2008 Le Mans

2008 RACE BRIEFING
Results

The Revenge Edition: In 2007, the Peugeot 908 had the pace on Audi's R10 in practice but not come race time; come the end of 24 hours the R10 made the finish with ease while the 908 wheezed it's way across the line. In 2008 the 908's have beaten the R10's in all three European Le Mans Series races held thus far. In all practices for the 24 Heures the 908's again have the pace on the R10's, an even larger gap than the year before. However, those ultra quick times, the fastest ever around La Sarthe regardless of the configuration, have been set with low fuel levels and qualifying tires Peugeot confirms, hardly the conditions for a 24 hour race. Rumour has it they have also turned up the boost on that V12 twin-turbo diesel. Audi say they have not sought to put in a flyer for qualifying and been focused solely on race setup. Some may recall that three years ago, Audi found their aged R8 outpaced by the Pescarolo; but they kept a steady, consistent pace, stayed out of the garage, and found themselves victors again. Audi knows how win when they are not the favourite, of course with 7 wins out of the last 8 years, they know how to win regardless of the situation.

Last year in the GT1 class, Aston Martin finally got that victory for the DBR9 against the Corvette; two years of heart break in the 21st hour put, thankfully, behind them. Corvette found 2007 to be altogether different than previous years. They were slower than the DBR9s, they lost one car on course to a broken driveshaft very early in the race, while the remaining car was involved in a few incidents here and there. This year the Corvette is faster than the DBR9, the C6.R seeing continuous development that might not have been applied to their competitor.

With the exception of 2006, GT2 has been a Porsche-only affair. This year there are only 3 GT3RSR's against a half dozen Ferrari 430's.

Porsche, however, are well represented (and for the first time) in LMP2. Buoyed by the overall victory at Sebring where they outlasted the 908, and the R10. Le Mans is altogether different with it's long straight so a fight for the overall win isn't in the cards, but can the Porsche bring reliability to class that has never known it?

Hour 1:The Tricolour flies at 3pm local, the three 908's lead the field, but then Alan McNish bravely sticks the R10 in front of the trailing 908 of Nicolas Minassian! Quick Nic is back by on the Mulsanne, but you imagine Nishy was just taking the opportunity to make a point that Audi are not intimidated.

8 laps and the leading 8 Pug is in for fuel only, typical short first stint. The 1 Audi is in as well. The others follow on subsequent laps but Nishy waits to take the 2 Audi to the pits on lap 11.

Class leaders with 23 to go:
8, 9, 7
34,31,45
63,64,009
97,82,80

Hour 2: The RML Lola/MG returns to action 10 laps down on the class leading 34 Spyder.

The second round of stops sees driver changes and new tires for the LMP1 leaders, but when the 2 Audi pits, McNish stays in and calmly tosses the water bottle away. A 12 lap stint in the books, and another on the way one presumes. Audi are between 10 and 20sec faster at each pit stop.

Word that the 83 Krohn Ferrari is out, gentleman-driver and team financier Tracy Krohn taking the car off track at Arnage.

Jean de Portales pits the 44 Kruse Lola/Mazda which was comprehensively demolished in practice on Wednesday night. Jean has a prosthetic left hand.

The 41 Trading Performance Zytek, already delayed with a misfire, has wrecked at the Ford Chicanes just before start/finish. They're being towed away, race over.

Also wrecked at about the same spot is the 10 Lola coupe, Jan Charouz has to be towed out of the gravel. Unfortunately he wrecks again on the way back, even more damage to impede the progress to the garage. Luckily the car is rolling fairly well but every piece of bodywork is a write off.

And two of the favorites in GT2 have taken themselves off at right hand kink before Indianapolis! Two Porsches, the 76 IMSA Performance car on the inside pasting the 80 Flying Lizard into the armco on drivers left. They're both beached and will need a tow out before trying to make it back around. The 80 looks dreadful as it limps back around, every corner is bent, if Seth Neiman gets it back it will be a feat indeed.

Class leaders with 22 to go:
8, 2, 9
31,34,32
63,009,64
82,77,90

Hour 3: Correction on the wreck for the 10 Lola, its initial wreck occurred just past the Dunlop bridge then the front bodywork went flying at Tetre Rouge on the entrance to the Mulsanne. It snaked around for 8 miles.

