Hour 7: Audi leads into the night

However, the number three car has a fight on its hands for third, as the LMP 675 MG of Reid, Hughes and Kane keeps up the pressure. The gap between third and fourth is now less than 20 seconds, and with the MGs able to eke out two or three more laps between pitstops the battle could run throughout the night.

"That was really great," said Reid. "It is just a fabulous car to drive. I was running behind the number one Audi and I was easily able to keep pace with it. The MG is one of the few cars without power steering, which make the Porsche Curves, where we're pulling 3G, very physical and not much fun. But we can keep up this pace and push on for that podium tomorrow."

The Bentley has consolidated fifth, pulling out a gap of 22 seconds over the number 14 ORECA. The sister Dallara holds seventh, albeit a lap behind.

The Riley & Scott of Goosens/Matthews/Theys has popped up into the top 10 for the first time, as has the number 12 Panoz. The sister Spirit of America car's nightmare continues however, and it's bacl in 38th place, almost 20 laps off the lead after a series of problems.

Two of the previous frontrunners hit trouble too. The Dome had looked set for a top six finish, but a gearbox change has dropped the Racing for Holland car back to 11th. The Goh Audi, which has borne the brunt of much of the marque's woes, lost any hope of a podium finish after spending more than half an hour being worked on in the pits. The number five car is now back in action and lapping quickly and has already moved up to 16th.

Mark Blundell has handed over the number 27 MG to Julian Bailey, who is gaining on the 13th-placed Courage, which currently holds a one-lap advantage.

The class-leading GTS Ferrari has finally put a lap on the chasing Corvette. But it's all over for veteran Walter Brun, who had to park his Konrad Saleen following alternator failure.

Biela/Kristensen/Pirro Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8, 115 laps
Capello/Herbert/Pescatori Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8, 114laps
Krumm/Peter/Werner Audi Sport North America, Audi R8, 113 laps
Reid/Hughes/Kane MG Sport, MG-Lola EX257, 113**
Wallace/Leitzinger/van de Poele Team Bentley, Bentley EXP Speed 8, 111 laps *
Sarrazin/Montagny/Minassian Team ORECA, Dallara-Judd LMP, 111 laps
Beretta/Lamy/Comas Team ORECA, Dallara-Judd LMP, 111 laps
Taylor/Angelli/Tinseau Team Cadillac, Cadillac 110 laps Goosens/Matthews/Theys, Riley & Scott Racing, Riley &Scott-Ford MkIIIC 110 laps
Jeanette/Donohue/Auberlan Panoz Motorsports, Panoz LMP-01 Evo 109 laps
*GTP class
**LMP675 class


Menu/Rydell/Enge Prodrive, Ferrari 550 Maranello 104 laps


Dumas/Maassen/Bergmeister Freisinger Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3-RS 98 laps