Le Mans latest (9)

1 17 BMW (Kristensen, Lehto, Muller)

2 02 Toyota (Boutsen, Kelleners, McNish)

3 15 BMW (Winkelhock, Martini, Dalmas)

4 03 Toyota (Katayama, Tsuchiya, Suzuki)

5 08 Audi (Pirro, Theys, Biela)

6 18 BMW (Bscher,Auberlen, Soper)

7 21 Nissan (Cottaz, Goosens, Ekblom)

8 07 Audi (Alboreto, Capello, Aiello)

9 19 BMW (Kato, matsushita, Akihiko)

10 27 Lola-Ford (deRadigues, Saldana, Orbell)

24.59 JJ Lehto finally relinquishes his position behind the wheel of the leading BMW and hands over driving duties to Tom Kristensen. 'It's proper racing,' said Lehto as he got out. 'Everyone is being really good and the car is great as well.' He also talked about the new floodlights at some of the corners, which many of the drivers, including Martin Brundle, had complained about, as they restrict their vision coming out of the darkness. 'I don't know if it's a bad thing or a good thing,' said Lehto, 'but our cars have lights too, so it's just a question of getting used to it.'

24 55 Audi number 7 pits again after Rinaldo Capello completes his stint. This time Laurent Ailleo, poised in the pitlane holding his seat, swaps with the Italian and takes over. Meanwhile, Frank Biela takes over from Didier Theys in the number 8.

24.50 The Audi number 10 is back in the pits with problems again. The gearbox is suspected to be the root of their problems after losing 2nd gear during qualifying.

Viper number 51 and 52, currently running in fourteenth and fifteenth are turning in inconsistent lap times - putting in fast laps and then going off the pace again.

24.45 Toyota number 2 pits for a regular stop and goes back out with no problems. Thierry Boutsen who is set to driver the car again in about 45 minutes explains their consistant pace compared to the faster lap times of BMW by telling Radio Le Mans that they are going to be pushing harder in the daylight hours.


24.30 (CET) after 149 laps, JJ Lehto is still leading for BMW by nearly two minutes. BMW's pitstops are six or seconds faster than Toyota's, so the number 15 BMW V12 LMR in third place is making time up on the number 2 Toyota running currently in second, driven by Ralf Kelleners.

24.25 (CET) Panoz number 11 returns to the track after a regular stop with Max Angelelli staying behind the wheel for another stint.

24:17 (CET) Letho makes a quick refuelling stop and maintains the lead.

Panoz having problems. No 12 car in garage as gearbox oil temperature rising rapidly. Possible gearbox change about to take place.

24:10 (CET) Leading BMW a full 2 minutes 45 seconds ahead of second place Toyota.

Number 12 Panoz comes straight into the pits and into the garage for work on the gearbox.

24:10 (CET) Audis 7 and 8 in to the pits with Aiello waiting to take over 7, Theys to take over 8. Ivan Capello in the number 7, however, gave his team the thumbs up for another stint, so Aiello will take over in 12 laps' time. As if the Audi pit wasn't crowded enough, the number 10 car returns to the track after a long stay in the garage with Perry McCarthy behind the wheel.

24:00 (CET) Kellener's extra stop has put him back into the clutches of the second BMW (Winkelhock, Martini, Dalmas)

Leading positions:

1 17 BMW (Kristensen, Lehto, Muller)
2 02 Toyota (Boutsen, Kelleners, McNish)
3 15 BMW (Winkelhock, Martini, Dalmas)
4 03 Toyota (Katayama, Tsuchiya, Suzuki)
5 08 Audi (Pirro, Theys, Biela)
6 21 Nissan (Cottaz, Goosens, Ekblom)
7 12 Panoz (Brabham, Bernard, Leitzinger)
8 18 BMW (Bscher,Auberlen, Soper)
9 07 Audi (Alboreto, Capello, Aiello)
10 13 Courage (Caffi, Montermini, Schiattarella)