HOUR BY HOUR

Hour 9 2230-2330

Lopez finds his groove and continues to keep the #7 car at the front during a lonely night stint before handing over to Conway. In the #8 car Nakajima is now well clear of the #1 Rebellion.

Hour 10 2330-0030

The situation remains unchanged as the clock strikes midnight, although Conway manages to slightly stretch the #7 car’s advantage on its sibling, now in the hands of Buemi. The Rebellions fall further behind, struggling in traffic.

Hour 11 0030-0130

Kobayashi relieves Conway in the #7 car and protects his onelap lead on Buemi, while the Rebellions piloted by Senna and Berthon fall further behind.

Hour 12 0130-0230

Buemi hands over the #8 Toyota to Hartley. Kobayashi stays aboard the leading #7 and settles into a solid rhythm. Senna hands the third-placed #1 Rebellion over to Menezes, with all LMP1 competitors now separated by a lap.

Hour 13 0230-0330

Drama at the halfway mark for Toyota’s #7 crew. After a routine stop Kobayashi is called straight back in with exhaust problems. The car remains in the garage for 29 minutes to replace the right-hand-side turbo, handing the lead to the #8 car.

Hour 14 0330-0430

A disconsolate Lopez takes over the now fourth-placed #7 car, which is fully up to speed after the turbo change. The car sits six laps behind its leading sister car and is three laps removed from the final podium spot, held by the #3 Rebellion.

Hour 15 0430-0530

After that turbulent turnaround, the race at the front seems over. Nakajima settles in and pumps in a handful of fast lap times in the leading #8 Toyota. The secondplaced #1 Rebellion of Nato is in danger of losing a second lap.

Hour 16 0530-0630

The #8 Toyota puts another lap on its nearest competitor. The second #3 Rebellion is forced to make an extra pitstop for a nose change. There’s still some fight left in the #7 Toyota as evidenced by a 3m20.838s lap from Lopez.