Backstretch Motorsports

Peugeot #8 is firmly in control after 3 hours of racing, followed by the sister # 9 908 FPi , leading all 59 laps so far.

First Retirement - #68 Lamborghini Murcielago

After many problems during the test and qualifying sessions and the warm up, the Lamborghini entered by JLOC officially announced their retirement at 3.20 PM due to an engine problem.

Narain Karthikeyan injured

Karthikeyan will not be able to drive Audi #14 as he has dislocated his shoulder, falling over the pit wall during a driver change.
Earlier in the week it was reported that Franck Montagny had a stress fracture of his left leg although he is able to drive Peugeot # 8.

#17 Pescarolo Peugeot 908 and #7 Peugeot 908 collide in the pits

Just as the #7 Peugeot was exiting its pit with Pedro Lamy at the wheel, the #17 Pescarolo with Jean-Christophe Boullion at the wheel was coming into its own pit, and the cars collided. The #7 car kept going and rejoined the track.

Following the incident in the pits between the #7 and #17 908s, Pedro Lamy’s car appears to have suffered bodywork damage to the rear left, and it is spotted running slowly on the Hunaudières with a disintegrated rear left tyre. Because of rubber and bodywork parts which are being spread all over the track, the safety car is called out so that the track can be cleared.

Whilst Stephane Ortelli was 9th, he violenty hit the wall at the Tertre Rouge corner. Losing his rear wing, he succeed in rejoining and returned to the Oreca’s pit garage. The crew change the front and rear bodywork and the rear wing in only 6 minutes, Bruno Senna then rejoining the track.

Allan McNish brings the #1 Audi R15 TDI back into the pits with a damaged nose. The car gets a new front end, and rejoins the track. Mike Rockenfeller brings the #2 sister car in at the same time, and leaves first, swapping positions with McNish.

After one hour of racing, Franck Montagny driving the #8 Peugeot leads the field, tailed by the #1 Audi driven by last year’s victorious squad, and the #2 Audi driven by Mike Rockenfeller.

Marc Gene is fourth, in the #9 Peugeot, ahead of Aston Martins #007 and #008.

In LM P2, Frenchman Emmanuel Collard confirms the positive performance displayed during qualifying by leading the category in the #31 Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder. This places him 14th overall. The other Porsche RS Spyder, car #5, is second in LM P2, 16th overall.

In LM GT1, the #63 and #64 works Corvettes are first and second in category, 23rd and 24th overall.
In LM GT2, the #76 Porsche leads the #99 Ferrari.

The KSM LM P2 driven by Matthew Marsh returns to its garage again. For the second time since the start of the race, they change the alternator belt.

The #77 Falbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR was stopped at the entrance of the pit lane since 16:54. Richard Lietz did his very best to try and repair the fuel pump, but failed to do so. The car officially retired at 17:32. A big disappointment for the German driver and his whole team.