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Hour 12: Audi nightwatchmen rumble on

Battle for the lead

The Biela/Kristensen/Pirro Audi R8 is in the lead at the halfway mark of the 2000 Le Mans 24 Hours.

The trio are two laps ahead of the sister R8 of Aiello/McNish/Ortelli, which is still receiving attention to its rear diffuser whenever it comes in for a routine pitstop.

The number seven Audi driven by Rinaldo Capello is holding station in third place, a further lap behind the second-placed car. And the Panoz Spyder driven by Katoh/O'Connell/Raphanel has clawed it way into fourth after sister Panoz suffered a gear cluster failure that dropped it to sixth and eight laps behind, despite the efforts of Mario Andretti.

This misfortune allowed the surviving DAMS Cadillac to steal into fifth place - significantly ahead of the factory cars, which have both suffered problems.

Little is happening in the graveyard shift at Le Mans. The field is well spread out and no one is charging.



In the P625 class, the Multimatic Lola Judd B2K/40 of Maxwell, Graham/Wilkins is still in control, 61 laps behind the leader but six laps ahead of the first of the two WR entries.

The Beretta/Wendlinger/Dupuy Dodge Viper has been pushed back to 10th place after Karl Wendlinger suffered brake and tyre problems at the end of a triple stint.

The GT class remains a Dick Barbour Racing benefit, and the Muller/Luhr/Wollek Porsche GT3-R is 23 laps adrift of the leader and six laps ahead of the second-placed Taisan GT3-R.


Pos No Drivers Car Class Laps/Time
8, F Biela, T Kristensen, E Pirro, Audi R8 (900), 181 laps
9, L Aiello, A McNish, S Ortelli, Audi R8 (900), +1 lap
7, M Alboreto, C Abt, R Capello, Audi R8 (900), +2 laps
12, H Katoh, J O'Connell, P H Rapanel, Panoz Spyder LMP (900), +4 laps
3, E Bernard, E Collard, F Montagny, Cadillac LMP (900), +6 laps
11, D Brabham, J Magnussen, M Andretti, Panoz Spyder LMP (900), +7 laps
16, S Bourdais, O Grouillard, E Clerico, C Peugeot (900), + 11 laps
23, T Suzuki, M Kageyama, M Kageyama, Panoz Spyder LMP (900), + 13 laps
, 17. P Gache G Formato, D Cottaz, Courage Judd (900), + 13 laps
51, O Beretta, K Wendlinger, D Dupuy, Oreca Viper (GTS), +13 laps


Class No Driver Car Time
900 9, A McNish Audi R8 3m37.877s


Class No Drivers Car Class Time
32, S Maxwell, J Graham, G Wilkins, Lola Nissan 2K/40, +61 laps
51, O Beretta, K Wendlinger, D Dupuy, Oreca Viper, + 13 laps
83, D Muller, L Luhr, B Wollek, Porsche GT3R, +23 laps


No Drivers Car Laps Reason
4, M Goossens, C Tinseau, K Kolby, DAM'S Cadillac LMP (900), fire - 5 laps
5, Y Dalmas, N Minassian, J P Belloc, ORECA Reynard-Mopar 2KQ (900), oil pressure - 1 lap
20, J Lammers, P Kox, T Coronel, Konrad Lola B2K/10 (900), retired
33, J D Deletraz, R Kelleners, D Terrien, ROC VW (675), engine,
77, C Bouchut, J Chereau, P Gouselard, Porsche GT3-R, accident, 34 laps
34, J-C Boullion, J Gene, G Policand, Reynard Volkswagen (675), engine, 72 laps
24, S Johansson, J Matthews, G Smith, Reynard Judd 2KQ, engine, 126 laps

For a full list of race positions at the 12-hour mark click here.



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