24h Le Mans
Eight hours into the race, Toyota still holds the lead...but the #8 TS050 Hybrid was forced to spend time in its garage after smoke began billowing from the car's brakes during a pit stop.
LMP1
In the seventh hour, Toyota finally managed to take first and second positions, and full control of the race. But at 10:45 p.m. there was a twist: the #8 Toyota TS050 returned to its pit! A significant cloud of smoke was visible at the car's brakes and mechanics quickly intervened with extinguishers. Then they proceeded to push the car into the garage. The #1 Porsche 919 Hybrid, with Neel Jani at the wheel, took the opportunity to slip back into second position. The gap between the lead Toyota and the Porsche was 45 seconds at 11:00 p.m.
LMP2
In LMP2, the Vaillante Rebellion's team's #31 Oreca 07-Gibson was forced to return to the pits when it incurred a penalty after Bruno Senna overtook another car in a Slow Zone, meaning within a stretch of the track where the speed was limited and all overtaking was prohibited. It was a setback too insignificant to prevent the Swiss team from holding on to the top two positions. Oliver Jarvis, in Jackie Chan DC Racing's #38 Oreca 07-Gibson, continues to perform well and remains within the same lap as the Vaillante Rebellion cars.
LMGTE Pro
Aston Martin is still leading thanks to the #97, followed by the #67 Ford GT and the #92 Porsche. Unfortunately, Risi Competizione's #82 Ferrari was forced to retire due to an incident at Mulsanne as the result of contact with TDS Racing's #28 Oreca 07-Gibson. Matthieu Vaxivière, at the time at the wheel of the prototype, incurred a seven-minute penalty. At the end of the seventh hour, there was an incident for Tommy Milner in the #64 Corvette C7.R. The driver returned unscathed to his pit after a tow truck removed the car from a gravel trap.
LMGTE Am
There has been no great change in LMGTE Am. JMW Motorsport's #84 Ferrari is still leading with Will Stevens at the wheel. At 10:15 p.m., Pedro Lamy in the #98 Aston Martin Vantage had to deal with a flat tire while at full speed entering the Indianapolis curve. He is now in next-to-last position in the class, but still on the track.
PHOTO: Toyota went into the night in the lead at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
