Hour 6: Audi regains 1-2-3

The setting sun has brought cooler temperatures and lap times tumbled as a result. The leading Audis are now regularly lapping in the sub-3m40s bracket, with the third-placed number three car, now in the hands of Michael Krumm, usually the fastest.

Such has been the German's pace that he has reeled in the number 26 MG, to regain Audi's domination of the podium positions. The number one car continues to hold a one-lap lead over the number two R8.

Further down the order there are plenty of intriguing battles taking place. The Racing for Holland Dome has been running strongly and consistently and has established a firm grip on fifth place over the sole Bentley, which reeled in the number 14 ORECA.

"We are still quite slow, but if we can keep running consistently maybe we can move up," said Bentley's Eric van de Poele. "The tyres should start working better now its cooler. We are penalised by the narrow tyres when it's hot especially in the slower corners."

Aside from the top three Audis and the fourth-placed MG, the quickest car on track at the moment is the second MG, currently driven by Mark Blundell. The Brit is up to 15th and is taking as much as 10 seconds a lap out of the cars immediately ahead of him. His first target is the number 12 Panoz.

Another car on the move is the number seven Cadillac of JJ Lehto. The car has been having trouble restarting after pitstops, which dropped it down the order. However, the former F1 star has been pushing hard and is currently up to 18th and homing in on the number 63 Corvette ahead of it.

That car is embroiled in a great scrap for GTS class honours. The Ferrari 550 still leads as it has done since the start, but the Corvette is still on the same lap and running reliably.

The number 80 Porsche of Dumas, Massen and Bergmeister still holds sway in the GT battle.

Biela/Kristensen/Pirro Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8, 99 laps
Capello/Herbert/Pescatori Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8, 98 laps
Krumm/Peter/Werner Audi Sport North America, Audi R8, 97 laps
Reid/Hughes/Kane MG Sport, MG-Lola EX257, 97**
Lammers/Hillebrand/Coronel Racing for Holland, Dome-Judd S101, 96 laps
Wallace/Leitzinger/van de Poele Team Bentley, Bentley EXP Speed 8, 95 laps*
Sarrazin/Montagny/Minassian Team ORECA, Dallara-Judd LMP, 95 laps
Beretta/Lamy/Comas Team ORECA, Dallara-Judd LMP, 95 laps
Bouillon/Lagorce/Bourdais Pescarolo Sport, Courage-Peugoet C60JX, 94 laps
Taylor/Angelli/Tinseau Team Cadillac, Cadillac-Northstar LMP-02 94 laps
*GTP class
**LMP675 class


Menu/Rydell/Enge Prodrive, Ferrari 550 Maranello 89 laps


Dumas/Maassen/Bergmeister Freisinger Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3-RS 84 laps