Le Mans 2017: Thursday
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Radio Comms
Race Director update: “The driver got out of the car on his own, as a matter of precaution he will be taken to the medical centre.” We think that that driver is Maris although we've not had a clear view.
LMP1
The updated LMP1 order following Conway's new session-topping time:
LMP2
The crashed car is on the run out of the first chicane on Mulsanne.
Crash
It turns out the #86 Gulf Porsche has indeed also stopped. That's as a precaution due to overheating.
Radio Comms
The Race Director warns that he will be "“sending heavy equipment onto the track - I need to repair the guardrails." So this could take a while...
LMP1
During this red flag, it is worth having a closer look at the new fastest time. Conway's 3m18.651s may be well inside last year's pole time of 3m19.733s but it's still a way off the qualifying record of a 3m16.887s. Despite improvements for Conway and Tandy, the order has so far remained the same as yesterday with the #7 Toyota leading the sister #8 car, then the #2 Porsche followed by the #9 Toyota and the #1 Porsche.
GTE PRO
Let's take a quick recap of the GTE Pro top six. The top two are unchanged since no one has beaten their times from last night: the #95 AMR Vantage (3m52.117s) and the #71 Ferrari (3m52.235). Richard Westbrook has put the #69 Ford third with a 3m52.496s effort, enough to displace the #71 Ferrari to fourth in spite of Pier Guidi improving that car's time (3m52.962). The #97 Aston is fifth, yet to improve on the 3m53.296s from last night. The #68 Ford is now sixth after Tony Kanaan - who completed a 12-hour Le Mans simulator programme on Monday - set a 3m53.512s just before the red flag.
Sun
Weather update: it's still quite sunny. But, due to the rotation of the earth, that will gradually change.
LMP2
A better look at the scene of the accident, including the barrier damage that needs repairing:
A large truck has, as promised, arrived on the accident scene. It's not clear what its purpose is. But they've got pretty effective here at Le Mans at repairing barriers. It's just that it's not a very quick job given the need to account for the inevitable next impact.
GTE AM
The GTE Am leader is unchanged from last night – Lamy's 3m55.134s in the #98 Aston still stands, ahead of the #77 Proton Porsche's 3m55.692s and the #90 TF Sport Aston's 3m55.953s, both also legacies of yesterday evening's session.
LMP2
In that small amount of running, pole position has changed hands with Thomas Laurent taking top spot in the #38 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA. The #28 TDS ORECA is still second courtesy of Vaxiviere's time of yesterday. The only other thing that has happened near the front is Ragues improving the #35 Signatech ORECA's time to a 3m30.582s to move it from seventh to sixth. We also saw the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA appear after its engine change, but it had to tour in slowly.
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LMP2
After that exciting start to the action in LMP2, here's how the field looks:
Information
We're told that Maris is going to the medical centre only for a routine check. So there don't seem to be any big concerns there. It's standard procedure to check drivers out after impacts of a certain level.
GTE PRO
Current status of the manufacturer battle in GTE Pro:
Autosport's Gary Watkins predicts this barrier repair could take 'forever'. That sounds like an overly-conservative prediction, but it could certainly take a good while.
Red flag
This is certainly going to be a lengthy delay. Race control has confirmed that the session will not restart until at least 2015 local time - that's almost 35 minutes away still.
Information
The red flag also means there may be a change to the timetable. We will keep you updated.
While this is a long delay, remember that the prime track time should be at the start of the second session when it's still a bit light and the track temperature is good. So there's plenty of scope for things to change today even if there isn't too much running in this, the first of two sessions, tonight.
Radio Comms
Race Director Eduardo Freitas warns teams that: "I may amend the timetable for this session and the next - nevertheless, we will never have track activity beyond midnight."
We were about to speculate on whether or not the race director might order Gary Watkins to make the Autosport team at Le Mans some cups of tea. But before that could happen, Stuart Codling volunteered. As such, the next 30 minutes of our live coverage will be powered by Earl Grey tea. For we will not be stopping even while the barriers are being repaired.
GTE AM
The #86 Gulf Porsche is now back in the pits and being unloaded from a flatbed truck.
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LMP1
This red flag could be a blessing for Toyota after Buemi's early problems in this session. It gives time for the team to work on the #8 car and get to the bottom of the issue.
GTE AM
The #86 Porsche also hit trouble just before that red flag, and it has now been returned to the pits:
LMP2
The crashed #33 Ligier has been recovered to the pits. The crew are taking a good look at it and not taking kindly to TV cameras trying to get a close look.
GTE AM
The #86 car is a long way down the GTE Am order. This is how the sharp end of the fourth class shapes up:
LMP2
But hey, who hasn't wanted to shove a TV camera out of the way at times?
LMP2
The #33 Ligier is now being craned off the flatbed.
It is now some seven minutes since Stuart Codling disappeared on tea duties and he is yet to return. Autosport is not impressed.
Mention of Mark Goddard's F3 Magnum makes the Autosport team keen on the idea of some ice cream, given it's still fairly warm here at Le Mans.
LMP2
A closer look at the damage to the offending car that is responsible for this lengthy red flag:
Michael Christensen is having his supper during the lull. By looks of the bland bowl of pasta he's holding, he would have been better off nipping back to Porsche hospitality for something proper during the break in the action.
LMP2
Part 1 in a series of however many we turn out to do of what we're calling "Interesting drivers competing at Le Mans": Fabien Barthez. The follicly-challenged former Manchester United and France goalkeeper, who won everything there was to win in his footballing career, is making his third appearance in the Le Mans 24 Hours in the #23 Panis-Barthez Competition Ligier.
Quote
Confident words from Brendon Hartley to Eurosport during this break, telling the TV crew Porsche wants to have a go in qualifying because "We believe we can fight the Toyotas for pole".
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Autosport
Remember, one big-name driver who is missing from this race is Lucas di Grassi. He was withdrawn ahead of free practice yesterday 
Information
There's a restart update in three minutes.
By: Matt Beer
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