24 Hours of Le Mans

Le Mans 24 Hours LIVE at Planetlemans - Chapter 9

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

We have really left the darkness behind us and are back in daylight. It is however still very wet so anything can happen. Audi is currently showing they are the best in wet conditions, but Peugeot is not far behind. Time to get back to the action as we still have a long way to go.

07:01- The number 4 Saulnier Pescarolo has rejoined after its spin.

07:03- The Tokai University Courage spins and nearly hits the wall.

07:04- Quifel ASM Lola spins at the second Mulsanne chicane. Big flame out of the car for a few moments.

07:06- The number 20 stopped at the side of the road for short period of time, before firing up and rejoining the race.

07:10- The gap between McNish (first) and Gene (second) is 48 seconds at the moment.

07:11- A damaged number 4 Saulnier Racing car comes into the box. Left front light and the nose of the car are ripped off.

07:13- Number 8 Peugeot is in. Wurz has given over the car to Lamy, the mechanics take off the nose section and rear engine cover. After changing and checking several things the car is sent out.

07:15- Verstappen brings in the Van Merksteijn Porsche. As he gets out Jeroen Bleekemolen takes over from him. Also in is the number 35 Saulnier LMP2 car.

07:19- Rockenfeller is only some twenty seconds behind Montagny, this battle for third is far from over.

07:22- Bruichladdich Radical went straight at Arnage. The car is pointing in the right way now and has continued.

07:26- Marc Rostan nearly lost control of his Bruichladdich Radical at the second Mulsanne chicane.

07:31- The top two petrol LMP1s have just made a pit stop. Pescarolo still the first non-diesel, but 11 laps down.

07:33- Aston Martin 009 is in for a scheduled stop.

07:37- McNish is slowly but steadily getting away from Gene.

07:40- Gene knows his orders and gets back, looks like the gap will be somewhere near 40-45 seconds

07:41- Montagny in and out. The Lola Aston Martin is also in the pit. Rear bodywork off on that car.

07:43- The number 4 Saulnier Pescarolo is back out after the damage was repaired.

07:45- Terramos Courage off after the second Mulsanne chicane. Having some difficulties getting it back en route.

07:46- Pit stop for the number 7 Peugeot.

07:51- Danish time in the pit Jan Magnussen (Corvette) and John Nielsen (Essex). Out on track the Magnussen GT1 Corvette is one position ahead of the Team Essex LMP2 Porsche.

07:54- McNish in for a stop. Tyres and fuel before he gets out again.

08:00- The top three per class. LMP1: 2 Audi, 7 Peugeot, 9 Peugeot - LMP2: 34 Porsche, 35 Pescarolo, 31 Porsche - LMGT1: 009 Aston, 63 Corvette, 64 Corvette - LMGT2: 82 Ferrari, 96 Ferrari, 97 Ferrari

08:04- Lamy in the number 8 Peugeot is in and so is Biela in the number 1.

08:05- Both cars out again, Pirro has taken over from Biela.

08:07- Quick pit stop for the number 7 Peugeot, no problems.

08:09- Terramos Courage spun again, this time coming on to the finish straight.

08:11- Terramos off through the gravel at the first chicane.

08:12- Pescarolo 17 straight at Arnage.

08:14- Terramos car in the pit lane and pushed into the box. The number 35 Saulnier car is also in for a scheduled stop, it is still second in LMP2.

08:20- More rain!

08:22- Pescarolo 17 and Van Merksteijn Porsche in the pit. As Bleekemolen brings the Porsche out on the track, the Pescarolo took some more time.

08:24- Pedro Lamy spun the Peugeot at Arnage. As he got back on track he was nearly collected by one of the Alphand Corvettes.

08:30- At six and a half hours from the end the number 7 Peugeot is almost two-thirds of a lap behind the number 2 Audi. McNish is having a great time and keeps posting quicker times. The number 9 is in the pit for a stop.

08:31- Darren Turner, leader in GT1 and 12th overall, is in the pit for what should be a scheduled stop.

08:32- Indeed no problems, David Brabham takes over from Turner and rejoins.

08:33- One of the Ferrari 430 GTs spun. Looks like the Farnbacher car.

08:34- The Felbermayr Proton and the number 3 Audi have had a coming together at the first chicane. While the 77 Porsche spun and is stuck there the Audi went straight and did a slalom run through the tyres.

08:35- And also a spin for the Epsilon-Euskadi car at the Mulsanne.

08:37- Bruichladdich Radical in the pit with some rear end damage.

08:42- After being stuck behind the Lola Aston Martin McNish is coming into the pit lane.

08:44- The Rollcentre car spun at the final corner. A small detour brings it back to the track.

08:46- Third placed GT1 car, the 64 Corvette, has made a pit stop.

08:47- Corvette 73 (Luc Alphand Aventures) has been pushed back into the box.

08:50- Michael Vergers seems to enjoy the time he has in the Zytek. The car lost a lot of time, but Vergers is now settng times comparable with the top 10.

08:51- The Felbermayr-Proton car went straight at Arnage. It has rejoined already.

08:54- Peugeot number 8 is in the pit lane. Lamy out, Sarrazin in.

08:57- And Peugeot 7 in the pit lane. Out on track the Team Essex car is pushing hard, trying to catch the 35 Pescarolo.