Le Mans update (13)
0630CET David Price in charge of the BMW V12 LM98 no 19, which was in the pits for some hours, said of the repair work, 'It's been a bit of an epic. They've changed the steering rack. Hopefully it will run to the end.'
The car is running in 29th place, with 149 laps completed.
0620CET BMW 18 with Steve Soper driving is on a flyer setting its fastest time on Lap 210 - 3:39.708 - one lap after its previous best - 3:40.521.
0600CET Toyota's remaining entry (3) pits for fuel and new tyres, but retains its third place ahead of Audi 8.
0556CET Fifth-placed BMW (18) records its fastest lap of the race, as does the ninth-placed Courage.
0555CET BMW car 15 driver Pieluigi Martini replaces Yannick Dalmas, who vacates the cockpit after three and a half hours.
0546CET A small pit fire, near the BMW garage, is swiftly extinguished by mechanics. No damage or injury is caused.
0536CET Audi 8 pits to let Frank Biela replace Pirro, new tyres put on and brake discs changed.
Viper ORECA 53 sets its fastest lap - 4:02.762 - on Lap 181.
0531CET Frank Biela preparing to rejoin Audi 8. Audi 7 sets its fastest lap - 3:39.343 - on Lap 196.
Leaders after 13 and a half hours at 0530CET:
1 17 BMW (Kristensen, Lehto, Muller) 202 Laps
2 15 BMW (Winkelhock, Martini, Dalmas) 199 Laps
3 08 Audi (Pirro, Theys, Biela) 198 Laps
4 03 Toyota (Katayama, Tsuchiya, Suzuki) 198 Laps
5 18 BMW (Bscher,Auberlen, Soper) 196 Laps
7 07 Audi (Alboreto, Capello, Aiello) 196 Laps
6 21 Nissan (Cottaz, Goosens, Ekblom) 190 Laps
8 12 Panoz (Brabham, Bernard, Leitzinger) 189 Laps
9 13 Courage (Montermini, Caffi, Schiattarella) 189 Laps
10 52 Viper (Archer, Bell, Duez) 181 Laps
Dawn beginning to show, skies clear.
0525CET The Viper (53) records its fastest time of the race.
0517CET Leading BMW (17) completes 200 laps, and is three laps ahead of BMW 15.
0514CET Audi8 (Aiello) sets fastest lap of the race - 3:40.155 - running in third place and chasing the BMW 15. Aiello, who has been behind the wheel for three consecutive hours, is currently one lap behind and four behind the leader, BMW 17.
0510 CET No6 Audi goes back into third place, as Toyota 3 pits. Ukyo Katayama stays at wheel.
No21 Nissan sets its fastest lap time - 3:41.294 on Lap 186.
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