LMP
Two incidents involving GT cars marked the start of the 14th hour and re-introduced slow zones, which in themselves then prompted a number of pitstops. Both the leader and second-placed cars in P2 were included in that number, allowing Heinemeier Hansson through into the lead of the class. Moments later, the overall leader, Lotterer in the cockpit of the #1 Porsche, was also into the pitlane, seeking fuel but no tyres.
Another driver change came in LMP2 shortly afterwards, with Ollie Jarvis taking over driver duties in the #38 Jackie Chan Oreca. David Heinemeier Hansson’s lead in LMP2 soon started to look under threat with Jarvis at the wheel, but he held on and defended well, the #13 car matching Jarvis’s pace in a straight line. Ultimately, however, the ex-Audi works LMP1 driver was destined to get by, the move made out of Tertre Rouge.
Jarvis was now running second overall behind Lotterer; not an unusual statement other than that this was in LMP2 machinery …
Nearing half-past an announcement flashed across the screen, declaring that the last pitstop for the class-leading #38n Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca was now “under investigation”. The outcome of those deliberations could have an impact on the class.
The erstwhile leader in LMP2, the #31 Vaillante Rebellion, pitted at 4:32 for fuel, Julien Canal staying aboard the fourth-placed Oreca. The two Rebellions were running second and fourth in class.
With Porsche’s #2 car having recovered from almost last to stand 14th overall, regularly setting 3:22s along the way, the precedent for P1 recovery had already been set. Through this fourteenth hour, similar progress was being made by the #8 Toyota TS050, which had rejoined in a similarly lowly position, but had already risen to 30th overall. Certainly the lead Porsche’s pace had backed off considerably as this hour progressed, but Brendan Hartley’s times still reflected earlier LMP1 race pace, although perhaps conservatively so. By contrast, Kazuki Nakajima had the surviving Toyota circulating in the 3:19’s and holding 30th overall, 21 laps down on the overall lead. It was fair to assume Porsche had the race under control, with the #2’s pace still technically able to pull back its deficit, but today’s (Sunday’s) weather is forecast to be even hotter and, depending on mechanical reliability and how pressure still had time to mount, anything was still possible. With so many hours yet to run, the outcome of this race could still go either way … or even possibly, a third, with an outright P2 winner?
The hour completed with Jarvis’s lead in LMP2 extended to 63 seconds over Nelson Piquet Jr, the Brazilian back aboard the #13 Vaillante Rebellion. Julien Canal had the #31 sister car looking more settled than earlier in third, though it was still not entirely clear what problems the Oreca might still be nursing.
The end of a the 14th hour saw the upper position in LMP1 and LMP2 stand as follows:
LMP1
1. #1 Porsche 919-Hybrid – 219 laps.
2. #2 Porsche 919-Hybrid – 202 .laps
3. #8 Toyota TS050 – 191 laps
4. #9 Toyota TS050– Retired
5. #7 Toyota TS050 – Retired
LMP2
1. #38 Jackie Chan Racing – 209 laps
2. #13 Vaillante Rebellion Oreca
3. #31 Vaillante Rebellion Oreca
4. #35 Signatech Alpine
5. #24 CEFC Manor Racing Oreca
6. #40 Graff Oreca 07
GTE
Following Christensen’s off at the top of the hour, the #92 Porsche was confirmed as a retirement around 4:30am. There were now eight of the original 13 GTE Pro runners circulating on the same lap, with Aston still looking relatively in control of the class in first and second.
Rees brought the Larbre Corvette into the pits after his off at Mulsanne, but there appeared to be no serious damage and the car resumed in 52nd position overall with Romain Brandela aboard.
Approaching 5am, the TF Sport Aston Martin (pictured earlier, above, which had been running third in GTE Am with Salih Yoluc at the wheel, was reported as having stopped at Mulsanne, but after a short while got going again. That left the order in both classes looking like this in the final stages of the night before dawn:
GTE Pro
1 #95 Aston
2 #97 Aston
3 #91 Porsche
4 #71 Ferrari
5 #51 Ferrari
6 #67 Ford
GTE Am
1 #84 JMW Ferrari
2 #55 SoR Ferrari
3 #62 WeatherTech Ferrari
4 #77 Proton Porsche
5 #99 Beechdean Aston
6 #90 TF Sport Aston
