advantage over the second-placed LMP2 entry - the number 13 Rebellion.The number thirteen car endured a scare during their last stop when the exiting Piquet experienced a power failure during the driver change. However, a quick change from the Rebellion crew got the car back out on track without losing position to the number 31 sister entry.
The big movers through the pack were the number 2 Porsche and number 8 Toyota which were trying to get back on terms with the bottom end of the LMP2 field - Buemi in particular setting times just shy of this year's lap record. Timo Bernhard meanwhile had slotted into the top ten and was climbing along with the ambient temperature. Alex Brundle hit a purple patch in the number 37 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA to elevate both ORECA 07 Gibsons into the top five.
The number 91 Porsche of Patrick Pilet headed Richie Stanaway in GTE Pro, until Stanaway bounced the number 95 Aston Martin off the barriers at Mulsanne and destrying his splitter in the process. This elevated Jordan Taylor to the top spot in the number 63 Corvette ahead of Fred Makowiecki and Harry Tincknell.
Rob Smith was still commanding LM GTE Am in the JMW Ferrari, a lap ahead of the number 55 Spirit of Race and number 62 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari.
As the race ticked over the 21 Hour mark, the number 1 Porsche ground lost all pressure crossing the start finish line. Lotterer faced the prospect of bringing the car back via solely electric power. As it was, Andre admirably got as far of the Mulsanne before grinding to a halt.
Suddenly, Jackie Chan DC Racing were handed the baton for overall victory, but with the pressure of Hartley’s Porsche now breathing down their necks. Hartley made short work of Oliver Jarvis on the Mulsanne straight and was doing everything he could to bridge the lead LMP2 car's gap - just three laps. Thomas Laurent, having replaced Jarvis in number 38 car and the team took the opportunity to make adjustments to the brake duct and rear end - just in case an over studious steward decided to pull out the red pen. Mathias Beche was second but a lap behind for Vaillante Rebellion, with Pierre Ragues two and a half minutes further for Signatech Alpine, third.
Brendon Hartley now required a flat-out race with no slow zones and more importantly - none of the issues that befell the rest of the LMP1 field minus the number 8 Toyota. Circulating close to 12 seconds a lap quicker than the Oreca, Hartley was able to close and dispatch of Tung down the Mulsanne and pull out a lead with just an hour remaining. All DC Racing could do now was play their own game – ultimately finishing two laps ahead of the next place LMP2 car, the Rebellion of Nelson Piquet and the Signatech Alpine of Andre Negrao.
The Chevrolet of Jordan Taylor and Aston of Jonathan Adam were literally inseparable for the last three hours of the race and was the closest fight of the race, with Turner eventually prevailing after Taylor ran out of tyre life and lost any chance of a podium spot and handing Aston Martin a 1-2 finish. Meanwhile it was a Ferrari clean sweep with Robert Smith, Will Stevens and Dries Vanthoor taking the win for JMW Racing ahead of the 55 Spirit of Race and number 62 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari.
Images: FIA WEC/Adrenal Media