It is only the first hour and the big names are in trouble

A recap from the first hour...

• Apart from a scare on the pre-formation lap with the #7 Peugeot going into its pit and rejoining 5 minutes later, the 55 cars selected by the ACO started on a dry track with sunny 28c weather, with a light wind (7/10 kph)and a track temperature of 46c.


• The only Aston in the LM GT1 (Jet Alliance) category came back into its pit garage after the first lap with electrical and alternator problems
• After 9 minutes, Alexandre Prémat in the #3 Audi spins off at Inidianapolis, and hits the tyre wall. After a couple of minutes, the car is pulled out of the gravel by a snatch vehicle and returned to its pit.
• Whilst the 54 other cars completed their first lap, Jean de Pourtales took his Lola into the pit garage to check an oil line.
• After many problems during the test and qualifying sessions and the warm up, the Lamborghini entered by JLOC officially announced their retirement at 3.20 PM due to an engine problem.
• One of the Le Mans Series favourites, the Ginetta driven by Guy Smith came back into its garage at the end of it's 7th lap. It was reported that fuel was leaking and it had a vibration problem.
• Karthikeyan will not be able to drive Audi #14 as he has dislocated his shoulder.
  Earlier in the week it was reported that Franck Montagny had a stress fracture of his left leg although he is able to drive Peugeot # 8.
• After 12 laps, Harold Primat pulls his car into the garage. The Lola Aston Martin has been put up on its jacks to change the alternator drive belt.
• Just as the #7 Peugeot was exiting its pit with Pedro Lamy at the wheel, the #17 Pescarolo with Jean-Christophe Boullion at the wheel was coming into its own pit, and the cars collided. The #7 car kept going and rejoined the track.
• The LM P1 #4 Creation Autosportif Judd is into its garage, some fuel problems were reported.
• Following the incident in the pits between the #7 and #17 908s, Pedro Lamy's car appears to have suffered bodywork damage to the rear left, and it is spotted running slowly on the Hunaudières with a disintegrated rear left tyre. Because of rubber and bodywork parts which are being spread all over the track, the safety car is called out so that the track can be cleared.

  Top spots after 1 hour
  LMP1
  1 - 8 Peugeot
  2 - 1 Audi
  3 - 2 Audi

  LMP2
  1 - 31 Essex Porsche
  2 - 5 Goh Porsche
  3 - 33 Speedy Racing Team Sebah

  GT1
  1 - 63 Corvette
  2 - 64 Corvette
  3 - 73 Luc Alphand Aventures

  GT2
  1 - 82 Risi
  2 - 76 IMSA
  3 - 80 Flying Lizard