LeMans 24 Hour 11: Toyotas self-destruct

All three Toyotas have run into major trouble

LMP1

After losing last year's 24 Hours of LeMans on the last lap, the Toyota team has egg all over its face again as all three of its LMP1 cars have self destructed and are 30 or laps down. It's over for the Japanese.

First the Toyota Gazoo Racing team watched its leader and Le Mans lap record holder #7 grind to a halt with polesitter Kamui Kobayashi aboard, then its #9 (Lapierre) was hit in the Dunlop Chicane and sent flying through the gravel. Initially, it looked like just a puncture for the #9, but a puff of smoke from the back of the car showed that it was much worse.

In a cruel deja vu moment, the #9 limped, crawled and finally stopped on course, just like its #7 teammate: two Toyotas gone in less than 60 minutes time.

For now the #1 Porsche (Tandy) leads. The nearest LMP1 competitor is his teammate Earl Bamber in the #2 Porsche.

After an extended period in the garage, the No. 8 Toyota (Davidson) is shown 52nd overall.

Quotes:
Drivers Porsche 919 Hybrid car number 1:
Andre Lotterer (35, Germany): “My stints were interrupted frequently by slow zones which was frustrating because it broke my rhythm but it's a challenge that comes with Le Mans. It was good fighting with the Toyota and we'll continue to push hard and keep them under pressure."

Nick Tandy (32, Great Britain): “It's great to be in the fight at the front. My stint was good and I managed to get ahead of the lead Toyota at one point during the pit-stop phase. The car was consistent over all three stints on the tire. I had a small vibration in the last one but think it was due to 'pick-up’."

LMP2

With all the trouble in the LMP1 class, the LMP2 leader has now moved up to P2 overall. The #31 ORECA (Prost) and #13 ORECA (Beche) have been leading that class since the early stages of the race and will have an overall podium on their hands if they can continue that way.

Jackie Chan DC Racing is doing their best to make it on the overall podium. The #38 ORECA (Laurent) is within striking distance of the second-place #13.

CEFC Manor TRS Racing’s best hope, the #25 ORECA (Trummer) was the car that made contact with the #9 Toyota in the Dunlop Chicane. Though not officially retired yet, the car sustained heavy damage and was deep in the gravel trap.

Attrition in the category is helping Alpine pick its way up through the field; currently the #35 Alpine (Negrao) is fifth behind the #40 ORECA (Bradley).

LMGTE Pro

Two long safety car periods (one for cleaning, the other for the incident at the Dunlop Chicane) have slowed activity in the LMGTE Pro class. The top eight are on the same lap and the order ebbs and flows with pit stops.

For now, the #51 Ferrari (Calado) is up front with the #97 Aston Martin (Adam) close behind. His teammate the #95 Aston Martin (Stanaway) is right there as well.

LMGTE Am

The story is much the same in LMGTE Am. The #84 Ferrari (Vanthoor) has a comfortable lead, but behind him it is anyone’s game. The #77 Porsche (Dienst) is second, followed by the #90 Aston Martin (Hankey). The #55 Ferrari (Cioci) is fourth and the #62 Ferrari (Bell) is fifth.

Hour 11 Standings