Despite grabbing the race by the throat throughout the night, Toyota’s cracks eventually began to appear as the dawn broke on Sunday. A faulty wiring loom left pole winner Kazuki Nakajima seeking the Réseau Express Régionalat 5am. This swung the momentum back in the #2 Audi’s favour, but not before fate played a joker – the Audi requiring a turbo change.
Tom Kristensen didn’t require a second invitation at the wheel of #1 Audi, no doubt having to push thoughts of a number 10 victory into the background. However rebuilt etron (courtesy of team-mate Loic Duval’s horrific qualifying crash) was also summoned back to the pits for a prescribed turbo change.