Autosportfoto

Le Mans - Hours 18-21 recap: Expect the unexpected

Audis occupy all top four spots but the exact positions have been changeable. The two Hybrids have swapped the lead several times. This has included some on-track racing as well as positions gained and lost during the pit stop exchanges. Typically, but with many exceptions, when the No. 1 was ahead the gap remained around 20 seconds while the No. 2's temporary leads measured about 50 seconds.

The fourth place Audi, No. 3 R18 Ultra, was seemingly solidly in its spot, having vanquished the two Rebellion Racing cars. After suffering from an electrical malady earlier on, there is even more question about the car as, at the end of the hour, Marc Gene skewed off at the first chicane and hit the tyre wall in an incident remarkably similar to the one yesterday which befell Dumas. The Spaniard nursed the car back around, again within its front bodywork, nearly climbing up a guardrail en route and scattering so much debris that a safety car intervention was required.

There is no quarter be given between the Audi "team mates", especially the drivers of the pair of Hybrid cars. Indeed the period came to an end with Benoit Treluyer having a lurid moment spinning in the pit lane as he came to the mandatory slowing down spot.

The Starworks Motorsport HPD has a one lap lead over the rising star in the LM P2 class, the No. 46 Thiriet by TDS Racing Oreca-Nissan. A bit further back on the same tour is the No. 49 Pecom Racing Oreca-Nissan. Thus both the class title and the remainder of the podium in LM P2 remains wide open.

The metronomic No. 51 AF Corse has a strong hold on the GTE Pro, but remember there are still three hours to go. It's a Ferrari 1-2 with the No. 59 Luxury Racing entry next, but three laps down. A lap further in arrears is the No. 97 Aston Martin which has had a mercurial race filled with delays as well as excellent stints. They are hoping to survive ahead of the No. 73 Corvette, which in turn is hoping to reduce its two lap deficit. The Corvette is running well now after a bout of steering issues.

By far the most competitive class in the final stages is GTE Am. The steady No 50 Larbre Competition Corvette only has a lead of about 17 seconds over the No. 67 Felbermayr-Proton Porsche. The next podium-ready car in the class, the No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari is about five laps back but deserves credit for tenacity.

There are three hours to go and as the last few minutes have shown anything can happen. And it probably will.