Hour 20: Pescarolo Down to 1 Car

Pescarolo Sport suffered the major drama of the 20th hour of the 73rd Le Mans 24 Hour when Soheil Ayari crashed out of the race at the Dunlop Curve

The Frenchman complained of a puncture, losing control before he entered the corner, straight-lining the chicane and hitting the tyre wall hard, to damage both the front and rear of the car.

Ayari limped back to the pits, however the Pescarolo Sport team chose to pull down the garage door and retire the car.

Upfront, JJ Lehto handed over the leading Champion Racing Audi R8 to Marco Werner. However, the car was still being reeled in by the other Pescarolo Sport car of Emanuel Collard. At present pace, the Audi could be caught in the final hour of the race and the crowd is gearing up for a nail-biting finish.

Lehto said: "Speedwise we can't compete but reliability-wise anything can happen. We need to push now."

In GT1, David Brabham had the #59 Aston Martin chasing the leading Corvette hard, with the gap being down to just over a minute.

In GT2 the Alex Job racing Porsche of Marc Lieb continued to dominate. However, the hour was bad for Panoz Motor sport, the #78 car of Marino Franchitti retiring on the run down to Indianapolis.

In LMP2, the Paul Belmondo Racing Courage C65 of Didier Andre enjoyed a six-lap lead over the #25 Lola MG however, with all leading runners having been wheeled into the garage at one point during the race, the class is not yet decided.

Pos # Drivers Make Class On Hour 20
1 3 Lehto, Werner, Kristensen Audi R8 LM P1
2 16 Collard, Boullion, Comas Pescarolo Judd LM P1
3 2 Biela, Pirro, McNish Audi R8 LM P1
4 4 Montagny, Gounon, Ortelli Audi R8 LM P1
5 9 Hignett, Stack, Kurosawa Zytek 04S LM P1
6 64 Gavin, Beretta, Magnussen Corvette C6-R LM GT1
7 59 Brabham, Sarrazin, Turner Aston Martin DBR9 LM GT1
8 58 Enge, Kox, Lamy Aston Martin DBR9 LM GT1
9 63 Fellows, O'Connell, Papis Corvette C6-R LM GT1
10 10 Lammers, Julian, Bosch Dome Judd LM P1
11 12 Schwager, Frei, Vann Courage Judd LM P1
12 71 Hindery, Rockenfell., Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
13 90 Bergmeist., Long, Bernhard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
14 50 Goueslard, Dupard, Vosse Ferrari 550 Maranello LM GT1
15 61 Fomenko, Vasiliev, Bouchut Ferrari 550 Maranello LM GT1
16 18 Short, Barbosa, Ickx Dallara Judd LM P1
17 80 Overbeek, Pechnick, Neiman Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
18 76 Dumas, Dumez, Narac Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
19 7 Minassian, CampbellW., Wallace DBA Judd LM P1
20 72 Policand, Campbell, Alphand Porsche 911 GT3 RS LM GT2
21 37 Belmondo, Andre, Sutherland Courage C65 Ford LM P2
22 89 Nielsen, Thyrring, Ehret Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
23 25 Erdos, Newton, Hughes Lola MG LM P2
24 36 Gosselin, Ojjeh, Sharpe Courage C65 Ford LM P2
25 30 Bennett, Mitchell, Mullen Courage Judd LM P2
26 83 Collin, Felbermayr, Shep Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
27 24 Terada, Roussel, Binnie WR Peugeot LM P2
28 95 Hartshorne, Stanton, Johnson TVR Tuscan 400 R LM GT2
shares
comments

Hour 19: Aston Lose Lead in GT1

Hour 21: Pescarolo not Giving Up

How Porsche ensured Toyota's WEC homecoming was anything but straightforward

How Porsche ensured Toyota's WEC homecoming was anything but straightforward

Plus
Plus
WEC
Fuji
Gary Watkins

How Porsche ensured Toyota's WEC homecoming was anything but straightforward How Porsche ensured Toyota's WEC homecoming was anything but straightforward

The other Dutch racing ace enjoying a standout 2023

The other Dutch racing ace enjoying a standout 2023

Plus
Plus
WEC
James Newbold

The other Dutch racing ace enjoying a standout 2023 The other Dutch racing ace enjoying a standout 2023

The former Hollywood limo manufacturer aiming to star in the WEC

The former Hollywood limo manufacturer aiming to star in the WEC

Plus
Plus
WEC
Gary Watkins

The former Hollywood limo manufacturer aiming to star in the WEC The former Hollywood limo manufacturer aiming to star in the WEC

Alpine's new attempt to scale Le Mans heights

Alpine's new attempt to scale Le Mans heights

Plus
Plus
WEC
Alpine A424 presentation
Gary Watkins

Alpine's new attempt to scale Le Mans heights Alpine's new attempt to scale Le Mans heights

How Ferrari scored a historic victory at Le Mans

How Ferrari scored a historic victory at Le Mans

Plus
Plus
Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
Gary Watkins

How Ferrari scored a historic victory at Le Mans How Ferrari scored a historic victory at Le Mans

Can Peugeot turn its style into substance at Le Mans?

Can Peugeot turn its style into substance at Le Mans?

Plus
Plus
WEC
Gary Watkins

Can Peugeot turn its style into substance at Le Mans? Can Peugeot turn its style into substance at Le Mans?

How Ferrari’s threat is growing against Toyota approaching Le Mans

How Ferrari’s threat is growing against Toyota approaching Le Mans

Plus
Plus
WEC
Spa-Francorchamps
Gary Watkins

How Ferrari’s threat is growing against Toyota approaching Le Mans How Ferrari’s threat is growing against Toyota approaching Le Mans

Why Cadillac can make amends for its previous Le Mans failures

Why Cadillac can make amends for its previous Le Mans failures

Plus
Plus
Le Mans
Garage 56 Sebring testing
Gary Watkins

Why Cadillac can make amends for its previous Le Mans failures Why Cadillac can make amends for its previous Le Mans failures

Subscribe