Now half way through the 78th running the 24 Hours of Le Mans the no.2 Peugeot 908 remains in the least ahead of the three works Audi R15 machines.
The car is now the only one of the four French machines not to have hit troubles -the no.3 retired with damage to the chassis tub, the no.1 lost three laps with a alternator failure and the privateer ORECA diesel was pulled back into the garage shortly before the half-way point, the team pouring over the rear of the car, which was accompanied by an oil leak.
Behind, after having some delays of their own the Audi's remain within striking distance – the first of the R15 'Plus' car – the no.9 only just on of the lead lap with Romain Dumas taking second from the ORECA car as they pitted.
The no.8 car – Audi Sport's new driving line-up runs third, with the recovering no.7 car behind them. Then comes the no.1 car as they try to fight back up having briefly led. The car, with new recruit Anthony Davidson had another brief scare, spinning after contact with a GT2 Corvette and the Brit was trying to lap the car through the Dunlop Esses, running down towards Tetre Rouge.
The no.007 Aston Martin Racing car continues to be the best placed petrol car in seventh place four laps off the outright pace.
Strakka Racing continue to hold the lead in LMP2, where they have sat for nearly the entire duration of the race so far, the Jonny Kane/Danny Watts/Nick Leventis car has pulled out a three lap lead over their Highcroft Racing rivals, with a further lap between them and the no.35 OAK entry.
The Larbre Competition remains in the lead in LMGT1 after the delays for the erstwhile leaders around midnight. The French-run car has two laps worth of advantage over the Luc Alphand Corvette in second, with the Matech Ford ten laps behind and needing a frantic chain of events to regain the lead.
LMGT2 continues to be Corvette benefit after the retirement of the defending champions in the Risi Competizione Ferrari. The pair of American cars have a lap advantage over third in the class, with the best placed six LMGT2 cars ahead of the leading LMGT1 Saleen by three laps.
Class top fives after 12 Hours
LMP1
No.2 Team Peugeot Total
No.9 Audi Sport North America
No.8 Audi Sport Team Joest
No.7 Audi Sport Team Joest
No.1 Team Peugeot Total
LMP2
No.42 Strakka Racing
No.26 Highroft Racing
No.35 OAK Racing
No.40 Quifel ASM Team
No.25 RML
LMGT1
No.50 Larbre Competition
No.73 Luc Alphand Aventures
No.60 Matech Competition
No.52 Young Driver AMR
No.72 Luc Alphand Aventures
LMGT2
No.64 Corvette Racing
No.63 Covette Racing
No.77 Team Felbermayr-Proton
No.76 IMSA Performance
No.89 Hankook Team Farnbacher
