the wheel, which has an advantage of around two laps. The #92 JMW Ferrari continues to trade second in class with the similar #97 BMS machine, while the #76 Imsa 911 is the leading Porsche in fourth.