The leader is in the pits early, only a 7 lap stint. They fill the tank on the 8 Pug, put Alexander Wurz into the cockpit, drop the car, fiddle a bit, then raise the car again to put it on dollies and back it into the garage. The rear cover comes off and a technician leans into the cockpit to flick the gearshift paddles. This is exactly the kind of thing that can't happen if Peugeot want to win.

The 7 pits early for a puncture, according to Villeneuve. He later relates that the handling was *so* bad that he thought he had a puncture.

The 9 pits too, for a black flag due to a headlight out, but Zonta can't get belts fastened on the driver change and the stop takes longer than normal.

McNish is doing two double stints in a row. And whattya know, takes the lead...

The petrol P1 leading 16 Pescarolo is spun off by the 20 or 21 Epsilon. It happens on the patch of grass between the track and the road to the pits--but as it is after the pit entrance, the 16 will have to go all the way around before letting the mechanics have a look.

The 10 Lola Aston makes it back out, bodywork refitted. It pits again the next time around to adjust the steering which is still off. They'll continue on as long as they can and hope a safety car might give them a larger window to affect a repair.

When the formerly leading 8 Pug makes it back out it is 6 laps down on the lead in 31st place.

At 2:45 into the race McNish brings the leading 2 Audi after a 46 lap stint, an entire American Le Mans Series race under his belt. Dindo Capello hops in and rejoins in the lead.

Trouble for the 50 Saleen. The right rear wheel departs the car just past the Dunlop bridge and the car slides to a halt in the gravel trap on drivers right. Christophe Bouchut will have to do the better part of a lap on three wheels if the race is to continue for the Larbre Competicion entry.

Class leaders with 21 to go:
2, 9, 7
34,31,33
009,63,64
82,77,97

Hour 4: It took 13 minutes for the Saleen to make it back around after losing the wheel. Well down, obviously, the running order.

Capello is unable to lap the 2 Audi as fast as McNish, the 30sec or so lead diminishing at about 4secs per-not counting pit stop exchanges. The Pugs are finally able to circulate as usual and with pit stops that are more normal.

Enge says the the 10 Lola Aston is back to normal, no word about the steering...

The LMP2 battle between RS Spyders is a hum dinger, 34 and 31 in lockstep. Somewhat surprising the 33 Lola Coupe from Speedy Racing is third in class but is two laps in arrears to the class leaders.

The 76 IMSA Porsche is done, couldn't make it back from that wreck with the 80--and an unknown Ferrari...

Wurz sets the fastest lap of the day, a 3:20.921 in the recovering 8 Pug. That car will make hay and get back into the top 7 quickly....but it will need fast lap after fast lap to crack the top five.

Amanda Stretton makes her debut at Le Mans, gets as far as the Dunlop chicane (how many people have wrecked here already?) and spins into the barrier. Team boss Hugh Chamberlain indicates something broke in the front suspension causing the accident. The radiator is split, the steering near nonexistent, he didn't sound positive on getting the car back.

Class leaders with 20 to go:
2, 7, 9
34,31,33
64,009, 63
77,82,78

Hour 5: Amanda Stretton, God bless her. She unbolted the front hatch off the car and figured out a way to adjust the dampers (shocks) such that it raises the damaged left front wheel off the ground so she can steer. She's back in the car, the engine running on the pace car fuel map so the engine doesn't overheat, and is making her way back around. Hugh's guys might have something to work with yet!

Henri Pescarolo's lead car has had its issues, a couple of spins and garage time sees that car slip to 5th of the petrol cars whose order is 5 Oreca (6th overall), 17 Pesca, 11 Dome, 6 Oreca.

Frank Montagny lowers FTD to 3:20.668 in the 9 Pug placed 3rd overall.

The 31 Team Essex Spyder has built a lead over the 34 van Merksteijn Spyder, team owner Peter van Merksteijn has just completed his stint in that car. With Jereon Bleekemolen now driving that gap might shrink.

Top four in GT1 009, 64, 63, 007 are on the same lap and separated by only 45 seconds--after five hours.

