Le Mans 16hr report: Toyota leads after 4 hour safety car period neutralises race
Below are the main headlines after 16 hours of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, round four of FIA WEC.
Hypercar – Leader: No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota Gazoo Racing continues to lead the 24 Hours of Le Mans – round four of FIA WEC - with Ryo Hirakawa at the wheel of the No. 8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar.
Hirakawa replaces Hartley in the race leading Toyota after Hartley complains of leg cramp following lengthy safety car period.
Four hour safety car period started during race’s 13th hour. No. 311 Whelen Cadillac Racing entry with Jack Aitken driving spun into the gravel then safety car ensued when rain fell and remained out for further hours as weather conditions worsened. Safety car period expected to end imminently as race enters 18th hour.
Currently second is No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport run Porsche 963, with Laurens Vanthoor at the wheel. Ferrari AF Corse in third position, the Prancing Horse clawing back time after losing out earlier in the race due to tyre strategy.
Fourth-placed No. 7 Toyota avoided a penalty for a pit stop error when Nyck De Vries rejoined the wrong safety car train after taking over from team-mate Jose Maria Lopez at the wheel.
Robert Kubica remains fifth in the No. 83 Ferrari, the once race leader dropping back following a 30 second stop-and-go penalty for causing a collision with the No. 15 BMW M Hybrid driven by Dries Vanthoor.
No. 38 Hertz Team JOTA run Porsche 963 in sixth place with Jenson Button currently onboard, one spot ahead of fellow Briton Alex Lynn driving the No. 3 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R.
Ferrari AF Corse (No. 51), Cadillac Racing (No. 2) and Porsche Penske Motorsport (No. 5) eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.
Look at the weather conditions in Le Mans.
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) June 16, 2024
It's just pouring rain as we've entered the second half of the @24hoursoflemans. #WEC #LeMans24 pic.twitter.com/NbhPjXebca
LMGT3 – Leader: No. 92 Manthey PureRXCing
In LMGT3, it is still a Porsche 1-2 with the No. 92 Manthey PureRXcing ahead of the No. 91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3.
The No. 95 United Autosports McLaren remains third while ninth-placed sister No. 59 car given drive-through-penalty after James Cottingham was caught speeding under a Full Course Yellow.
Fourth place is currently occupied by Akkodis ASP Team and the Lexus RC F LMGT3 with Team WRT and Sean Gelael driving the BMW M4 LMGT3 rounding out the top five.
LMP2 – Leader: No. 183 AF Corse
In LMP2, the Pro-Am No. 183 AF Corse leads with Francois Perrodo completing his driving quota during lengthy safety car period. Ben Barnicoat now takes the wheel as the race is expected to resume after the safety car imminently.
Second is the No. 22 United Autosports and early race leader, the No. 10 Vector Sport entry completing the top three.
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