2012 24 Hours Of Le Mans: Hour 8 Update

The #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro in the pits - Photo Credit: Audi Motorsport

Audi continue to hold a 1-2-3 after eight hours of the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, as Toyota's remaining challenger remained in the pits as darkness fell.

Sidelined when Kazuki Nakajima made contact with the DeltaWing after the safety car break in hour seven, Alex Wurz emerged from the garage in the car at one stage, only to grind to a halt at the end of pitlane. Toyota mechanics rushed to hit aid and wheeled him back in.

Andre Lotterer has returned to the cockpit of the leading #1 in place of Marcel Fassler, with Allan McNish and Oliver Jarvis in the #2 e-tron and #4 ultra respectively.

The Rebellion Lola-Toyota pair have continued their trouble-free runs and are well-placed to inherit a podium should the top three Audis have issues. The JRM HPD was continuing to run well in sixth but it did suffer a puncture at the end of the hour and was rolled into the garage.

Murphy Prototypes lead LMP2 on their Le Mans debut in seventh overall ahead of the recovering #3 Audi.

The #74 Corvette of Oliver Gavin remained in the GTE Pro lead, 40 seconds ahead of the #51 AF Corse Ferrari, with the #50 Larbre Corvette leads the #67 IMSA Porsche in GTE Am.

2012 24 Hours of Le Mans class standings after 8 hours:

LMP1

1. #1 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Lotterer/Fassler/Treluyer – 123 laps
2. #2 – Audi Sport Team Joest – McNish/Capello/Kristensen – 123 laps
3. #4 – Audi Sport Team North America – Bonanomi/Jarvis/Rockenfeller – 123 laps
4. #12 – Rebellion Racing – Prost/Jani/Heidfeld- 120 laps
5. #13 – Rebellion Racing – Belicchi/Primat/Bleekemolen – 119 laps

LMP2

1. #48 – Murphy Prototypes – Firth/Hughes/Hartley – 116 laps
2. #24 – Oak Racing – Nicolet/Lahaye/Pla – 116 laps
3. #44 – Starworks Motorsport – Potolicchio/Dalziel/Kimber-Smith – 116 laps
4. #49 – Pecom Racing – Perez Companc/Ayari/Kaffer- 116 laps
5. #26 – Signatech Nissan – Panciatici/Ragues/Rusinov – 115 laps

LMGTE Pro

1. #74 – Corvette Racing – Gavin/Milner/Westbrook – 111 laps
2. #51 – AF Corse – Fisichella/Bruni/Vilander – 111 laps
3. #73 – Corvette Racing – Taylor/Garcia/Magnussen – 110 laps
4. #59 – Luxury Racing – Makowiecki/Melo/Farnbacher – 110 laps
5. #77 – Team Felbermayr-Proton – Lieb/Lietz/Henzler – 109 laps

LMGTE Am

1. #50 – Larbre Competition – Bornhauser/Canal/Lamy – 108 laps
2. #67 – Imsa Performance Matmut – Armindo/Narac/Pons –  108 laps
3. #57 – Krohn Racing – Krohn/Jonsson/Rugolo – 107 laps
4. #61 – AF Corse-Waltrip – Kauffman/Aguas/Vickers- 106 laps
5. #70 – Larbre Competition – Belloc/Bourret/Gibon- 105 laps