Update:
8.9.7.3.16.23.12.52.51.53.64.
57.22.63.83.17.59.60.1.73.2.
11.81.82.76.75.56.80.6.79.32.
36.10.35.
34 Cars still running.

07:45 hrs McNish has done the fastest lap of the race 3:37.359 average speed 225.332 km/h.

08:00 hrs #53 into the gravel with some damage to the front bodywork. Back on track and off to the pits. This has allowed #64 Corvette to get ahead of it.

08:00Hrs Perspective racing Porsche #79 Smoking bodywork rubbing against rear tyre and is now heading for the pits.

#52 Oreca Viper has set its fastest lap of the race.

#16 Courage C52 running 5th, pits, leaves pits and stalls! But gets fired up again and away.

We gather that there are no real team orders for Audi, simply not to do anything daft ... however surely a 'grand plan' exists, maybe that will come into play later in the day.

As various cars fall by the wayside the leading Oreca Viper have crept upto 8th overall. The leading GT car #83 is running 15th overall!

#11 back in the race with a new gearbox but way down the field in 11th place, sad really because it was going so well earlier in the race.

08:37 hrs left rear puncture on the #17 Courage C60 Judd and it will be a very long way home to the pits and the flailing rubber isn't helping the bodywork (most of that corner is now missing!) and rear suspension. Rear left punctures are very fashionable this year. He eventually arrives in the pit lane at 09:48 hrs and goes straight into the garage.

#22 car in pits probably for another gear box.

We are getting some splendid in car shots from the #3 Cadillac, you see the buffeting the drivers get and the amount of curb hopping that goes on. Some say it is hardly surprising the odd left year bites the dust

#76 Seikel Porsche spins and winds up in the gravel at Dunlop . It is in an awkward spot

#82 into the gravel at Indianapolis with Johnny Mowlem back on the track cheerfully spraying gravel everywhere.

WR LMP Peugeot #35 engine blow up, driver out of the car, looks like a small fire, but it will not being any further this year.

RUNNING ORDER AT 09:00 hrs
8.9.7.3.16.23.12.51.52.64.53.57.
63.22.83.59.60.1.11.73.2.81.17.
82.76.56.80.6.79.32.36,10.35.
34 Cars are still running.

09:00 hrs The #56 Team Goh Chamberlain Viper driven by Walter Brun suddenly snaps right just before Arnage and it is a big impact, the car could have been doing around 200 mph at the time and the car lost a lot of body work en route. It was caused by a blown out left rear. The driver is OK it was a hell of a thump. There is debris and gravel all over the track. It will take no further part and the Chamberlain can pack up and get ready to go home.

Renstal Excelsior Porsche GT3R #80 into the garage.

#8 pits, all looks routine followed #7 coming in for new brakes out refuel.

The Chamberlain Viper still hasn't been recovered so the yellows are still waving.

#2 Cadillacs engine cover is off and they are peering in and have added oil to the gear box and now the nose is coming off as well.. maybe brake or clutch fluid check. Now it is it has been wheeled into the garage. Officially it is the clutch the car is up on jacks.

Officially this has been the hottest Le Mans since 1976 ...useful information or what!

#11 Panoz into and then out of the gravel.. missed the Armco, then had time to wave at the crowd!

09:55 hrs Things have gone little for a while ... But the overall 'game plan' is still going precisely as Audi had hoped and much the same applies to The Oreca Vipers. Dick Barbour has every reason to be happy they are totally in command of GT with their Porsche GT3R.

The only blots of the horizon for Oreca has been the #52 hiccough that is going on at the moment and the spin by #53. The #52 Viper has a broken rocker shaft being repaired as we talk. This has let the 'Vette through into 2nd place.

POSITIONS AT 10:00 am.
8.9.7.3.16.23.12.51.52.64.53.
57.63.22.83.60.59.11.1.73.81.
82.76.2.75.6.17.80.79.32.36.10.35.
33 Cars still running