Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests 24 Hours of Le Mans!

Hour 13: The hour of spins as the Bentley, 66 Saleen, and the Freisinger Porsche all stick it in the gravel.

But the big news is the retirement of the class leading prodrive Ferrari 550 Maranello. Alain Menu first reported an intermittent oil light and made it to the Porsche curves before the lump packed up. They had a comfortable lead on the Corvettes and were still outrunning them each lap. Hindsight is always 20/20 but maybe they should have played it a little closer to the vest? Corvette will surely go 1-2 again this year.

The 12 Panoz made it back out, while the MG wheeled in for a precautionary gearbox change. Seeing as the sister car lost drive on course earlier in the evening this was a good call.

Morgan had a broken driveshaft but managed to get for repair, they have since rejoined. It is still Freisinger/Racers Group for the lead.

Hour 14: So it is still an Audi sweep up front but Caddy and Bentley are battling it out for fouth. The Bentley just recently spinning at the second Mulsanne chicane and a weak clutch is costing it time over the Caddy. Oreca still frame the Dutch Dome which was showing a bit of smoke from the Judd V10 earlier. On a side note, a Judd has yet to make the finish at Le Mans. Hmm. 214 laps completed for the lead Audi's, 385 would set a all time distance record.

News that the reason the Ferrari couldn't make it back in though it was so close was because it had a engine fire. Uh, yeah major engine fire. Corvette is 13 and 14th 22L and 24L back from the Audi's.

The Spyker has ingesting some of its intake box and two cylinders have no compression. Pity as they had put forward a very respectible effort. Morgan has managed to slip by even with a loose gearshift.

Hour 15: The Riley & Scott retired just at the top of the hour, seems as if the Ford-based Elan engine had valvetrain trouble. Pity, they were running quite well and threatening Cadillac for the best American car. The non-factor Kondo Dome also retired, their's was gearbox trouble.

Ron Fellows is suffering from food poisoning and might not get back in the car. This is a crucial development as the Corvette is like an oven in the daytime heat, so much so that the drivers can't double stint. So come full daylight it will likely be Johnny O'Connell and Oliver Gavin swapping stints.

The GT lead is still Freisinger with Racers Group nipping at their heels.

The list of retirements is growing, only 33 cars remain.

Hour 16: Frantic hour this one. First of all the lone remaining MG--and a factory effort at that--has retired with engine failure. Well it isn't official but let's just say it could spray for mosquitos around the Mulsanne. Both Cadillacs have hit the pits at the same time in formation with some bodywork adjustments and matching right rear deflations. The 7 went back out somewhat quickly with a bit of duct tape affixed. The 6 required an entire rear end change (15 mins) after an off at Indianapolis. Turns out the 7 drew a puncture after running through the gravel tossed up by it's teammate. The 15 Dallara has also been fitted for a new rear assembly.

The 64 Vette pitted to fix an oil leak, fixed after roughtly a quarter hour and back at it 2nd in class.

The US based Orbit Racing Porsche has retired, Freisinger still leads over Racers Group. Morgan is up to 6th and is still running marvelously!

Hour 17: Not near the attrition this hour as last. In fact Audi has taken to time to crank out some laps as the 1 and 3 each go fastest this hour. So it is Audi 1-3, Bentley, Oreca 5-6, Dome 7, Cadillac 8 & 10.

The 2nd place Corvette and 52 Viper had a nice battle out of the pits but the 64 Vette eventually pulled away comfortably.

Morgan is slowing and might be on the last leg?

Hour 18: The hour that coud have been! The number 2 Audi suffered through a puncture early in the hour and dropped a spot. However, they got it back when the 3 Audi pitted with a bit of gearbox trouble. The 6 Caddy also had a moment, at Tetre Rouge. Max Angelelli coming to grips with the tire wall. Then Jan Lammer's takes his turn playing in the kitty litter with the 16 Dome.

64 Corvette has gotten one lap back from the 63 and is now 3 laps in arrears.

Morgan has had some problems and the stops keep getting longer. Just a bit more baby! The Racers Group has a lap over Freisinger Motorsport.

Hour 19: The 15 Dallara hits the pits early in the hour for a new starter. Are they pitted close to Cadillac? Audi ALSO has problems with the starter on the 1 car. It spends quite a spell in the pits and is now on the same lap as the 2 Audi. Panoz officially retired the 12 car this hour with a thrown rod. Another year of trouble for Panoz as neither car finished last year either. 294 laps complete for the lead Audi.

A little update in GTS, the Larbre Competition Viper stuck it in the gravel last hour and has fallen to fourth in class. FFSA is trying to be the first Viper home behind the Corvettes.

In the Porsche class--LM GT officially, it is the Racers Group by mere seconds over Freisinger. Morgan is the last of the GT class cars circulating, but hey they're still going!

Hour 20: Normal pitstops for the leaders with the exception of the 7 Cadillac. Their latest extended pitstop have cost it a top ten to the lone remaining Pescarolo. Frank Biela has extended the lead over the 2 Audi, now having a lap in hand.

Unfortunately the Morgan has retired. It was first thought it had a fuel injection problem, but it turned out to be more serious. Big hand from the crowd as the team bowed out. Freisinger is now trailing the Racers Group by nearly a lap after being given a 1 minute penalty by the stewards for having too many crewman servicing the car.

Hour 21: Just three hors remaining in the 70th edition of the great classic. Pretty much the grind to the finish. With the decreasing car count and an 8 mile track, on track mishaps shouldn't be an issue and indeed hasn't. Leader has complete 322 laps and looks like a new record isn't going to happen this year.

Hour 22: No changes really, most teams have settled in their current positions. Advances will only come with the detriment of the car in front. 340 laps for the lead Audi now, 2 Audi -1L, 3 Audi -3L, Bentley -12L, 15 Oreca -16L, 14 Oreca -16L 45 sec. Highest Caddy is in 9th, 21L laps down.

Corvette should finish 1-2 barring any problems.

Racers Group continue the lead over Freisinger, ~1 min. Team Seikel in third.