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Hour 4: Pirro Gives Lead to Werner

The Champion Racing Audi of Marco Werner took the lead of the Le Mans 24-Hours after the fourth hour of the race

Previous race leader Emanuele Pirro crashed into the tyre wall at Arnage just as the safety car was set to withdraw at the start of hour.

The Italian's Champion Racing R8 appeared simply to lock up and skid, wheels locked into the tyres. It was then pushed back out by marshals and Pirro drove back to the pits with the rear of the car dragging along the ground.

The Team Oreca Audi of Stephane Ortelli was promoted to second, but had to overtake the Rollcentre Dallara of Martin Short who briefly moved ahead after Ortelli completed a routine pitstop.

Allan McNish took over the driving of Pirro's car to end the hour in fourth, a lap behind Werner.

Early race leader Erik Comas' number 16 Pescarolo Sport rejoined the race after its transmission repairs, ending the hour in 16th.

However, the French team suffered more problems with their other car. Eric Helary suffered a puncture in the number 17 car, staying for several minutes in the pits to repair bodywork damage caused when the car limped home.

The JMB Racing 575 Ferrari was another car to suffer a puncture - it's the GT1 left rear tyre blowing out on the Mulsanne straight.

Leading the GT1 category remained Aston Martin, Tomas Enge complaining of the hot temperature inside the DBR9 before handing over to Portuguese teammate Pedro Lamy.

Corvette remained within touching distance with Max Papis being only one minute and 20 seconds behind the number 58 Aston.

The Kruse Motorsport Courage Judd continued to dominate LMP2 category ahead of the number 32 Lola.

The number 71 Porsche RSR of Mike Rockenfeller led a close battle for GT2 honours, ahead of the similar number 90 White Lightning Racing Porsche RSR.

Pos # Drivers Make Class On Hour 4
1 3 Lehto, Werner, Kristensen Audi R8 LM P1
2 4 Montagny, Gounon, Ortelli Audi R8 LM P1
3 18 Short, Barbosa, Ickx Dallara Judd LM P1
4 2 Biela, Pirro, McNish Audi R8 LM P1
5 10 Lammers, Julian, Bosch Dome Judd LM P1
6 5 Michigami, Ara, Kaneishi Dome Mugen LM P1
7 12 Schwager, Frei, Vann Courage Judd LM P1
8 9 Hignett, Stack, Kurosawa Zytek 04S LM P1
9 17 Loeb, Helary, Ayari Pescarolo Judd LM P1
10 58 Enge, Kox, Lamy Aston Martin DBR9 LM GT1
11 63 Fellows, O'Connell, Papis Corvette C6-R LM GT1
12 64 Gavin, Beretta, Magnussen Corvette C6-R LM GT1
13 30 Bennett, Mitchell, Mullen Courage Judd LM P2
14 50 Goueslard, Dupard, Vosse Ferrari 550 Maranello LM GT1
15 59 Brabham, Sarrazin, Turner Aston Martin DBR9 LM GT1
16 16 Collard, Boullion, Comas Pescarolo Judd LM P1
17 51 Pescatori, Gollin, Ramos Ferrari 550 Maranello LM GT1
18 61 Fomenko, Vasiliev, Bouchut Ferrari 550 Maranello LM GT1
19 90 Bergmeist., Long, Bernhard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
20 32 Fisken, Halliday, Hancock Lola AER LM P2
21 71 Hindery, Rockenfell., Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
22 36 Gosselin, Ojjeh, Sharpe Courage C65 Ford LM P2
23 76 Dumas, Dumez, Narac Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
24 52 Bartyan, Malucelli, Seiler Ferrari 550 Maranello LM GT1
25 31 Amorim, Iannetta, Pillon Courage - CG LM P2
26 69 Fournoux, Daoudi, Matthews Ferrari 575 GTC LM GT1
27 72 Policand, Campbell, Alphand Porsche 911 GT3 RS LM GT2
28 93 Kinch, Kirkaldy, Reid Ferrari 360 Modena LM GT2
29 80 Overbeek, Pechnick, Neiman Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
30 89 Nielsen, Thyrring, Ehret Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
31 91 Pompidou, Blanchema., Yamagishi Porsche 911 GT3 RS LM GT2
32 34 Macaluso, James, Lally Courage AER LM P2
33 7 Minassian, CampbellW., Wallace DBA Judd LM P1
34 37 Belmondo, Andre, Sutherland Courage C65 Ford LM P2
35 35 Hillebrand, Hahn, Pickering Courage C65 Judd LM P2
36 85 Coronel, Crevels, Merksteijn Spyker C8 Spyder LM GT2
37 25 Erdos, Newton, Hughes Lola MG LM P2
38 92 Macari, Eriksson, Wilson Ferrari 360 Mo. GTC LM GT2
39 23 Bouvet, Boulay, Julien WR LM P2
40 83 Collin, Felbermayr, Shep Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
41 78 Sellers, Franchitti, Bourdais Panoz Elan LM GT2
42 24 Terada, Roussel, Binnie WR Peugeot LM P2
43 20 Rostan, Haezebrou., Bruneau Pilbeam JPX LM P2
44 13 Cochet, Nakano, Jouanny Courage Judd LM P1
45 33 Zlobin, Briere, Barazi Courage AER LM P2
46 39 Evans, Berridge, Owen Lola AER LM P2
47 95 Hartshorne, Stanton, Johnson TVR Tuscan 400 R LM GT2
48 77 Auberlen, Liddell, Maxwell Panoz Elan LM GT2
49 8 Verdon Roe, Krumm, Primat Dallara Nissan LM P1

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