∞∞∞ Schuring's been pinged for the contact with Prette at the end of the last hour. The #2 Marc VDS Porsche drops down the order after serving its drive-through penalty.
∞∞∞ Ordinarily the #64 Ford would have lost the lead. But strategies are converging thanks to the FCY that has prompted the rest of the top 20 to pit. Scherer therefore retains the lead from Stolz and Schuring.
∞∞∞ The stationary #60 Ferrari necessiates a FCY, and it's perfectly timed for the leading Ford that's approaching the end of its stint. Fabio Scherer replaces Maini behind the wheel. But the same cannot be said for ROWE's #98 BMW, which pitted just before the caution. That's a penalty, puncture and now bad luck for the Farfus/Marciello/Dennis crew that would be P3 at the very least without its setbacks.
∞∞∞ Prette and Schuring come to blows at the Bus Stop whilst scrapping over fourth. The #58 Garage 59 is spun around and drops to fifth behind the #98 BMW and #3 Mercedes-AMG.
∞∞∞ It's also worth mentioning that the HRT Ford Mustang has led during this hour. Arjun Maini has handed to Fabio Scherer who now runs P10, but that car will cycle back to the front as the stint progresses.
∞∞∞ The #98 BMW has dropped off sequence after pitting with a puncture. Raffaele Marciello had been among the lead group but is now running P16.
∞∞ Eight hours and 30 minutes complete. The #48 Mercedes-AMG continues to lead. Tom Fleming has just moved the #58 McLaren into P2 ahead of the #2 Porsche. Valentino Rossi runs P4 in the #46 Team WRT BMW.
∞∞∞ Both the #7 and the #11 Aston Martins were also involved in that accident, to some extent at least. But both are now back in the pits, so not seriously involved.
∞∞∞ And now another crash. The #9 Porsche is off at Campus with rear damage. It looks like the #93 Porsche is also involved.
∞∞∞ The safety car was actually quite short. We're racing again at 23:40 local, just over seven hours complete. At the head of the order it's the #48 Mercedes-AMG leading from the #58 McLaren and the #98 BMW.
∞∞∞ So we'll start hour eight under FCY conditions and it's inevitably going to become a safety car. Looking at the replay, Baud may have been helped into that accident. In any case, the car is badly damaged and out of this race.
∞∞∞ That's a big crash. The #21 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin has been off at Courbe Paul Frère and the car looks to be seriously damaged. We're being told that driver Sebastien Baud is okay.
∞∞∞ Class leaders as we edge up towards 7 hours complete. Overall: #48 Mercedes-AMG (P1, Auer); Gold: #58 McLaren (P2, Prette); Silver: #25 Audi (P21, Klymenko); Bronze: #74 Ferrari (P12, Marschall); Pro-Am: #999 Mercedes-AMG (P45, Klein).
∞∞∞ The #59 McLaren is out of contention. It's been in the pits for a long while now with front-right brake issues.That's a serious contender out of the running.
∞∞∞ We've also got the #700 Aston Martin, which had been leading in Pro-Am, limping back to the pits. The #86 Porsche now leads again in that class, despite its earlier dramas.
∞∞∞ The stops have cycled through and the #48 Mercedes now leads from the #58 McLaren and the #98 BMW. The #64 Ford is fourth ahead of the #2 Porsche. Then it's another pair of BMWs: the #46 Team WRT and the #998 ROWE Racing.
∞∞∞ Due to pit stop sequences the #84 Eastalent Racing Audi led at the six-hour mark. However the real leader is the #48 Mercedes-AMG, though Lucas Auer did lose time with a slow getaway from its most recent pit stop.
∞∞∞ Class leaders shortly before six hours. Overall: #48 Mercedes-AMG (P1, Stolz); Gold: #58 McLaren (P2, Goethe); Silver: #30 BMW (P21, Cordeel); Bronze: #74 Ferrari (P11, Marschall); Pro-Am: #700 Aston Martin (P44, Bovy).
