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WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 79th Le Mans 24 Hours

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9h16m The latest numerical weather model has been released and the prediction for rain is now 13:00. Still the threat remains, but only for the final two hours of the race.
9h11m Safety Car period extended by 15 minutes; now expected to finish at 00.30
9h10m Alex Wurz replaces Marc Gene in the #7 Peugeot, which was second before the stop
9h09m Audi France have just tweeted that Mike Rockenfeller is in hospital and talking. Very welcome news.
9h08m #22 Kronos/Marc VDS Lola-Aston Martin also into the pits. Maxime Martin currently at the wheel
9h08m The Rebellion crew is also taking the opportunity to carry out some front suspension maintenance. Nicolas Prost rejoins after a stop of around two minutes.
9h06m The #9 recently pitted and now the #12 Rebellion Lola is in for tyres and fuel.
9h03m Everyone at the track was shocked initially when Mike Rockenfeller crashed.

Alex Wurz has told AUTOSPORT "I haven't seen the crash and the only thing I've heard is that he is not seriously hurt. You don't really think about strategy after an accident like that - okay if he has no serious injuries it changes the race. Above all though is the human element of the sport, there is no question about that."
8h55m Nicolas Lapierre brings the #10 Oreca Matmut Peugeot in for service. The team can obviously take a little more time over the stop to ensure everything is present and correct, while the safety car remains in control of the race.
8h52m The #80 is another pit visitor. Regular service for the Flying Lizard Porsche and Jorg Bergmeister is down and trundles to the end of the pitlane.
8h49m We have completed 125 laps and several safety cars remain in control of the field as repair work is carried out following a massive accident involving Mike Rockenfeller in the #3 car.
8h43m Next to come in is the #16 Pescarolo. Christophe Tinseau remains at the control and he heads back out to join the snake.
8h42m The #60 Aston Martin is the latest to visit the pitlane. Fabien Giroix is behind the wheel and that car is ninth in GTE Am.
8h40m The safety car operation is now expected to conclude at 00.15
8h39m FIA President Jean Todt has just visited the Audi pit and has exchanged best wishes with Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, as repairs continue to the Armco barrier.
8h38m Another hot topic being thrown about is the allowance of amateur drivers to race in the GTE Am category. Several drivers have commented on having had scary moments this week.
8h37m The #41 Greaves Motorsport Zytek has recently been in for a stop. That car is second in LMP2 and 11th overall.
8h35m It's still not confirmed which car it was. All we know for sure is that it was red and yellow.
8h35m Much discussion in the press centre about which car made contact with the #1 Audi.
8h30m Numerical weather models published this afternoon predicted rain to arrive from the west at around 09:00 local time.

However, those maps are due to update shortly. When they do, we will give you the latest potential for rain in the latter stages of the race.
8h25m Some teams have reacted to that news by bringing their cars into the pits for routine service. The #68 Robertson Racing Ford GT is the latest in for service.
8h22m Race control now says the restart is expected to be midnight, around 40 minutes away, as extensive work continues to repair the barriers.
8h22m The #42 Strakka Racing entry has recently been into the pits. Jonny Kane climbed out of the car, handing over to Nick Leventis.
8h21m They are all on the same lap and scored as 17 laps behind the leader, so we can expect that fight in GTE Am to continue well into the early hours.
8h20m Larbre Competition is dominating GTE Am with the #70 Porsche leading from the #50 Chevrolet. Krohn Racing's #57 Ferrari lies third with the Flying Lizards Motorsports Porsche in fourth.
8h17m GTE Pro has been closely fought and Oliver Gavin currently holds a one lap lead in the #74 Corvette, ahead of the #59 Luxury Racing Ferrari 458 Italia.

The #75 Prospeed Competition entry is third, with Giancarlo Fisichella fourth in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari.
8h15m In LMP2 the #48 Team Oreca Matmut holds a one lap lead over the Greaves Sport Zytek #41 and Jonny Kane at the wheel of the #42 Strakka Racing entry in third.
8h12m The #8 Peugeot is currently being driven by Franck Montagny in fourth, with the Oreca Matmut #10 Peugeot fifth and the Pescarolo Judd in sixth, but some four laps down.
8h11m The #55 BMW is in the pits and has been wheeled into the garage for some attention from the team.
8h10m In LMP1, the Audi #2 - the only one left - is clocked at 4m46s ahead of the #7 Peugeot and 5m09s ahead of the third placed #9 Peugeot. But bear in mind this is under safety car conditions.
8h07m While the extensive barrier repair is carried out, we will take a good look at the standings.
8h05m The widespread belief is that the #71 AF Corse Ferrari was the other car involved in that accident, but that's yet to be confirmed.
8h01m Race control estimates a 50 minute repair to the barriers.
8h01m Medical vehicles are heading back to take up their stand-by positions as Rockenfeller is transported to the medical centre by ambulance.
7h58m Audi team members are glued to the monitor ... as we see a different replay of the incident. The #1 car hit the Armco at full speed and disintegrated on impact.
7h57m There is a collective shrap intake of breath as the huge accident is replayed on the press room screens.
7h54m The second heavy Audi crash of the race has again caused extensive damage to the barriers.
7h53m Dr Wolfgang Ullrich has told reporters that Mike Rockenfeller got out of the car under his own steam.
7h50m The medical team is at the crash site as the host broadcaster continues to show replays of the incident. An ambulance is on the scene.
7h48m Race control identifies the scene as marshals' post 88, which is a kink in the road between Mulsanne and Indianapolis.

By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton, Simon Strang

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