Hour 22: Leaders run reliably

The only front-runner to suffer difficulties in the past hour is the Lehto/Bernard/Collard Cadillac-Northstar LMP-02 which lost time in the pits with minor technical problems. Collard returned to the track in 12th place, eight laps behind the tenth placed Pescarolo Courage of Sebastien Bourdais. Cadillac had looked set to get both cars into the top ten, an impressive achievement given the problems that dogged the cars early in the race.

In the LMP675 category, led for so long by MG-Lola, French privateer Welter Racing currently hold a lead of more than a lap over the Reynard-Lehmann of Walter Lechner Jnr. The WR-Peugeot team finished second in class last year, and look set to claim victory not least because of the seven cars that started only two are still running.

Oliver Gavin continues to lead the GTS class in his Chevrolet Corvette, and could claim a top ten overall finish if one of the front-runners runs into trouble.

With only two hours to go, the Audi one-two-three looks likelier by the minute.

Biela/Kristensen/Pirro Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8, 343 laps
Capello/Herbert/Pescatori Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8, 342 laps
Krumm/Peter/Werner Audi Sport North America, Audi R8, 340 laps
Wallace/Leitzinger/van de Poele Bentley EXP Speed 8, 330 laps *
Beretta/Lamy/Comas Team ORECA, Dallara-Judd LMP, 327 laps
Sarrazin/Montagny/Minassian Team ORECA, Dallara-Judd LMP, 326 laps
Ara/Dalmas/Katoh Team Goh Audi, Audi R8, 326 laps
Lammers/Hillerbrand/Coronel Racing for Holland, Dome S101, 322 laps
Taylor/Angelli/Tinseau Team Cadillac, Cadillac 321 laps
Boullion/Bourdais/Lagorce Pescarolo Sport Courage-Peugeot, 312 laps

*GTP class leader


Fellows/O'Connell/Gavin, Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette, 306 laps


Daoudi/Defournoux/Bouvet, Welter Racing, WR-Peugeot, 293 laps


Buckler/Lohr/Bernhard, The Racers Group, Porsche 911 GT3-RS, 293 laps