Champion earns podium

Lehto and Allan McNish both hit the barriers hard after running over oil at the Porsche Curves in the second hour of the race, seriously damaging both cars. Lehto's Audi R8 sustained a broken left front corner and the Finn drove it back to the pits whereupon the team took just nine laps (admittedly some of which were behind the safety car) to complete the necessary repairs.

Then began the long trawl back through the field from 41st to a place on the podium

"It was very icy this year," Lehto joked of the oil slick that ruined his chance of victory. "It felt like it was snowing everywhere!

"It really started tough because with Allan [McNish] we were racing very well and it was a good fight with all the Audis together and it really ended up over already before three hours were gone.

"The team did a good job to fix the car and we got back on the road and we fought our way back. I have to say that the car was even better than the original car we started the race with."

After the accident, three-time Le Mans winner Pirro said the team just concentrated on running its own race. "I always look at the glass half full and I think it was a positive race," he said. "First because JJ was not hurt in the accident and who knows about Le Mans enough knows that to finish is good. It's just a pity for all the spectators because I think the fight between the two cars was so great, and if the other two Audis had been there it could have been an incredible race.

"Just driving by myself without competition in front and behind me, I took the time to enjoy driving the Audi R8 on this circuit. I am not joking, this car is so, so beautiful to drive and to race it through corners like the Porsche Curves is a privilege."