Hour 2 report: Kristensen hands lead to Capello

Kristensen led from the start until a collision with LMP675 leader Martin O'Connell at Mcleans meant he was given a stop/go penalty. But the second works Audi of Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro hit trouble soon after, as Biela struck JJ Lehto's slower BMW GT car at the Old Hairpin and had to pit to replace a punctured right-rear tyre.

"I thought the door was wide open," said Kristensen of his tangle with O'Connell. "But obviously he hadn't seen me. I think the decision to penalise me was harsh, but I accept it. It's good to be back in the lead now."

Pirro has just made his final stop and is just over a lap behind the leader, but has just been passed by Guy Smith in Stefan Johansson's Audi for second.

David Brabham/Jan Magnussen are running fourth for Panoz, ahead of the Courage C60 of Jean-Christophe Boullion and Laurent Redon. The Chrysler Oreca of Yannick Dalmas and Olivier Beretta is out, however. After a promising opening stint, a broken throttle cable and electrical problems have turned its race into an extended test session.

Only 45 minutes of the race remain, so stay tuned to Autosport.com for a full race report later.


1 Rinaldo Capello/Tom Kristensen, works Audi R8, 83 laps
2 Stefan Johansson/Guy Smith, Johansson Audi R8
3 Emanuele Pirro/Frank Biela, works Audi R8
4 Jan Magnussen/David Brabham, works Panoz LMP07
5 J-C Boullion/Larent Redon, Courage C60
6 Klaus Graf/Gualter Salles, works Panoz
7 Jay Cochran/Peter Boss, Westward Panoz LMP07
8 Martin O'Connell/Warren Carway, Pilbeam MP84
9 Bruno Lambert/Ian McKellar, RML Saleen S7R
10 Lucas Luhr/Sascha Maassen, Porsche 911 GT3-RS


Martin O'Connell/Warren Carway, Pilbeam MP84


Bruno Lambert/Ian McKellar, RML Saleen S7R


Lucas Luhr/Sascha Maassen, Porsche 911 GT3-RS