LeMans 24 Hour 23: #2 LMP1 Porsche takes lead

After witnessing all the drama that’s unfolded thus far, everyone is holding their breath with 23 hours complete at Le Mans.

LMP1

Timo Bernhard continued to close the gap to the #38 Oreca from Jackie Chan DC Racing, which was the overall leader and has finally taken the overall lead.

The #8 Toyota is still in it as well and to drive home that point, Sebastien Buemi has set the new fastest race lap, a 3:18.604. He is ninth overall.

LMP2

Unless the #38 has problems, the fight for second is between the #35 Alpine and the #13 ORECA. André Negrao (#35) and Nelson Piquet Jr. (#13) had a fantastic battle on track, with Piquet Jr. getting the better of Negrao, but then having to serve a 10-second penalty for contact with the #49 Ligier. The #35 holds second over the #13 for now.

The class leader’s sister car, the #37 ORECA (Gommendy) is still within striking distance as well in fourth.

LMGTE Pro

This category remains up for grabs amongst five different manufacturers. The #63 Corvette (Magnussen) leads, but the #97 Aston Martin (Adam) is less than 20 seconds behind.

The #67 Ford (Tincknell) is on the class lead lap, followed by the #91 Porsche (Makowiecki), who recently pitted out of sequence, perhaps in a bid to get on the same pit strategy as the leaders.

The #71 is Ferrari’s best hope in LMGTE Pro at the moment. Sam Bird is fifth.

LMGTE Am

It may jinx them to say so, but the #84 Ferrari seems to be the only car to successfully maintain its class-lead through the race without issue. Dries Vanthoor is back in the JMW Motorsport entry with a full lap on second place, which is the #55 Ferrari (Cioci).

Townsend Bell has been making up ground in the #62 Ferrari and moved into the final podium spot.

The #65 Ferrari (Balzan) had a moment in the Dunlop Chicane, which resulted in a puncture tire. The Italian then had to limp the car back to pit lane.