24H DU MANS : ELMS after 16 hours

Audi and Toyota are still battling for the lead of the race and Rebellion holds the first two places in the LMP1 Privateer category (see FIA WEC updates Bulletin n°1, Bulletin n°2, and Bulletin n°3). In the LMP2 category, OAK Racing has claimed the first two positions and seems unwilling to relinquish them to the two ELMS competitors in the class. Since the start of the race, the Jota Sport Zytek Z11SN Nissan (Simon Dolan, Lucas Luhr and Oliver Turvey – No.38) and Greaves Motorsport (No. 42) have battled for the third step on the LMP2 podium. Both competitors are entered for the full European Le Mans Series season. At 6:00 this morning, while Lucas Luhr was driving, the Jota Sport car had a trip through the gravel trap after suspension failure, and has lost a considerable amount of time. It is still running and is now 8th in class. The Greaves Motorsport Zytek driven by Jann Mardenborough, Michael Krumm and Lucas Ordonez, has therefore filled the spot.

The No. 46 Thiriet by TDS Racing ORECA 03 Nissan, driven by Pierre Thiriet, Ludovic Badey and Maxime Martin is currently in fifth position in the LMP2 standings. After being forced to completely rebuild the car after a high speed track excursion by Pierre Thiriet during the first qualifying session session on Wednesday, the team was both determined and motivated to stage a fight back.  Starting from the 19th row of the grid (11th in LMP2), the drivers of the No. 46 have given their all.  Seven hours from the finish, there's all to play for as they are in 5th position in the category.

At Morand Racing, Natacha Gachnang, Franck Mailleux and Olivier Lombard have relied on consistency. Starting from the 6th row, the Morgan Judd has gradually clawed back positions hour by hour in LMP2.  After 16 hours of racing, the Swiss are in 7th place. For its first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Morand Racing is on the right track.

Murphy Prototypes began the race from the 7th row, but the No.48 ORECA03-Nissan was first of all victim to a failed electrical sensor and an early pit stop. A trip through the gravel, contact with a Porsche GTE, safety cars on track ....The team lost all the advantage it had from its good grid position.  Brendon Hartley, Mark Patterson and Karun Chandok remain focused on the race and want to take the chequered flag.  At 7:00 this morning, the ORECA was 10th in LMP2.

In the Signatech Alpine pits, those feelings are shared.  Running in the top three early in the race, the Alpine A450 was hampered by an initial stop in the Signatech Alpine pit. Following a visit to the Mulsanne gravel trap, the car was delayed for nearly fourteen minutes to change a damaged alternator belt.  After regaining 19 places since night fell, Pierre Ragues, Nelson Panciatici and Tristan Gommendy now have as their main objective to cross the finish line. At 8:00 this morning, the No. 36 Signatech Alpine was in 12th in LMP2.