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A long absence. Seventeen years after his last success at Le Mans, Porsche wins for the 17 th After 24 hours of Le Mans in the “premier class” of LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype). The 919 Hybrid 19 driven by Nico Hulkenberg, Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy ahead of No. 17 Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber and Brendon Harley finishes first, marking the superiority of a brand, but also a technology. In third place, the Audi No. 7 Fässeler Marcel, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer. Back – almost. – Hour by hour, on the place of the greatest endurance race in the world
- 15 hours, Francois Hollande on the starting
Since 11 am, Saturday, June 13, Le Mans is boiling. The reason? The presence of François Hollande for the start of the race. This is the first time in forty-three years that a president attends 24 hours since Georges Pompidou in 1972. A presidential visit especially noticed by whistles from the audience. The President then offered the small pleasure of one lap led by Pierre Fillon, the boss of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and brother of former Prime Minister François.
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At 15 o’clock, the Executive Chairman Bill Ford gave the start in the presence of Francois Hollande, his ministers Bernard Cazeneuve and Stéphane Le Foll, Jean Todt, FIA president, International Automobile Federation. On the starting grid, the three Porsche precede 3 Audi and Toyota 2.
- 16 hours a Porsche on fire
The Porsche GT (Grand Touring) number 92 caught fire. At the wheel, the French Patrick Pilet crashed with the Rebellion number 13 and 42 of the Dome Strakka. A spectacular crash in the first chicane of the Mulsanne straight, but the three drivers emerge unscathed: Patrick Pilet, Italian Alexandre Imperatori of the Swiss Rebellion and Briton Jonny Kane of the Dome. The last two cars resumed the race after repairs.
- 17 hours, relaxing time in the “village”
empty bleachers already a little bit. It’s time to visit the village, a huge space that extends over several hectares. Obviously, the accessory of the year is the folding chair so Nature and discovery? Rather khaki, but the blue is tolerated. In his long cover, not an onlooker without his bag. In addition to formal shops Ferrari, Aston Martin (still very popular), Porsche, Nissan is omnipresent. Advertising arches, cubes, banners, a test stand. Dozens of stalls offer car smallest reproduction 1/64 th from 10 euros up to 3000 euros … the true model of 50 cm.
- 18-19 pm second safety
It was one of the great innovations praised by the communication services of Le Mans, the “Pavilion of Women” , location “prohibits men” where ladies can get a massage, read a book, and even try the simulator “without the mocking gaze of men “. The primary machismo is not always where you expect it. More interestingly, on the track, the cars savety neutralize the race for the second time. The Audi No. 8 Loïc Duval struck the guardrail, surprised by the sudden braking of two GT (Grand Touring). In wanting to avoid it happening in the grass and skids
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- 22-23 hours overnight and smells “barbecue”
The night is quiet. It’s always a special moment of the race. Mark Webber, Porsche driver, summarizes in his own way: “The memory that comes often, oddly, is to feel barbecues when driving at night! And then there was the brightness. At the first turn of the Indianapolis, he all black, you are alone and when you get on the pit straight, everything is very enlightened. The atmosphere is incredible. “ He can afford that kind of digressions in working with Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley, he is leading the race and the duel with Audi continues
- 8:00, Wake agitated for Aston Martin
The race resumes During the fourth after neutralization, due to the accident Roald Goethe (Aston Martin), a “gentleman driver” German 55, who emerged conscious but shocked, according to his stable. His Aston Martin number 96, engaged in the GTE-Am class, violently off the track in the Karting Esses, a very fast area. Goethe was taken as a precautionary medical PC, while the Aston Martin was released from that area and half an hour later the race was able to resume its course.
- 9 hours, news of “Doctor Mamour”
In the other categories, namely the LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) and GT (Grand Touring), the fight was fierce overnight. In LMP2, the class prototypes incurred by private teams, the French Oreca Nicolas Lapierre, former Toyota driver, still led to 10 am and pointed in the Top 10.
As for GTE-Pro is the Corvette number 64 which led the way, with Briton Oliver Gavin at the wheel. In the clan of GTE-Am, Canadian Paul Dalla Lana ranked first in an Aston Martin.
Finally, picked for his fourth podium at Le Mans, the famous American actor Patrick Dempsey, aka “Dr. Mamour” in the series Grey’s Anatomy, was 3rd in the GTE-Am after 19 hour race in his Porsche of Proton-Dempsey stable.
- 12 hours, Audi is moving away from win
René Rast, installed at the 3 th in the standings on his Audi R18 e-tron number 9, returns to the box because of brake problems. His teammate Filipe Albuquerque spring stands at about 12 h 15, but 7 th position. The podium escapes them. André Lotterer (Audi No. 7) takes the 3 th instead. Earl Bamber continues to lead in his Porsche number 19, before the No. 17 team-mate Brendon Hartley.
- 13 hours, the time of the clay
In the host exhibitions of ACO, an “official” releases a bread … clay, while on tv screens in the chain Le Mans, the Porsche Hybrid No. 19 always leading the race. Le Mans are also traditions, society life. Derek Bell, beautiful look, smiling, wearing the most of its 73 years, took a flying he tries to sink into the clay block with all his might. Winner five times the 24 hours after running in Formula 1 including for Ferrari, McLaren, he had never made the traditional footprint.
- 14 hours, final stretch
On the Japanese side, Toyota TS040 Hybrid both are securely installed, almost since the beginning, the 7 th 8 th ranks overall. The No. 2 manages to pass the Audi and climb to 6 th instead. With seven and nine laps but they no longer seem able to prevent a German victory. Endurance World Champion in 2014, the Japanese brand has lagged behind since the beginning of the 83 th edition, deficit performance and power is even more acute on a dry track, which is the case. But finally, after many hesitations, Météo France there would be no rain by the end of the race.
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