Club Arnage the Le Mans 24 hours LIVE coverage

Live Updates
Sunday 08:00hrs-09:00hrs
By: Jock Simpson and Mathew Coutard

Having had a break for about four hours it is actually rather exciting to come back to the Media Centre and see what has been happening. Thus proving we are slightly sad b*st*rds … but at least we care! Well .. two Audis are still purring around but there is just a whiff of hope for the rest of the field since #2 car is smoking a tiny bit … very occasionally. The Bentley #8 is still with us and running third. There a just 24 cars running so this has proved to be a tough race. MG have expired .. It was a pretty heroic effort but #33 succumbed to a steady stream of gremlins. The Viper challenge expired leaving #63 Corvette to fend off the distant Saleen. GT is now an all Porsche affair led by #77. PK Sport are still running and lying 19th. With this kind of attrition rate we wonder how many cars will actually see the chequered flag

Having braved the elements walking across the car parks this morning I can assure that it is bl**dy cold out there. The photographic team support that view, but rather more vociferously. It has stopped raining, even so intermediates seem to be fashionable.

08:01 #2 Audi pits .. only two laps since its last visit … are there problems? It took a 41 sec 'fiddle' to get it out again .. maybe a loose wheel nut or bodywork.

08:07 #63 Corvette is in, at least so the computer tells us … however there is no sign of it outside its pit … ah .. here it is! Refuel no driver … Pruett remains at the wheel.

08:08 #17 Pescarolo Peugeot pits… routine planned stop …

08:10 #80 Porsche pits and rejoins

08:13 #77 & #16 Chrysler Playstation car into pits and straight into garage, engine cover off.

#77 looks a bit more routine… and away it goes.

#16 cover back on … out it goes .. fuel goes in .. then problems .. won't fire up … back into garage…

08:17 #14 Chrysler pits and rejoins and misses a wheel in the pit lane that belonged to the Audi!

08:19 #1 Audi in pits .. routine stop.

#16 still in garage .. starter motor is being changed and back out sounding a bit rough. They are in hurry because their 4th place has just gone to the Cadillac #6

#72 Porsche … door detached itself as they got ready to go out .. #72 has been in for the last hour but looks like it will be out again soon.

08:22 #60 pits Saleen .. as expected

08:24 #74 pits .. fuel etc

#1 Audi is not up to speed at the moment and is struggling to find a spot to get past one of The Chryslers.. they must not take any risks.

08:28 #75 pits and back out.

#1 we are told that the Audi is now trying again!

08:32 #79 has spent hours and hours in the pits but it is out again

08:33 #6 DAMS Cadillac pits .. and Beretta moves back into 4th. #6 remains on Intermediates.. Cadillac has cover off … restarted engine .. stalled .. not going well this. Compressed air seems to help starter .. but it ain't going nowhere yet! It is back into the garage

#08:35 Bentley in .. only one headlight working, no driver change.. trouble starting.

#30 has sneaked in … we missed it.

Nice slo-mo shots of #84 Porsche bouncing over the kerbs …

#6 has lost two places while in the pits …starter motor failed ..

#16 Chrysler getting a bit smokey on over run at Mulsanne

08:47 #6 Cadillac is finally up and running, hurray ! . They lost 14 minutes

#64 Corvette pits ..and back out

#58 Chrysler Viper is back out after long, long pit stop

#30 WR Gearbox change

08:49 #76 PK Sport in

#83 in and out .. and Audi #2 in pits and off again

#79 Porsche back in pits ….

08:53 #38 Reynard class leading LM P 675 car into pits.

#08:54 #63 pits leading GTS car.. driver change.. new set of slicks ..

#17 Pescarolo car pits .. running 5th.

#38 back out .. after routine stop ..

08:56 #58 one of the Vipers that has spent ages in the pits but is now back out.

Spitting with rain.

Positions at 09:00 hrs

1.2.8.16.17.63.14.6.38.60.77.83.64.74.80.75.82.72.76.30.58.79.21.18 …

That is all!! Just 24 cars currently officially running … we are sure that 21 and 18 out technically out of it, but have not retired officially