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WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans

Le Mans 2017: The race

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Bernhard in the #2 Porsche is a lap clear of the second-placed #38 Jackie Chan DC ORECA of Tung.He's currently on the run from Arnage to Porsche Curves.
Bernhard is onto his next lap. There's still just over five minutes to go so he might have to do one more. But he'd doubtless much rather take it slow and avoid the extra mileage.
Taylor and Adam have traded paint at Arnage! Car-nage at Arnage!
The #2 Porsche should be on its penultimate lap now. It's at Arnage corner.
A few race facts for you: There have been three safety car periods, 31 slow zones - the worst hour being the sixth with six of them.
We're inside the last 10 minutes and the #2 Porsche has this in the bag. Then again, remember last year...
There are only 11 official retirements from this race and all the remaining 49 cars are running.
In the battle for third overall, and second in LMP2, the #13 Rebellion has a 41.8s lead over the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA.
Overall standings with a little more than 15 minutes to go. Porsche is on course to spare the blushes of the LMP1 class, but what an effort from those leading LMP2 cars:
The #2 Porsche is in the pits for a splash of fuel. Bernhard resumes without fuss.
Piquet has a bit of trouble getting the #13 Rebellion going again, but it only costs a few seconds.
Taylor nearly tripped over the Algarve LMP2 car there as he staves off Adam's challenge.
Piquet Jr brings the #13 Rebellion in for its final stop, with Tung doing the same in the #38 Jackie Chan DC ORECA.
There's just under 30 minutes separating Porsche form its 19th outright victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Bernhard having to weave his way through a clump of traffic on the Mulsanne Straight. He's not taking any chances though.
The #8 Toyota of Buemi is in the pits. That car runs ninth. He heads back out again.
The #24 Manor ORECA is down in seventh after its problem with fuel before the last stop (it seems a lack of it). Vergne is at the wheel. The stewards are investigating that stop for a possible infringement.
Meanwhile, Bernhard's lead in the #2 Porsche is up to 90 seconds over the #38 ORECA.
The #35 Signatech ORECA is being wheeled into the garage. The car has already slipped to fourth in class as the #37 Jackie Chan DC ORECA of Gommendy has moved up to third (and fourth overall).
Extraordinary scenes in GTE Pro. The two leaders lapping nose-to-tail in the final hour and six cars on the lead lap. It's a testament to the strength in depth of the teams and drivers in this category.
That off is good news for the #13 Rebellion ORECA crew, which moves up to third overall as Negrao gets back to the pits.
Negrao gets a helping hand from the marshals and rejoins. But he lost time bogged down in the gravel.
What's more, that #35 Signatech ORECA was third overall!
The #35 Signatech ORECA of Negrao is in the wall at Mulsanne Corner. That car was second in LMP2!
Taylor's tyres have only been on the car for 45 minutes so he might have the legs on the Aston in this stint. But have no doubts: this is for the GTE Pro win.
Imagine how Bernhard must be feeling in that #2 Porsche. He will be hearing every unusual sound, every rattle, wondering what could break! And remember what happened to Toyota last year...
Well there we are: both the #63 and the #97 have just pitted at once for fuel – a splash in the case of the Aston, a fill-up and a driver change to Taylor for the Corvette. They leave almost as one, nearly colliding in the pitlane, Taylor ahead of Adam.
The #8 Toyota of Buemi is in ninth overall. That car can't make up any more places on pace, so it will be relying on attrition up front. Of course, while that car will get second-placed manufacturer points for the World Endurance Championship, overall drivers' championship points are paid to all classes.
It's a very sunny afternoon here at Le mans. Already, the main grandstand is filling up in anticipation of the finish in 50 or so minutes.
The #38 Jackie Chan DC ORECA of Tung is now 56.7s behind the #2 Porsche in second place overall.

By: Matt Beer

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