H3: Treluyer returns to the front
Benoit Treluyer retook the lead at the turn of the fourth hour for Audi after the #2 car had a trouble-free run at the front in the third chapter of the Le Mans 24 Hours
The poleman snatched the lead from the sister Audi of Timo Bernhard as the safety car returned to the pits at 17.00, having been on track since Allan McNish's accident while repairs were carried out to the barriers.
Treluyer then stayed in that position all the way through the hour with the exception of the pitstops, when he dropped behind the Peugeots of Alex Wurz and Sebastien Bourdais.
They then pitted and switched drivers so that Anthony Davidson took over the #7 car and Simon Pagenaud the #9 machine - and were running second and third at the end of the hour.
Before Wurz handed over to Davidson he had managed to pass Bernhard on track for second. The German had run over the 'banana' kerbing avoiding a GTE car and damaged the nose cone, costing him several seconds a lap in front downforce. Once Wurz had passed Bernhard, the #1 Audi opted to pit early to change the nose and he handed over to Romain Dumas. That car is now running fourth, but still on the lead lap.
The #8 Peugeot was fifth ahead of the ORECA Peugeot in sixth.
Alex Premat led the LMP2 class in the Matmut ORECA but was less than a lap ahead of Danny Watts in the Strakka HPD - which is steadily moving up the order.
Jan Magnussen continued serenely at the front of the GTE Pro class for Corvette. The #74 car remained in control throughout the hour, though the BMWs of Augusto Farfus and Dirk Muller were in pursuit on the same lap.
Fabian Giroix led the GTE Am class for the Gulf Aston Martin team.
Cadillac reveals Chip Ganassi WEC LMDh line-up for 2023
Cadillac has revealed the driver line-up for its attack on next year’s World Endurance Championship with its new LMDh prototype.
The latest peek behind the scenes in the FIA World Endurance Championship resumes with the second episode from the Fuji round.
WEC 2023 calendar expands to seven rounds, Portimao returns
The World Endurance Championship will expand to seven rounds next year with an additional race at the Algarve circuit in April.
Who will race in WEC and IMSA with LMDh/LMH cars in 2023?
Sportscar racing is set to enter a new golden era from 2023, with new rules bringing back much needed life to a motorsport discipline that has been moribund in recent years. Here’s the full list of manufacturers who are building cars to LMDh and Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) regulations.
How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game
The 956 set the bar at the dawn of Group C 40 years ago, and that mark only rose higher through the 1980s, both in the world championship and in the US. It and its successor, the longer-wheelbase 962, were voted as Autosport's greatest sportscar in 2020 - here's why
Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes
OPINION: While the focus has been on the exciting prospect of Ferrari vs Porsche at the Le Mans 24 Hours next year, BMW’s factory return to endurance racing should not be ignored. It won't be at the French classic next year as it focuses efforts on the IMSA SportsCar Championship, but could be a dark horse in 2024 when it returns to La Sarthe with the crack WRT squad
The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause
Track limits are the problem that motorsport doesn't seem to be able to rid itself of. But the use of so-called 'sausage kerbs' as a deterrent has in several instances only served to worsen the problem, and a growing number of voices want to see action taken
The history lessons Peugeot should have learned on its return
The Peugeot 9X8 will make its World Endurance Championship debut at Monza this weekend. The French manufacturer has gone radical and will be hoping it doesn’t need to overhaul its contender, as it did with its first Le Mans challenger…
Why Peugeot's sportscar return will capture the imagination
OPINION: Peugeot will make its World Endurance Championship debut at Monza this weekend with the 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar that has ignored design conventions by eschewing a rear wing. Its distinctive look will help sportscar racing appeal to fresh audiences as a new golden era is ushered in
How Formula E's double-duty drivers influenced their Le Mans teams' fortunes
Eight Formula E drivers made the 7,000-mile sprint from the streets of Jakarta to the fabled Circuit de la Sarthe and every one had a story to share at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours. Despite a range of triumphs and disappointments, each driver doubling up on the day job played a key role in their teams' fortunes
How an Italian junior formula giant is readying for its Le Mans future
Prema remains a colossus in single-seaters, but the serial Formula 2 and Formula 3 title-winning squad has joined forces with top GT squad Iron Lynx for an attack on sportscars in the World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series. Ahead of its debut at the Le Mans 24 Hours, its sights are firmly fixed on LMP2 glory – and a future in Hypercars next year...
The British rookies targeting a good first impression at Le Mans
Three young Britons will make their first starts in the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend in the highly-competitive 23-car GTE Am field. But how did they get here? Autosport hears their stories.