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WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 76th Le Mans 24 Hours
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Kristensen in the lead set a 3:30.997 on lap 340 with Gene pushing harder on a 3:27.617.
The gap is down to 2:58.750.
The gap is down to 2:58.750.
The No.1 Audi comes into the pits from sixth position. Marco Werner stays in the car and it;s fiel only this time for that car. The car is dropped down and Werner is away after a clean stop.
In GT1 the 009 Aston Martin DBR9 with Darren Turner at the wheel continues to lead over the No.63 Corvette driven by Ron Fellows.
The gap between the pair is still over two minutes.
The gap between the pair is still over two minutes.
In LMP2 it is still Jos Verstappen solidly in the lead of the class with the Van Merksteijn RS Spyder.
He is 9th overall, ahead of the LMP1 Lola Aston Martin that has been running very quickly but has had unfortunate spells in the garage.
He is 9th overall, ahead of the LMP1 Lola Aston Martin that has been running very quickly but has had unfortunate spells in the garage.
A sprinkling of rain is yet to dent the pace with Kristensen clocking 3:29.218 and Gene 3:28.438. The gap is now three minutes and three seconds.
On lap 337, the leading cars matched each other's pace at 3:31.
The autosport.com team at the circuit tell us that it is beginning to rain again lightly.
Another sample of the lead gap clocks it at 3:07.094. Kristensen set a 3:32.461, perhaps in lapped traffic, and Gene a 3:28.430.
The car that the No.35 Saulnier Racing entry was clipped by when it rolled backwards after spinning was the No.90 Farnbacher Racing Ferrari that was lying 24th overall and fourth in the LMGT2 class.
The Ferrari has extensive door damage and the machanics are working hard to panel-beat the door into shape so that it can go back out.
The Ferrari has extensive door damage and the machanics are working hard to panel-beat the door into shape so that it can go back out.
Flying laps for the leaders on slicks are a 3:30.484 for Kristensen in the lead Audi and 3:29.312 by Gene in the chasing Peugeot.
Tom Kristensen leads for Audi by three minutes and ten seconds from Marc Gene.
The No.7 stop runs as predicted and the Peugeot is underway with Gene at the wheel, remaining on the lead lap.
The No.35 Saulnier Racing car has been involved in an incident and has sustained damage to the rear of the car. The rear wing is smashed after Mathieu Lahaye spun and was subsequently collected by another car as it rolled backwards across the racetrack.
The Peugeot team are set to react with a stop for the No.7, with Marc Gene taking the car to the end on slicks.
The No.2 Audi is in from the lead and Tom Kristensen is getting in to the car for the run to the flag.
Slick tyres are now on the leader and he is away.
Slick tyres are now on the leader and he is away.
The No.5 Team Oreca Matmut car drives across the gravel on its way into pitlane. This car is in a comfortable eighth position. However the car comes in very slowly and this looks like it could be a lengthy stop for driver Soheil Ayari.
Slicks are being prepared for the only Audi not on that rubber - the No.2 of Capello.
Capello and Villeneuve are matched for pace on lap 330, clocking times in the 3:34s.
The No.7 will need to go much faster than the leader if they want to overhaul that gap in the time remaining.
The No.7 will need to go much faster than the leader if they want to overhaul that gap in the time remaining.
The No.9 Peugeot comes into the pits. Christian Klien hands over to Ricardo Zonta as the slick tyres are bolted on. A tank of diesel is added and the No.9 rejoins the fray.
The No.3 Audi is next to pit for slick rubber. Mike Rockenfeller takes the wheel and heads out.
As both Audi and Peugeot use their lowest-placed cars to test the slick tyres, the lead three continue on intermediates.
Capello set a 3:32 in the leading Audi on lap 329, with Villeneuve lapping in 3:34 and Klien 3:30.
Capello set a 3:32 in the leading Audi on lap 329, with Villeneuve lapping in 3:34 and Klien 3:30.
The No.8 Peugeot comes into pitlane and takes on slick tyres.
Alex Wurz stays in the car and he rejoins the race.
Alex Wurz stays in the car and he rejoins the race.
Jos Verstappen pits and takes slick tyres in the leading LMP2 entry.
The delayed No.1 Audi of Marco Werner is sent out to test the conditions on slick tyres.
In the GT1 category, the 009 Aston Martin DBR9 continues to lead and has a sizeable lead over its main rival through the race - the No.63 Corvette.
Darren Turner is back at the wheel of the Aston, with Ron Fellows back at the controls of the Corvette.
Darren Turner is back at the wheel of the Aston, with Ron Fellows back at the controls of the Corvette.
Jos Verstappen continues to lead in LMP2 with the Porshe RS Spyder and runs ninth overall.
The Audi mechanics are ready in the pit lane to put a car on slick tyres.
Stuart Moseley has made it back to the pits in the Barazi Epsilon with the puncture on the Mulsanne. There is lots of damage to the car, including a lost engine cover.
Villeneuve takes two seconds back next time by but it is Klien in third who is really hooked up at the moment, clocking a 3:29.
The No.32 Barazi Epsilon Zytek car is back on the road again, and making its way slowly back to the pits with damage to the left rear of the car. Stuart Moseley is behind the wheel and bringing it to pitroad slowly.
On the next lap it is a 3:37 for Capello and a 3:40 for Villeneuve, balancing out the lead gap at over three minutes.
Christian Klien continues to push hard in the 3:33 bracket.
Christian Klien continues to push hard in the 3:33 bracket.
Lap 325 completed.
1) Capello - 3:37
2) Villeneuve - 3:40
3) Klien - 3:33.
1) Capello - 3:37
2) Villeneuve - 3:40
3) Klien - 3:33.
The No.32 Barazi Epsilon Zytek car has pulled off to the side of the track at the second of the Mulsanne chicanes.
Lap 324 completed.
Capello - 3:35
Villeneuve - 3:32
Capello - 3:35
Villeneuve - 3:32
The rain continues to hold off and the times have sorted themselves out after that latest round of pitstops.
Audi No.2 driven by Rinaldo Capello leads at Le Mans. The gap back to Jacques Villeneuve in the No.7 Peugeot is 3 minutes 32 seconds.
Audi No.2 driven by Rinaldo Capello leads at Le Mans. The gap back to Jacques Villeneuve in the No.7 Peugeot is 3 minutes 32 seconds.
Christian Kilien is the man on the move at the moment in the No.9 Peugeot. He is up to third after that stop for Premat and is setting a blistering pace of 3:33.
Alexandre Premat has pitted his No.3 Audi to take a lightly cut tyre.
The No.1 Audi car that had the clutch problem has rejoined the race, but they have been demoted by the No.8 Peugeot.
Wurz passes Werner for fifth.
Wurz passes Werner for fifth.
Jacques Villeneuve has retained his position on the lead lap after that stop.
Jacques Villeneuve brings the second-placed Peugeot into the pits. He hits the marks and stays on board while the wets come off and intermediate tyres are fitted to the car. A tank of diesel goes in and Villeneuve is away.
By: Geoff Creighton, Emlyn Hughes
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