Le Mans 2017: Thursday
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Slow Zone
We have another slow zone now through the Porsche Curves.
Crash
The #23 Panis Barthez Ligier of Buret is in the gravel at Tertre Rouge. He'd just improved that car's time.
Crash
Buret ran wide out of the esses and hit the wall.
Red flag
RED FLAG.
GTE PRO
Christensen goes fifth in class with a 3m52.177s in the #92 Porsche.
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Just as the red flag came out, Buemi returned to the track in the #8 Toyota after its engine change.
The session will not be resumed - so that's it until the final two-hour session.
LMP1
So Toyota managed to impress in two ways during that session. First with Kobayashi's record-breaking lap and then with the speed with which the team completed an engine change on the #8 car. But as it stands, we still have Porsches second and third on the grid.
LMP2
A look at Buret's big shunt on the approach to Tertre Rouge:
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That was certainly a more eventful session that last night's opening qualifying segment. Two red flags, a mechanical drama for the #8 Toyota, the Japanese manufacturer laying down a very impressive marker and plenty of spins and errors meant there was a lot going on. Oh and Autosport getting a round of Earl Grey tea.
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCYq8NJXkAIyrY0.jpg"/>End of the qualifying session 2:
#13 : P4 (3:27.012) - @MathiasBeche
#31 : P5 (3:27.564) - @BSenna
#LEMANS24 #VaillanteREBELLION https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCYq8NJXkAIyrY0.jpg
Information
There is only 30 minutes until the third and final qualifying session is due to start, but barrier repairs after Buret's shunt will need to take place first.
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Autosport
For a full round-up of all the incidents from that session, from all of the classes, here is Autosport's report of second qualifying 
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It is now just a little over 10 minutes until third qualifying gets under way and we find out if that incredible lap from Kobayashi can be bettered.
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LMP1
One of the many things to watch out for in this final qualifying session will be the pace of the #8 Toyota. It was the only LMP1 car not to improve in the earlier segment after a precautionary engine change. Can it get close to the time Kobayashi set in the sister #7 car?
With six minutes to go until the session begins, cars are already starting to queue up at the end of the pitlane. And so begins the traditional pit exit mayhem.
Information
We have just had confirmation that third qualifying will start on time, despite the hefty crash for Buret that brought out the red flags earlier.
Green flag
This is it then, final qualifying for the Le Mans 24 Hours begins!
LMP2
With the track conditions good, we've got some of the pole contenders on track. Petrov is the #25 Manor ORECA and Vergne is in the #24 sister car.
LMP1
So, here are the starting drivers for this one. In the Toyotas are Sarrazin (#7), Nakajima (#8) and Lapierre (#9), while in the Porsches are Jani (#1) and Bamber (#2). And in its traditional position at the back is Webb in the ByKolles.
LMP1
If there are going to be any improvements, it's reasonable to expect them to come in these opening stages. All LMP1 cars have taken to the track with the exception of the ByKolles.
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Yellow flag
Yellow flags in the vicinity of Arnage.
LMP1
And we do have an improvement straightaway! Nakajima in the #8 Toyota goes straight up to second with a 3m17.128s - still 2.3s off of Kobayashi's lap. Lapierre in the #9 Toyota also improves, but stays fifth, setting the fastest first sector of everyone in the process.
Crash
The #17 IDEC Ligier of Patrice Lafargue is off out of Arnage.
LMP1
Nakajima's improvement suggests the super-quick engine change from Toyota was a success but both the #8 and #9 cars are still considerably slower than Kobayashi in #7.
Yellow flag
Castellacci is off in the #54 Spirit Of Race Ferrari.
Yellow flag
The yellow by Arnage has been cleared, but there's still one at the Ford Chicane. Slow zone imminent.
Slow Zone
The slow zone is active.
LMP2
Incident round-up, starting with the IDEC car off the road:
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LMP2
Beche has moved up to third in the #13 Rebellion ORECA on a 3m26.811s.
GTE AM
Just before that yellow, Bell went top in the #62 Ferrari with a 3m53.312s, Bertolini brought the #83 Ferrari up to third behind Stevens with a 3m54.088s, and Ross Gunn posted the #99 Aston fifth with a 3m54.328s.
LMP2
Chandhok sets the best time for the #34 Tockwith Ligier, a 3m33.695s. That's 21st.
Yellow flag
More yellows, this time near Arnage
GTE AM
A more dramatic off for the Spirit of Race Ferrari:
By: Matt Beer
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