Tough racing at Le Mans

After starting in some of the worst conditions on record, the 84th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans continues to show why it is the ultimate endurance test, with drama, lead changes and more safety car periods thrown into the mix.

Indeed, in the first 10 hours of racing, although there had only been three safety car periods, it had spent nearly two hours (1 hour 46 minutes) on the track.

With the halfway point in sight, the two Audi R18 e-tron quattros sat in fourth and fifth, an extraordinary performance by the #7 car in particular after slipping back to position 59th following the earlier set back in the race when it required a lengthy pit stop to replace a turbo.

Over the intervening hours it fought its way back through the field to its present position in fifth – but not without further dramas.

But even as we go to press, an undiagnosed technical issue sees Marcel Fassler limping back to the pits.

All eyes now on the #8 car, which led the race earlier in proceedings has also suffered its fair share of problems but remains in fourth position, albeit two laps off the leader. A right rear puncture forced an unscheduled pit stop, as did a malfunction with the illuminated numbers on the side of both cars (these numbers must remain illuminated under the race regulations). This stop cost another three minutes (nearly a full lap).

For Audi, race strategy will play a major role as the remaining car runs through the night at Circuit de la Sarthe. Very much on the pace, it is ready to pounce on any problems or technical issues from the Toyotas.

With just over 12 hours still to run, literally anything can happen. Toyota currently leads the race from the only remaining Porsche with another Toyota in third and then Audi in fourth. Weather conditions have improved and the track remains dry at this point as Oliver Jarvis continues to push the #8 R18 in this toughest of all races.