Abandonments:
LMP2
41 Trading Performance Zytek, accident

GT2
83 Risi (Krohn) Ferrari, accident
76 IMSA Performance Porsche, accident
85 Snoras Spyker, engine

Class leaders with 19 to go:
7,2, 9
31,34,33
009, 64, 63
82,77,78

Hour 6: As the race settles out in GT1, the 009 with David Brabham has managed a break a lead of about 30 seconds over the Vettes who are running in tandem. The 007 a bit over a minute behind his teammate.

Hats off to the 45 Embassy WF01/Zytek, fourth in class in a new car of their own design. From here on will be the longest it has ever run.

At the bottom of the hour, seven-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen hops aboard the 2 Audi for his first stint. Dindo Capello didn't have a stellar drive by McNish standards, but he kept it out of trouble. They've dropped behind the 9 Pug, but continue on in typical monotonous Audi fashion.

Thank you Al Gore, for the internet. Where we can watch the raw feed from Le Mans, sans commentary. Just the sights and sounds of racing cars with no one talking. Every broadcast could learn from this. With the new camera position near the end of the Mulsanne straight we can hear and see (for the first time) the Vette fly past at full chat....nearly brings a tear to this American's eye.

Running order of the petrol-engined LMP1's. Judd, Judd, Judd, Judd, Judd, Judd, Judd, Judd, Judd, is that ten? No, one more. Judd.

Class leaders with 18 to go:
7,9, 2
31,34,33
009, 63, 64
82,77,78

Hour 7: The GT1 battle loses the 64 car as it loses time as the alternator is changed. Ollie Gavin rejoins a lap down on the 009 and 63 battle.

Much like last year the factory Creation entry is going through bodywork like there is no tomorrow. Unfortunately for them, it isn't even 10pm so there *is* a tomorrow. The latest mishap occurred last hour and involved a puncture and some armco at Indianapolis. They are 30 laps off the lead.

The 2 Audi is over a minute and a half back of the leading 9 Pug. All the Peugeot's now finding the delay-free running that escaped them earlier. The 8 is still in recovery mode and has reset fastest lap down to a 3:19.394. Stephane Sarrazin is at the wheel and up to 8th overall, still 6 laps down on the leader.

Class leaders with 17 to go:
9,7, 2
34,31,33
63,009,007
82,77,96

Hour 8: The leader is beached. Christian Klein puts the leading 9 Peugeot into the gravel trap in the middle of the Ford Chicanes just before start/finish. His lap time jumps from 3:23 to 6:59. Ouch.

The 6 Oreca lost a lap with spell in the garage; gearbox niggle?

The 25 RML Lola/MG has had another off, it looks like a suspension failure on the red, white, and blue prototype.

The 78 AF Corse Ferrari is stopped on course under the Dunlop bridge allowing the 96 Virgo Ferrari back past.

Goodness, it's gone wrong for another entrant this hour. The 32 Barazi Zytek is creeping back to its pit with crewmen 4 abreast on the rear wing providing the only motivation down pit lane.

Class leaders with 16 to go:
7, 2, 9
34,31,33
63,009,007
82,77,96

Hour 9: The 45 Embassy has dropped down the order with starter motor issues, accident damage, gearbox, and then ECU issues. They're 18+ laps off the LMP2 class leader.

The 94 Speedy Spyker has retired for the same reason as its sister car; engine.

The 53 Vitaphone Aston has disappeared from the timesheet, the only car to do so....it isn't listed as running and it isn't listed as abandoned.

Horst Felbermayer Sr. has yet to have a stint in the 77 Porsche, nine hours in and it's been all Wolf Henzler and Alex Davison. They have a lengthy stop and drop to 6th in class--10 laps off the lead. Davison was complaining about a stiff brake pedal, could it be brake issues?

At the bottom of the hour Nishy is back in the 2 Audi, can he trim away the lead...

The 8 needs an extra stop to clean an absolute filthy windscreen. It is drenched with oil, supposedly from the Dome.

Class leaders with 15 to go:
7, 2, 9
34,31,33
63,009,007
82,96,97

Hour 10: It is a broken driveshaft for the 78, their race is over.

The race is also over for the 19 Chamberlain Lola. After all the repairs after Stretton's off, the engine is done.

A big hit for the 6 Oreca at the exit of the Porsche Curves. The safety cars are deployed (they use two at La Sarthe) and the entire field is under the full course caution. Marcel Fassler was at the wheel of the 6, he is stretchered off but is awake. The car looks fairly fit, considering, but of course its race is over.

