Fantastic Porsche - Ferrari Battle at Paul Ricard in firt half of the race

The British driver, who had started the race in third place, hit the front on the opening lap and drove faultlessly for the next 61 laps, stopping once for fuel and tyres. 

The LMGTE pole car, the no72 SMP Ferrari of Sergey Zlobin lost ground in the first few laps before receiving a Stop and Go penalty for a jump start.  A spin for Viktor Shaitar on lap 40 also caused further delay for the team. 

At the top of the second hour the no 66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari of George Richardson was 40 seconds behind Piccini in third place and 12 seconds ahead of the no55 AF Corse Ferrari of Michele Rugolo. 

In the GTC class the no73 SMP Racing Ferrari of Anton Ladygin was leading the class by 11 seconds at the half way point of the race.  The nr71 SMP Racing Ferrari, which had started on Pole Position with Kirill Ladygin at the wheel, led for the first four laps before spinning off while trying to overtake a LMGTE Ferrari.  It was unclear if there was contact but the result was the Russian lost time and places rejoining the circuit. 

Ladygin was then given a stop go penalty for jumping the start and more disaster struck when a punctured rear left tyre forced Luca Persiani into the pits losing them even more time.  

The no60 Formula Racing Ferrari of Mikkel Mac completed the 59th lap as the clock counted past 120 minutes in second place behind the no73 Ferrari and just 0.5 seconds ahead of the no93 Ferrari of Franck Perera.