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It's just a double-stint for Thiriet, who makes way for Nicolas Lapierre to take over the #36 Signatech-Alpine. Meanwhile, there's been a bit of a cake shunt at Autosport HQ - more on that as we have it.
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LMP1
Alonso has now brought the lead gap down to under 2ms to Conway, but the laptime comparison is very closely matched in the 3m21s range.
Just like the teams, we'll do 'driver changes' to make sure there's some sleep for Team Autosport!
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LMP1
Unfortunately for LMP1, there's several runners at the back of the field.
Rowland has yet to return from his earlier stoppage in the #6 Manor-Gineta and team-mate Roussel is 51st in the #5 machine.
Petrov is back in the #11 SMP Racing car, but is only 55th.
Rowland has yet to return from his earlier stoppage in the #6 Manor-Gineta and team-mate Roussel is 51st in the #5 machine.
Petrov is back in the #11 SMP Racing car, but is only 55th.
LMP2
Credit also to Roman Rusinov. He had a nightmare race last year, but has just put the second-placed LMP2 car a lap down for the first time. Pierre Thiriet is struggling in the Signatech-Alpine and now has only 11s in hand over Julien Canal's Panis-Barthez Ligier.
LMP1
Alonso is looking set to bring Conway's lead back under the 2m mark on current form. May even be just a couple of laps away.
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LMP1
One of the features of the early hours of the race was Ben Hanley proving to be rapid in the DragonSpeed BR1.
After Van der Zande's early stop put it near the rear of the field, Hanley has nearly claimed the GTE Pro field and is now 25th overall.
After Van der Zande's early stop put it near the rear of the field, Hanley has nearly claimed the GTE Pro field and is now 25th overall.
LMP1
Alonso's been rapid since coming into the #8 Toyota, he's taken about 8s out of Conway's lead and that sort of form in the night could be crucial in helping it get back towards level terms with the #7 car.
Worth noting that Conway is on a lengthy stint driving, but it's promising from Alonso. 2m07s now the deficit after going 3.8s quicker on lap 174.
Worth noting that Conway is on a lengthy stint driving, but it's promising from Alonso. 2m07s now the deficit after going 3.8s quicker on lap 174.
GTE AM
Matt Campbell holds a similar lead in the GTE Am-leading Dempsey Porsche, 1m31s up the road from the second-placed JMW Ferrari with Cooper MacNeil currently aboard.
GTE PRO
Estre's continuing to eke out a big lead in the class-leading Porsche, he's now 1m34s up the road compared to Lietz.
LMP1
Alonso has taken another second and a half out of Conway on lap 173, slowly but surely chipping away the #7 car's advantage from the earlier penalty.
Autosport
It's a good question. Essentially it's been a Ford versus Porsche battle from the moment Le Mans began, but Corvette is in the mix to be the third best manufacturer - BMW vacating that role with Eng and Catsburg's woes.
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LMP1
The immediate answer to our previous question is yes - Alonso is two seconds quicker in the second split and sets a 3m23s. Not bad for getting on 2am.
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@autosport watching the live commentary of the #24HoursofLeMans from Fort Worth, Texas! Rooting for Fernando and #8 Toyota team!
Good to see so many of you following Autosport Live despite it being the early hours of the morning - for some of you anyway!
We'll share a few of your comments along the way.
We'll share a few of your comments along the way.
LMP1
Alonso comes through to start his first flyer of the stint. He's 2m18 behind Conway - will the two-time world champion be able to reduce the gap to the 2006 British F3 champion?
LMP1
One lap later, Mike Conway is in from the lead in Toyota #7.
LMP1
After Kevin Estre brings the pink pig into the pits from the GTE-Pro lead, we've got Fernando Alonso back aboard the #8 Toyota. Buemi set a purple middle sector on his inlap, so we know he was definitely pushing!
Pit stop
We've got a few more pit callers up and down the field too. Ben Hanley has just been in with the Dragonspeed, which has climbed back to 31st overall after its spot of rallycrossing earlier on, while Antonio Giovinazzi has come in from fifth in GTE-Pro.
LMP2
Loic Duval has finished his heroic treble stint aboard the #28 TDS ORECA and handed over to Matthieu Vaxiviere to continue the chase of Memo Rojas. He's just 18s now behind the IDEC car, which started from the class pole some 10 and a half hours ago.
With the mandatory tooth-brush in the media centre gents complete, Autosport is ready to crack on into the small hours at Le Mans. If you're still following us, then drop us a Tweet to let us know where you're watching from using the @Autosport handle.
GTE PRO
And Catsburg has served that, he's 12th in the class now.
GTE PRO
Refuelling on the skates has earned the #81 BMW of Catsburg a drivethrough penalty. That car has gone from Porsche's nearest rival, to GTE middler.
GTE AM
It's a good night if you're a Porsche fan. In GTE Am, the #77 Dempsey Porsche of Cambell is 1m06s up the road.
GTE PRO
GTE Pro is still very much a Porsche stranglehold, Estre's #92 Porsche is leading the #91 of Lietz by 1m30s.
We're certainly in the territory of settling into the night now though. Team Autosport has devoured its Malteasers, most of its Jaffa Cakes and copious amounts of caffeine.
More importantly, the teams in all classes have largely settled into a rhythm too.
More importantly, the teams in all classes have largely settled into a rhythm too.
LMP1
That's forgetting SMP Racing's only surviving car though - Aleshin is still at the wheel of the #11 BR1 and is 56th. He's got some laps to catch up before he progresses any higher though.
LMP1
The other LMP1 struggler is the DragonSpeed. Hanley is still at the wheel and it's 31st overall, fifth in class.
LMP1
We've commented on several occassions on how the Manor-Ginettas ability to stay out of trouble was covering its lack of pace and putting it on the path to a decent result.
Unfortunately, that's unlikely to be the final result. Rowland is still in the pits and Simpson is now 51st - one place ahead of the Williams man.
Unfortunately, that's unlikely to be the final result. Rowland is still in the pits and Simpson is now 51st - one place ahead of the Williams man.
LMP2
Fourth-place man Rojas is by no means slow - he was quicker than the three cars ahead of him on lap 154 - but he has the misfortune of having Loic Duval charging up behind him. The 2013 event winner has taken around a minute out of the Mexican since he got behind the wheel on lap 127 - a very impressive effort.
LMP1
Conway's lead is still over two minutes, it's a 2m09s gap to Buemi.
LMP1
Laurent had reported that he was having a slight downshift problem in the #3 Rebellion, but says it's all solved by the time Beche gets into the car.
Our very own Gary Watkins usually celebrates his birthday at Le Mans and the cake, provided by Dunlop, is fuelling Autosport. Until Gary wrapped it up in press releases.
LMP2
G-Drive has pitted on lap 9, 19, 29, 39, 49, 60, 71, 81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141 and 151. By contrast, the IDEC crew has been unable to consistently make 10 laps, which has contributed to them making 16 stops in the time G-Drive has done 15, pitting on lap 8, 18, 27, 38, 46, 55, 65, 77, 86, 95, 104, 113, 122, 131, 140 and 149.
By: Matt Beer
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