Le Mans practice and first qualifying
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Yellow flag
Yellow flags out as the session ends for the #50 Larbre Competition Ligier of Erwin Creed in the gravel at the Porsche Curves. That will hamper Nakajima making any further gains.
LMP1
Nakajima had looked set to improve - perhaps even go quickest - but that yellow flag in the third sector baulked him.
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And the pitlane fills with cars heading for a well-earned rest.
LMP2
Replays show Creed managed not to hit anything, but that Ligier is well and truly buried. His mechanics came oh so close to being able to knock off early for dinner, but will now have to get to work removing gravel from its innards.
LMP1
So in LMP1, the final order was:
#7 Toyota
#11 SMP Racing
#3 Rebellion Racing
#8 Toyota
#1 Rebellion
#17 SMP Racing
#10 DragonSpeed
#4 ByKolles
#7 Toyota
#11 SMP Racing
#3 Rebellion Racing
#8 Toyota
#1 Rebellion
#17 SMP Racing
#10 DragonSpeed
#4 ByKolles
LMP2
And here's the cause of the yellow that prevented a late Nakajima improvement
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Autosport
So, Toyota ends up fastest in practice, but only after a late, late Kobayashi effort. Join us again in less than 90 minutes for live updates from the first qualifying session. 
Le Mans 24 Hours: Toyota grabs practice top spot from SMP
The #7 Toyota of Kamui Kobayashi struck late to set the pace in practice for the Le Mans 24 Hours
Hello again, ready for some qualifying? We're underway in less than 15 minutes.
Few engines firing into life early here. The sun is setting and it won't be long until it becomes a full-on night session.
Autosport
We know what you're thinking. Toyota's going to walk it.
But Toyota thinks otherwise, and there are some encouraging signs that it could at least have some competition in qualifying...
But Toyota thinks otherwise, and there are some encouraging signs that it could at least have some competition in qualifying...
Sounds like the first car has trundled down the pitlane to await the start of the session.
LMP1
We didn't see a lot of it early in practice, but that Gulf-liveried DragonSpeed looks a bit smart doesn't it?
Proper traffic queue in the pitlane now, looks like everyone's listening to Gary Watkins and planning an early banker lap run.
LMP2
Memo Rojas revealed in the break that IDEC Sport had to change a driveshaft on its #48 ORECA in practice, which explains why they were languishing near the bottom of the timesheets until late in the session. Matthieu Vaxiviere has also explained that it was a throttle-related issue that delayed the progress of TDS Racing's #28 ORECA.
Rain
Looks like there's going to be a few drops of rain around Arnage in the next few minutes.
Green flag
And it's go, go, go for the first qualifying session!
LMP1
Every LMP1 runner heads out.
Information
A reminder that this session is two hours long and the majority of it will be run in total darkness.
LMP1
So much traffic for the #7 Toyota as it heads onto the first flying lap! Finding space while visibility is acceptable will be a challenge.
LMP1
Orudzhev's #17 SMP Racing has the edge in the first sector - likely aided by traffic.
LMP1
Kobayashi is quickest through sector two in the #7 Toyota, he lost some time in swathes of traffic on the run to the first corner and backed off to find some space.
But then Orduzhev goes slightly quicker at the same point.
But then Orduzhev goes slightly quicker at the same point.
Information
More weather fun while we wait for times. The sun officially set one minute before the start of the session, although there's still a hint of yellow in the skies. The air temperature is 15.6C, and on the ground in pitlane it's 20.6C.
Stopwatch
Hanley gives us the first time with a 3m23.539s in the DragonSpeed but then it's quickly knocked off the top by the SMP Racing car of Orudzhev!
It's a 3m17.633s and it's 3.301s up on the sister car of Vandoorne.
That's some start to qualifying...
It's a 3m17.633s and it's 3.301s up on the sister car of Vandoorne.
That's some start to qualifying...
LMP2
The first quick lap on the board in LMP2 is set by three-time class winner Nicolas Lapierre in the #36 Signatech-Alpine. His effort of 3m26.935s is 0.9s up on practice pace-setter Paul-Loup Chatin in the #48 IDEC Sport ORECA, with Nico Jamin third in the #30 Duqueine ORECA a full 1.7 behind.
LMP1
So after that first run, here's the lowdown.
#17 SMP Racing (Orudzhev)
#11 SMP Racing (Vandoorne)
#8 Toyota (Nakajima)
#3 Rebellion (Menezes)
#10 DragonSpeed (Hanley)
#1 Rebellion (Lotterer)
#7 Toyota (Kobayashi)
#4 ByKolles (Dillmann)
#17 SMP Racing (Orudzhev)
#11 SMP Racing (Vandoorne)
#8 Toyota (Nakajima)
#3 Rebellion (Menezes)
#10 DragonSpeed (Hanley)
#1 Rebellion (Lotterer)
#7 Toyota (Kobayashi)
#4 ByKolles (Dillmann)
Stopwatch
And Kobayashi sends the #7 Toyota top with a 3m17.161s, putting it 0.472s up on Orudzhev.
LMP1
Hanley slots the DragonSpeed third with a 3m20.200s time.
Every LMP2 car is out on track at the moment barring the #20 High Class Racing ORECA, which is making its debut at Le Mans. In fact, it's the only car other than the #99 Am class Porsche that was heavily damaged in practice which is sitting out the start of the session.
LMP1
So after those latest runs, it's now:
#7 Toyota
#17 SMP
#10 DragonSpeed
#11 SMP
#1 Rebellion
#8 Toyota
#3 Rebellion
#4 ByKolles
#7 Toyota
#17 SMP
#10 DragonSpeed
#11 SMP
#1 Rebellion
#8 Toyota
#3 Rebellion
#4 ByKolles
GTE PRO
It's still Porsche at the top in GTE Pro, as Gianmaria Bruni sets the early class benchmark of 3m50.111s in the #91 car. That's 0.190s on Alex Lynn's Aston Martin, and 0.357s up on Michael Christensen in the third-placed Porsche.
LMP1
The #8 Toyota, driven by Nakajima, is currently 4.818s off the best time of the sister car.
LMP1
Vandoorne's improved in the second sector, could this be another strong SMP lap?
LMP2
Pastor Maldonado has eclipsed Lapierre's early benchmark - but only by a tenth. He's clocked in with a 3m26.804s in the #31 DragonSpeed car, with Filipe Albuquerque third for United Autosports in the best-placed Ligier on a 3m27.338s.
GTE AM
Porsche is also holding sway in Am right now, thanks to Matteo Cairoli's early effort of 3m52.454s in the #88 Dempsey-Proton car. Worth noting that the #99 machine, earlier shunted by Tracy Krohn, has yet to return to the track and is unlikely to do so this evening.
Driver Change
Lopez is climbing into the #7 Toyota.
No improvements for Vandoorne or Hanley that time around, while Lotterer shaves off the slightest amount for the fifth-placed #1 Rebellion.
No improvements for Vandoorne or Hanley that time around, while Lotterer shaves off the slightest amount for the fifth-placed #1 Rebellion.
By: Matt Beer
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