Hour 11: Safety car interrupts race

Further down the field, there have been problems for several of the top ten runners. The sole remaining MG of Kevin McGarrity is suffering from abnormally high engine temperatures, and will be hoping for a cool day tomorrow if it is to make the finish. The other MG-Lola has been officially retired with a total loss of drive.

Troubles have also afflicted the Riley and Scott of Marc Goossens, Jim Matthews and Didier Theys which had worked itself into the top six. Theys came in under the safety car and the team immediately set to work changing the front brake discs and pads, rejoining in ninth place.

The Panoz of David Brabham, Jan Magnussen and Bryan Herta is still plugging away despite being dogged by problems which have limited it to a mere 90 laps. The front-engined machine is suffering from serious overheating problems, and looks unlikely to last the distance.

No such problems for Bentley, though, who continue to run strongly in third place, only four laps off the lead piloted by former Le Mans winner Andy Wallace.

Also making progress after earlier problems is the number 7 Cadillac of Eric Bernard, keen to make up for lost time and join the leading Cadillac in the top ten.

In the GTS class, the Prodrive Ferrari team continue to enjoy a dream race and lead the number 62 Chevrolet Corvette of Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins and Franck Freon. The team, which has claimed several wins in the FIA GT championship since first contesting the series in the second half of last season, had been widely expected to suffer reliability problems.

A tough battles rages in the GT class, the Freisinger Motorsport Porsche of Romain Dumas holding a lead of one-and-a-half minute over the similar Racers' Group entry of Lucas Luhr.

With nearly one hour of the race having run under the safety car, it looks unlikely that the 1971 record of 3315.203 miles will be threatened.

Biela/Kristensen/Pirro Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8, 171 laps
Capello/Herbert/Pescatori Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8, 169 laps
Krumm/Peter/Werner Audi Sport North America, Audi R8, 168 laps
Wallace/Leitzinger/van de Poele Team Bentley, Bentley EXP Speed 8, 165 laps *
Taylor/Angelli/Tinseau Team Cadillac, Cadillac 164 laps
Beretta/Lamy/Comas Team ORECA, Dallara-Judd LMP, 164 laps
Lammers/Hillerbrand/Coronel, Racing for Holland, Dome-Judd S101, 162 laps
Goosens/Matthews/Theys, Riley & Scott Racing, Riley &Scott-Ford MkIIIC 162 laps
Sarrazin/Montagny/Minassian Team ORECA, Dallara-Judd LMP, 161 laps
Reid/Hughes/McGarrity MG Sport MG-Lola EX257, 159 laps

*GTP class
**LMP675 class


Menu/Rydell/Enge Prodrive, Ferrari 550 Maranello 155 laps


Dumas/Maassen/Bergmeister, Fresisinger Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3-RS 146 laps