Almost all the teams pit during the caution, some of the GT2's fitting new brake pads, the 5 Oreca getting the clutch adjusted. The 11 Dome is still in the garage having an oil leak and other mechanical issues handled. The 25 is being rebuilt, again.

Autocon is still circulating, over 120 laps in the books. As each driver has now had a go, I am stunned.

Class leaders with 14 to go:
7, 2, 9
34,31,33
009,63,007
82,96,97

Hour 11: The Safety car lasted 33 minutes.

The 12 Lola/Judd is done with a broken engine valve.

The Dome is finally out of the garage, but does 1 and is straight back; it is now 23 laps off the lead. Same for the 55 Lambo who is now 56 off the GT1 leader.

The 18 Rollcentre has a puncture, a slow lap in pushes this car down to 12th and 4 laps off of the best petrol car.

The 8 Pug has an interruption to the recovery drive, looks like a starter motor issue as the dolly the car into the garage then proceed to rock it and try to get it started. But they then move to something electronic and conclude a fault battery link is the culprit.

Meanwhile, the leading 7 Pug pits for fuel, tires and is away with no trouble.

Interview with Chris McMurry, a driver for Autocon "It's going really good. We had a long pit stop early and lost a few laps." They are 40 laps down on the petrol LMP1 leader, a "few laps"???? They are proof positive that us mere mortals can run this race.

The 21 Epsilon Euskadi has a slight delay of 6 and a half hours getting a rebuild on the gearbox. They're 113 laps down.

Class leaders with 13 to go:
7, 2, 9
34,31,33
009,63,007
82,96,97

Hour 12: The leader has a harmless spin at the top of the hour in the Ford Chicanes but it is an otherwise quiet hour.

The biggest news perhaps being the trouble finding the 33 Speedy Lola coupe. They had been 3rd in class for hour after hour but spent a spell in the garage, did an out and back in, and are in the garage still at the end of the hour.

Complete running order with 12 hours complete and 12 hours to go:
Pos No Team Class Driver Lap Gap
1 7 Team Peugeot Total LMP1 VILLENEUVE J. 197
2 2 Audi Sport North America LMP1 CAPELLO R. 196 1 Lap
3 9 Peugeot Sport Total LMP1 KLIEN C. 196 2:23.508
4 3 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 PREMAT A. 195 2 Laps
5 1 Audi Sport North America LMP1 WERNER M. 194 3 Laps
6 17 Pescarolo Sport LMP1 PRIMAT H. 189 8 Laps
7 8 Team Peugeot Total LMP1 LAMY P. 188 9 Laps
8 5 Team Oreca Matmut LMP1 AYARI S. 188 44.985
9 16 Pescarolo Sport LMP1 DUMAS R. 188 2:30.372
10 34 Van Merksteijn Motorsport LMP2 BLEEKEMOLEN J. 186 11 Laps
11 31 Team Essex LMP2 ELGAARD C. 185 12 Laps
12 18 Rollcentre Racing LMP1 GREGOIRE S. 183 14 Laps
13 35 Saulnier Racing LMP2 RAGUES P. 177 20 Laps
14 10 Charouz Racing System LMP1 CHAROUZ J. 177 22.446
15 009 Aston Martin Racing LMGT1 BRABHAM D. 177 1:02.723
16 63 Corvette Racing LMGT1 MAGNUSSEN J. 177 1:36.625
17 40 Quifel ASM Team LMP2 SMITH G. 177 2:47.727
18 007 Aston Martin Racing LMGT1 WENDLINGER K. 176 21 Laps
19 64 Corvette Racing LMGT1 PAPIS M. 175 22 Laps
20 4 Saulnier Racing LMP1 HEIN R. 174 23 Laps
21 33 Speedy Racing Team Sebah LMP2 POMPIDOU X. 173 24 Laps
22 72 Luc Alphand Aventures LMGT1 POLICAND J. 173 10:47.278
23 59 Team Modena LMGT1 BORCHELLER T. 171 26 Laps
24 11 Dome Racing Team LMP1 KATAOKA T. 169 28 Laps
25 73 Luc Alphand Aventures LMGT1 BLANCHEMAIN J.L. 169 43.246
26 82 Risi Competizione LMGT2 BRUNI G. 168 29 Laps
27 96 Virgo Motorsport LMGT2 BELL R. 166 31 Laps
28 97 BMS Scuderia Italia LMGT2 RUBERTI P. 166 2:31.176
29 99 JMB Racing LMGT2 DAOUDI ST. 165 32 Laps
30 90 Farnbacher Racing LMGT2 KAFFER P. 164 33 Laps
31 45 Embassy Racing LMP2 HUGHES W. 162 35 Laps
32 32 Barazi Epsilon LMP2 VERGERS M. 161 36 Laps
33 14 Creation AIM LMP1 MOWLEM J. 160 37 Laps
34 26 Bruichladdich Radical LMP2 JEANNETTE G. 159 38 Laps
35 50 Larbre Competition LMGT1 SMET D. 155 42 Laps
36 77 Team Felbermayr-Proton LMGT2 DAVISON A. 152 45 Laps
37 23 Autocon LMP1 McMURRY C. 152 1:14.899
38 6 Team Oreca Matmut LMP1 PANIS O. 147 50 Laps
39 44 Kruse Schiller Motorsport LMP2 de POURTALES J. 147 59:54.949
40 20 Epsilon Euskadi LMP1 BURGUENO A. 130 67 Laps
41 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports LMGT2 VAN OVERBEEK J. 130 59:34.280
42 22 Tokai University YGK LMP1 KUROSAWA H. 127 70 Laps
43 55 IPB Spartak Racing LMGT1 RUSINOV R. 113 84 Laps
44 24 Terramos LMP1 TERADA Y. 109 88 Laps
45 25 RML LMP2 WALLACE A. 100 97 Laps
46 21 Epsilon Euskadi LMP1 NAKANO S. 83 114 Lap

