Club Arnage the Le Mans 24 hours LIVE coverage

Live Updates
Sunday 24:00hrs(Sat) -01:00hrs
By: Jock Simpson and Mathew Coutard

Talking to the Stella, who has just handed over to us for the 'dog watches' .. (brace yourself because you now have Mathew and me for the next four hours and then Stella and Lynne for four hours) she tells us that water and electricity are not working well together, it is becoming a serious problem because several teams have lost radio contact … ECU's etc, gearboxes etc are not functioning and so on. This is proving to be a very wet, very weird Le Mans.

It is still p*ssing with rain, on TV it looks more like snow, but it is heavier out in the country than here in the pits. It is very odd, it is as if Le Mans has its own micro climate, based on rain and/or heavy rain!

So back to the plot … Audi are still first and second .. we have mislaid the #3 car. It is stuck out in the rain with gear box problems.

#16 Chrysler still in pits
#70 Callaway Corvette is

Now here is a shock .. we hear #37 Dick Barbour car has been disqualified .. not sure quite why at the moment but we will let you know. Got that wrong .. it fell off and didn't recover.

#18 is now formally dead and they are using bits from its gear box to keep #17 running. You can't replace the gearbox but you can mend it!!

#14 back out
#17 has been in seven minutes and having its gearbox seen to.

00.09 #33 MG back in the pits and then away again …
#70 Callaway Corvette is back out.

#75 Porsche back out.

Ascari #20 in and straight into its garage (where it is dry and light) . slight misfire. They are fitting weird wire mesh over front ducts … not sure why, suggestion is that some of the deeper water has grit and muck in it washing off the side of the track

#21 Ascari is probably going to retire after accident damage.

#30 WR spun and rejoined with help from Marshals.

#6 back out routine visit.

#33 MG ploughing around in the spray.

#20 Ascari out again .. the team are hell bent on rebuilding the wrecked one. People near the action suggest that is an ambitious

00:23 #2 Audi coming in (second OA) fuel, driver tyres. Front and Rear bodywork change .. wonder why? Up.. Up and away!!

We gather the Audi #3 is still out in the country stopped … engine is good, gearbox is good but car won't move .. er? We hear it has now officially retired …it seems the problem is in the drive train.

00:25 #70 Corvette in pits again.. driver chomping away at a sandwich .. all a bit low stress !

00:29 #17 Pescarolo is ready to go again after 25 minute stop, they have change most of the gear box.

Official retirement #3

#8 in, no driver change, no tyre change and out again

#32 Lola Nissan in the gravel

#36 Dick Barbour Reynard out after 90 mins in the pits .. so we reckon Dick can pack up and go home !

We have just seen TV pictures of the #8 Bentley in the rain and puddles it looks utterly incredible.

Both Belmondo Vipers #55 & #56 are out, not sure what finally got them.

00:33 MG #33 back in pits and being backed into the garage.

You remember we were wondering why the Audis changed the bodywork .. apparently they are looking for more down force.

00:37 #82 & #64 are in, seems a routine car stop, or maybe not …they have lifted the rear bodywork, a gear box problem perhaps.

00:39 #80 Larbre Porsche in to pits.

00:40 #33 MG still in pits and is just setting out again .. it has had problems with lights and electrics (water related) and out on the track again.

#64 back out.

MG #33 the problems are now all related to water getting in the electrics .. water is getting in everywhere .. it is all a desperate battle to keep this bl** dy water out, the car is fine. Back

#3 Champion Audi retired officially, garage doors are shut.

#32 Lola Nissan is having trouble getting it started, but it is up and running now.

00:47 #74 Porsche pits… and out again.. is lying second in GT

#83 Seikel Porsche looks routine. Driver change.

Lead car has done 1,500 kms so far… a little way to go yet.

#30 WR has been in the pits for a while now, sorting out 'post bump' problems

00:52 #11 Panoz in .. fuel and out .. double stint for driver.

Panoz #12 car into pits.

#74 Porsche into pits .. not right .. out again wiper problems.

#60 Saleen spun coming out of Ford Chicane and nearly collected #15 & #16 sharp intakes of breath all round.

#61 Saleen is sitting looking unloved in the garage going nowhere.

Positions at 01:00 hrs

1.2.8.15.38.14.63.20.17.16.64.6.83.62.60.9.77.75.74.80.82.76.72.79.70.11.33.36.58.
12.30.32.10.21.

35 cars still running officially.