LeMans Hour 2: Lotterer puts Audi out front

Andre Lotterer in the No. 7 Audi

Andre Lotterer took the lead on Lap 30 of the 83rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and has the No. 7 Audi R18 e-tron quattro up front at the end of two hours.

Timo Bernhard had led in the red No. 17 Porsche 919 Hybrid, but lost the lead to Lotterer after the second round of pit stops.

Bernhard led following a 22-minute safety car period to remove the No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR from the Mulsanne straight, which Porsche Team Manthey indicated was a drivetrain issue that put the car out of the race.

Shortly after the restart, the star turn came from the three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Lotterer, in the No. 7 Audi.

Lotterer completed a two-in-one pass of Neel Jani in the No. 18 Porsche, then Bernhard, to take Audi’s first lead of the race. He pitted at the one hour and 39 minute mark for his second stop of the race.

Both Porsches pitted later, with Bernhard’s coming a full eight minutes later after Lap 27 of the race. Bernhard exited ahead of Lotterer and Jani, but lost the lead a couple laps later.

Hour 2 Standings