Abandonments
LMP1
6 Oreca Courage/Judd, accident, 9th out
12 Charouz Lola/Judd, engine, 11th
19 Chamberlain Lola/AER, 7th

LMP2
41 Trading Performance Zytek/Zytek, accident 3rd
25 RML Lola/MG, accident, 10th

GT1
53 Vitaphone Aston Martin DBR9, engine, 6th

GT2
76 IMSA Porsche, accident, 2nd
78 AF Course Ferrari, driveshaft, 8th
83 Risi (Krohn) Ferrari, accident, 1st
85 Snoras Spyker, engine, 4th
94 Speedy Spyker, engine, 5th

Hour 13: At the top of the hour the number 8 pits, then is up on the dolly and backed into the garage. It isn't there 30secs when it's back into the pit lane and off, steam wafting up from the radiator on driver's left. Near the bottom of the hour the 9 and then the 7 pits and has the same work done to it. If cooling issues are effecting the car in the middle of the night what happens come the warmer temperatures of daytime? There's the better part of a day still to go...

Luckily for Peugeot, all of their bad luck has been confined to the 8 allowing the 7 and 9 to fight for the lead.

The LMP2 leading Essex Spyder has a misfire, they pit numerous times throughout the hour, to download data, to look for the fix. Wasn't it an ECU that was a problem for the Spyders at Sebring? Or was it a coil pack?

All the Peugeot shuffling allows Capello into the lead in the 2 Audi.

Class leaders with 11 to go:
2,7, 9
34,31,35
009,63,007
82,96,97

Hour 14: At quarter past the hour the rain starts, is it a passing shower or more? The teams must expect more. The 9 is the first of the leaders to pit for intermediates, the 8 is right behind. Pit road comes to life with nearly all of the teams coming in for a mix of full wets or intermediates. By the time the leading 7 Pug pits, Villenueve has chosen full wets. Shortly thereafter the 9 is back for full wets.

Johnny O pits the 63 Corvette but pastes the 33 Speedy Lola from behind, at the entrance to pit road.

SpeedTV shows Autocon making a pit stop. Nearly fourteen full hours in and they are still running. A-maz-ing.

The 007 has to pit to fit an alternator belt which runs off the rear diff but the car can't refire on it's own. A couple of restarts off of a slave battery isn't enough to give the on board battery enough juice to fire the car on its own (regulations state the car must start independently). It spends about five minutes in the garage to have a new battery fitted.

Meanwhile Kristensen in the 2 Audi dumps the 4 Pescarolo into the gravel just before the front stretch.

