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WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 78th Le Mans 24 Hours

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23h27m Into the pits comes Danny Watts in the LMP2 class-leading #42 Strakka HPD. Looks like a routine stop, with Watts staying in the car and fuel being added for the final 30 minutes.
23h26m The #25 RML Lola-HPD readying themselves for a final stint by Mike Newton.
23h26m Up front, the three Audi R15 Plus entries are now running in close proximity on the circuit, as the German marque prepares for what will be a famous victory against the speed and might of Peugeot.
23h23m The #6 AIM Oreca is in for a full service with fresh tyres and fuel. Didier Andre stays on board for the run to the flag.
23h20m Jacques Nicolet in the #24 OAK Racing Pescarolo-Judd into the pits. The team is currently fourth in class, but with the gap to third now 17 laps, a podium should be out of their grasp - barring any last minute heartbreak.
23h19m The top ten is occupied by six LMP1 cars (including the retired #009 Aston) and four LMP2 entries, with the #50 GT1 class leading Larbre Competition Saleen showing in 14th place overall.
23h16m #009 Lola Aston Martin Darren Turner tells Eurosport that looks like an engine drama has sidelined the then fourth-placed car.
23h13m As we enter the final 50 minutes, the performance of the #42 Strakka HPD really does desrve a mention - the LMP2 class leader is currently set for a fifth place finish overall. Having led the class almost for the duration, drivers Danny Watts, Jonny Kane and Nick Leventis deserve a great deal of praise.
23h11m Marc Lieb into the pits in the #77 Porsche 997 GT3, which currently leads the GT standings.
23h09m Richard Westbrook still lapping slowly in the #97 BMW Porsche 997, although the team has enough ground in hand to limp the car home and still claim the final podium spot in the GT2 class.
23h08m The Lola Aston Martin #009 doesn't make it! The fastest petrol-powered car is out of the race and being pushed behind the barrier by the marshals.
23h07m And the drama isn't over yet. This is unbelievable - the #009 is billowing smoke and Sam Hancock is trying to get the fourth placed car back to the pits!
23h05m The official timing and scoring shows us the new leadberboard:

The Audis run in an incredible first, second and third with the #9 one lap ahead of the #8, with the #7 three laps down. Lola Aston Martin #009 is now fourth with Sam Hancock at the wheel, with the AIM Oreca #6 some 28 laps down but in fifth place. LMP2 class leader #42 is now sixth overall.
23h04m Nick Leventis, one of the #42 Strakka HPD drivers, says the team is just looking to keep things steady and take that all-important chequered flag: "We're not taking any risks, and we're just looking to bring the car home."
23h00m While the fallout from the Oreca demise occurred, the GT1 leading #50 Larbre Competition Saleen was in for a stop. Julien Canal handed over to Gabriele Gardel.
22h57m Miro Konopka brings his #88 Felbermayr Porsche 997 into the pitlane, the team currently running toward the bottom of the LMP2 class. Over in LMP2, the lead #42 Strakka HPD of Danny Watts comes in, with Watts making a very relaxed getaway as he looks to just keep the car ticking over until the chequered flag falls in around one hour's time.
22h56m Peugeot's loss could become Aston Martin's gain. The #009 is shown as eight laps behind the Oreca car but will take fourth place providing it lasts until the end of the race.
22h54m Stephane Salini pits in the #37 WR Zytek, and his Gerard Welter team will soon go into eighth in class as a result of the #26 Highcroft HPD's continued absence from the race - they haven't been out in more than an hour, but remain determined to get the car out for one last lap at the very end of the race.
22h52m A striking similarity to the demise of the #2 car almost seven hours ago, the Oreca car found vulnerability in the right hand bank straight out of the pits and the team's hopes went up in a shower of flames.
22h51m Two interesting contests in GT2, with the #89 Ferrari of Dominik Farnbacher closing in on the class leading #77 Porsche 997, while Giancarlo Fisichella in the #95 Ferrari 430 has got the gap down to five laps to the #97 Porsche 997, which currently occupies the final podium spot. Fisichella 20 seconds faster than Richard Westbrook in the #97 car on the last lap alone.
22h50m The marshals remove the car to a safe place behind the barriers at Arnage and Duval sits on the armco, trying to take in what has just happened.
22h48m Hugues De Chaunac is devastated as Duval watches over the marshals as they tend to another Peugeot that has retired straight after a stop in smoke and flames from the right hand side of the car.
22h46m Oh drama .. the #4 Oreca Peugeot is pulling off and Duval climbs out. The French challenge is all over!
22h45m Andre Lotterer vacates Audi #8, handing over to Benoit Treluyer. Tyres as well as fuel and the second placed car is back into the action.
22h43m Peter Dumbreck into the pits for the #85 Spyker squad, and he comes back out with fresh rubber.
22h43m The #4 Oreca Peugeot is in the pits. Duval stays on board for another stint and he rolls away after a tank of fuel.
22h41m Three consecutive laps of 3m21s, 3m19s and now 3m20.783s sees Duval close up still further on the #7 Audi for that final podium position.
22h39m In GT1 the #50 Larbre Competition Saleen is now 17th overall but comfortably leading its class by five laps with the #73 Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette in second spot. The Young Driver AMR #52 is back to third following a lengthy pit visit.
22h37m Sure enough Erdos exits the #25 RML Lola, and the name of the game will be for Wallace to get the car home in its current position of third.
22h36m Toni Vilander pits in the #95 AF Corse Ferrari 430, having done a good job to close the gap to the #97 Porsche 997 which currently occupies the final podium position in the GT2 class.
22h34m The RML crew are getting ready for a driver swap, with Andy Wallace primed to relieve Thomas Erdos in the #25 Lola-HPD. Erdos has put in a real workman's shift, showing great pace and consistency over a plus-two hour spell in the car.
22h33m The remaining Peugeot is still charging on in an effort to snatch a podium place. Loic Duval has posted a string of quick laps and most recently the fastest lap of the entire race with a stunning 3m19.074s.
22h32m Dominik Farnbacher takes over in the #89 Hankook Porsche Ferrari 430, currently second in GT2 and now two laps down the road from the class leading #77 Porsche 997.
22h30m At Audi, Mike Rockenfeller has told AUTOSPORT that he is hopeful of a trouble-free run to the end with the #9 car, following a precautionary check to investigate a tyre wobble earlier.

Rockenfeller confident despite tyre problem
22h26m Jacques Nicolet comes into the pits in the #24 OAK Racing Pescarolo-Judd, currently running fourth in the LMP2 class. They are only one lap ahead of the fifth-placed #41 Ginetta-Zytek - one to keep your eye on as the race builds toward its climax.
22h23m We mentioned earlier that Allan Simonsen in the second-placed #89 Hankook Ferrari 430 had a slight speed advantage over the lead #77 Porsche 997. Marc Lieb has since taken over the reigns of the 997 and has improved their pace, but Simonsen still around one second per lap quicker. Only one lap between these two cars so it's still all to play for as we approach the final 90 minute strecth.
22h18m As it stands the RML squad is set for a podium in the LMP2 class with their #25 Lola HPD, and the team are understandably excited - RML Twitter.
22h16m Duval in the Oreca #4 Peugeot certainly isn't giving up and clocks a rapid 3m19.732s lap.
22h13m The #7 Audi is in for a stop and Dindo Capello is taking over for the run to the finish.
22h11m Pitstop too for the #28 Radical SR9-Judd, with Ralph Meichtry taking control of the sixth-placed LMP2 car.

By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton, Steven English, Sam Tremayne

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