2012 24 Hours Of Le Mans: Hour 6 Update

The Toyotas had been pushing for the lead when Davidson crashed - Photo Credit: Toyota Motorsport

The sixth hour of the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans was run under the safety car after an enormous accident involving Anthony Davidson at the top of the hour.

Just after Nicolas Lapierre had taken the lead of the race in the sister #7 Toyota, Davidson's #8 ended up in the barrier at the end of the Mulsanne Straight. The Brit had made a move on the #81 AF Corse Ferrari of Piergiuseppe Perazzini at the kind, but the Ferrari turned in on the Toyota and the two made contact.

Davidson's car got sideways and then flew upside down before landing the right way up in the barrier, while Perazzini slid into the barrier where it turned upside down. Davidson got straight out of the car before signalling for medical attention.

He was taken to the medical centre, and will visit hospital for further checks. Toyota confirmed that he was walking and talking but was complaining of back pains.

With the safety car out for the recovery of the cars and repairs to the barriers, the #1 Audi retook the lead of the race during driver changes, with Marcel Fassler taking over from Benoit Treluyer and Kazuki Nakajima replacing Nicolas Lapierre in the #7. The #2 and #4 Audis hold third and fourth, while the #3 rejoined seven laps down after Romain Dumas' off.

The #24 Oak continues to lead LMP2 in ninth overall ahead of Starworks and Murphy Prototypes.

The #74 Corvette has moved back ahead in GTE Pro in its battle with the #51 Ferrari, while the #50 Labre Corvette remains ahead in GTE Am.

2012 24 Hours of Le Mans class standings after 6 hours:

LMP1

1. #1 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Lotterer/Fassler/Treluyer – 91 laps
2. #7 – Toyota Racing – Wurz/Lapierre/Nakajima – 91 laps
3. #2 – Audi Sport Team Joest – McNish/Capello/Kristensen – 91 laps
4. #4 – Audi Sport Team North America – Bonanomi/Jarvis/Rockenfeller – 90 laps
5. #12 – Rebellion Racing – Prost/Jani/Heidfeld- 89 laps

LMP2

1. #24 – Oak Racing – Nicolet/Lahaye/Pla – 87 laps
2. #44 – Starworks Motorsport – Potolicchio/Dalziel/Kimber-Smith – 87 laps
3. #48 – Murphy Prototypes – Firth/Hughes/Hartley – 87 laps
4. #35 – Oak Racing – Heinemeier Hansson/Leinders/Martin – 86 laps
5. #42 – Greaves Motorsport – Panciatici/Ragues/Rusinov – 86 laps

LMGTE Pro

1. #74 – Corvette Racing – Gavin/Milner/Westbrook – 83 laps
2. #51 – AF Corse – Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander – 82 laps
3. #77 – Team Felbermayr-Proton – Lieb/Lietz/Henzler – 82 laps
4. #73 – Corvette Racing – Taylor/Garcia/Magnussen – 82 laps
5. #59 – Luxury Racing – Makowiecki/Melo/Farnbacher – 82 laps

LMGTE Am

1. #50 – Larbre Competition – Bornhauser/Canal/Lamy – 81 laps
2. #58 – Luxury Racing – Ehret/Montecalvo/Jeannette – 81 laps
3. #67 – Imsa Performance Matmut – Armindo/Narac/Pons –  80 laps
4. #61 – AF Corse-Waltrip – Kauffman/Aguas/Vickers- 80 laps
5. #57 – Krohn Racing – Krohn/Jonsson/Rugolo- 80 laps