Class leaders with 10 to go:
7,2,3
34,31,35
009,63,007
82,96,97

Hour 15: No offs for any of the class leaders this hour. The LMP2 leading 34 Porsche had small delay for a quick tune up but maintains a lead over the 31.

What is significant is the difference in pace between the 2 Audi and the 7 Pug. Kristensen has not only moved into the lead but has stretched it out to over a minute.

The skies are getting lighter, dawn is at Le Mans.

Class leaders with 9 to go:
2,7,3
34,31,35
009,63,64
82,96,97

Hour 16: Still raining, though not as much, and now brighter at least.

The Essex Porsche still struggling with a misfire, slides down the leaderboard. The surprising 35 Saulnier Pescarolo now in second.

The Embassy has an off, comes back needing a rear wing and left side bodywork.

The rain has equalized the diesel battle, but as the track dries out the Pugs go faster.

GT1 has slowly become drawn out as David Brabham strings out a 2 minute lead in the 009 over the 63. The 64 is in third, the 72 now fourth.

Class leaders with 8 to go:
2,7,9
34,35,31
009,63,64
82,96,97

Hour 17: The 63 needs an unexpected pad and rotor change, it puts them a further 2 minutes behind the lead 009 and off the GT1 lead lap.

Peugeot are using the delayed number 8 for experimenting. They fit a high downforce front nose and rear wing then send Pedro Lamy out to see what he can do. No doubt, the Pugs have the measure of Audi in the dry but if the race stays wet until the end, Audi will beat them comprehensively. One can sense a little desperation from the French squad; they were indecisive on their tire choices earlier, they are tinkering with the bodywork, and lest we forget they had an overheating issue in the night. Audi, on the other hand, continue to run their own race.

The cars look fantastic with their rain-induced mucky appearance--how an endurance car should look.

Class leaders with 7 to go:
2,7,9
34,35,31
009,63,64
82,96,97

Hour 18: No changes in any of the class leads. It is still spitting rain. The big news is the lead that McNish has built in the 2 Audi over the 7 Pug, it is over 2 and a half minutes. The camera shot of the Audi garage with the mechanics and co driver Dindo Capello and team manager Wolfgang Ulrich was telling, they were all lounging in chairs. They've been here before, this is old hat.

It is the end of the road for the 45 Embassy, unable to recover from the shunt a couple of hours ago. Still it has gone a full half day longer than ever before, a respectable result for this new manufacturer.

Class leaders with 6 to go:
2,7,9
34,35,31
009,63,64
82,96,97

Abandonments
LMP1
6 Oreca Courage/Judd, accident, 9th out
12 Charouz Lola/Judd, engine, 11th
19 Chamberlain Lola/AER, 7th

LMP2
25 RML Lola/MG, accident, 10th
33 Speedy Lola/Judd, 11th
41 Trading Performance Zytek/Zytek, accident 3rd
45 Embassy WF01/Zytek, accident, 12th

GT1
53 Vitaphone Aston Martin DBR9, engine, 6th

GT2
76 IMSA Porsche, accident, 2nd
78 AF Course Ferrari, driveshaft, 8th
83 Risi (Krohn) Ferrari, accident, 1st
85 Snoras Spyker, engine, 4th
94 Speedy Spyker, engine, 5th

Hour 19: The 31 Porsche has caught and passed the 35 for second in LMP2, no word if they fixed the misfire but in the tricky conditions it isn't surprising that Porsche factory driver is lapping faster than the first ever driver from China to compete at Le Mans, "Franky" Cheng.

The Bruichladdich Radical, American Gunnar Jeanette at the wheel, has a spin in the Porsche Curves and dings the rear and left front. Like the Embassy, this is another English entry going further than expected.

It is a full lap that Nishy has over Minassian at the front. Still wet, still slippery, still advantage Audi.

Class leaders with 5 to go:
2,7,9
34,31,35
009,63,64
82,96,97

Hour 20: It's been an hour of magnificent racing between the lead 2 Audi and the first of the Pugs, the 7. The 7, under the guidance of Nicolas Minassian had managed to finally unlap itself from Capello and pulled out about 15 seconds before pitting. Both the Pug and the Audi pitted at the same time, Minassian turned over to Villenueve while Capello stayed aboard for another double stint (presumably). The Audi left with a sizeable advantage of at least 10 seconds. Plus that lap in hand.

