Update: Attrition bites as night falls

The Abt Sportsline-run Audi TT-R of Wendlinger/Abt/Nissen/Werner led by 1m01secs as of 11:00pm, the car benefiting from being able to run long stints between fuel stops thanks to its relatively small air restrictor. The Opel Astra of Reuter/Scheider/Tiemann/Strycek is giving chase, the leaders having fought wheel to wheel on a number of occasions as the hours rolled by.

The Zakspeed-run Dodge Viper of Zakowski/Lamy/Lechner is running on the lead lap in third, with the impressive Nissan Skyline of Asch/Schoysman/Kinoshita/Tanaka in fourth. The all-British crewed BMW of Moore/Cox/Barrow is running in an excellent sixth, but the Price/Bennett/Vosse/Grossman Porsche, which starred in the early stages, has dropped out of the top 30.

After both BMWs hit trouble on the opening lap, early leader Uwe Alzen (Porsche 996 Turbo) has fallen out of the equation after a gearbox change was required. The second Opel is out, however, as Jeroen Bleekemolen was pushed off the track by a slower car and he hit the barrier at high speed, fortunately without personal injury although the car was badly damaged. The second Audi, driven by Abt/Biela/Ekstrom/Wendlinger, has also hit trouble and is down in 69th position.

The fightback of the Stuck/Said/Nielsen/Duez BMW has been stunning, with the car now up to 17th position. The second car of J Muller/D Muller/Hurtgen/Duez suffered more than its sister car, and is just on the verge of breaking into the top 100.

Eight hours down, only another 16 remaining.


Nissen/Abt/Wendlinger/Werner Abt Audi TT-R, 45 laps
Reuter/Scheider/Tiemann/Strycek Opel Astra V8 Coupe
Zakowski/Lamy/Lechner Dodge Viper
Asch/Schoysman/Kinoshita/Tanaka Nissan Skyline
Grohs/Schamarch/Fischer/Reisert Porsche 996
Moore/Cox/Barrow BMW E36