Audi sends the 1 out on inters....baaad decision. After 3 near spins, it finally does at the Ford Chicane. It is in the garage later with a burned clutch.

Just at the top of the hour though, the track is drying and Villenueve hauls the 7 Pug past the lead 2 Audi and back onto the lead lap.

Class leaders with 4 to go:
2,7,9
34,31,35
009,63,64
82,96,97

Hour 21: Drying track, and at 15 minutes past it is time for intermediates; both the 2 Audi and 7 Pug pit for a set.

Not sure when the official call was made but the 16 Pesca is out with overheating.

The 32 Zytek blew the left rear tire prior to the first chicane on the Mulsanne; it took some bodywork off as well.

Just before the top of the hour the 35 spins and is nicked by the 90 Ferrari.

Kristensen has just hopped aboard the leading 2 Audi with a lap in hand over the 7 Pug.

Class leaders with 3 to go:
2,7,9
34,31,35
009,63,64
82,96,97

Hour 22: With less than 3 hours to go, the 9 Pug gets the radiator treatment again while the 8 stuffs it in the tires. The 7, meanwhile, hasn't made up the ground that it needs to in order to challenge the leading 2 Audi.

Heartbreak for the 96 Virgo Ferrari. The engine couldn't make it and the car has retired. The 97 moves to second and 90 into third.

Kristensen has a moment coming out of the Dunlop Chicane, the R10 touching the 32 Barazi Zytek.

OK, the official line on the Autocon was 224. They have retired with a gearbox problem.

Class leaders with 2 to go:
2,7,9
34,31,35
009,63,64
82,97, 90

Hour 23: The bright sunshine that had been bathing the circuit becomes obscured with clouds and rain. Yes, with one hour to go and 2 minutes between first and second, rain seems to be returning to Le Mans. The lead Audi pits nearly immediately for inters but the rain continues, should the have gone for full wets? The 7 Pug pits as well but it's all a mess as Minassian pulls in on an angle! They jack the car up first and put it on the dollies in order to put the car in proper position then fuel it. But the leave without changing the tires! Minassian is back out on slicks in the downpour!

And the battle for the overall lead isn't the only humdinger on the course. No, the 009 Aston and 63 Vette have been at it all day. The gap between these two is less than a lap as well.

Class leaders with 1 to go:
2,7,9
34,31,35
009,63,64
82,97, 90

Hour 24: Minassian does a double spin just before the Dunlop Bridge! It is right in front of Seth Neimann in the 80 Porsche who misses the 7 Pug somehow. Both drivers do a *masterful* job of driving through the accident and carrying on with nary a delay!

The only chance the Pug has is for the rain to stop quickly and for Audi to leave Kristensen out on inters for too long. The gap between 1st and 2nd is about 2:45 and there are only 45 minutes ~10 laps remaining.

Minassian pits for wets at about the bottom of the hour. Surely the battle has been fought; they can't win now without a major problem for the lead car. That lead car pits for wets with 13 minutes remaining. With the Pug delayed again, the win is surely there for Audi now.

That long awaited second win for McNish comes in 2008, ten years after his first. In that same span of time Kristensen has gone on to rack up 7 victories and now gets his 8th, a sum beyond description. What an absolutely amazing race. Amazing.

Aston Martin wins two in a row in GT1, matching the 2 that the Vettes scored against them in 2005 and 2006. With the new regulations permitting the DBR9 and C6.R engine in LMP1, I wonder if this isn't the last factory v. factory battle for the DBR9 and C6.R.

And how ironic that the year Porsche gets its first win in LMP2 that Ferrari gets its first win in GT2. Van Merksteijn's RS Spyder had a near faultless run, and the same can be said for Risi Competizioni's Ferrari 430.

What

a

classic.

Class Winners for the 76th 24 Heures du Mans
LMP1 and overall
2 Audi R10
7 Peugeot 908
9 Peugeot 908

LMP2
34 Van Merksteijn Porsche RS Spyder
31 Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder
35 Saulnier Racing Pescarolo Judd

GT1
009 Aston Martin Racing DBR9
63 Corvette Racing C6.R
64 Corvette Racing C6.R

GT2
82 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430
97 BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari F430
90 Farnbacher Racing Ferrari F430