…and into the morning

The 3:40hrs brake pads and disc change went as expected, so the Team staying clear of trouble – for the time being, at leased.

Rob Bell had come in from 8th place; 3 minutes down the road from #83 GPC Ferrari 430 on their 162nd lap who pitted just before Bell.

A GT2 class order update: #97 (172 laps), 76 (170), 87 (+1:02.504), 93 (+3:20.497), 99 (168 laps), 78 (164), 83 (162), 82 (+2:51.351)

On his in lap, Bell had clocked in a 4:14.636 – faster then the 4 cars above him so making ground all the way.

Whilst changing the brakes, Dean climbed aboard for another double stint and straight back into the 4:14’s again.

Despite losing some time over the brakes, it’s of some comfort knowing all cars will have to undertake the operation at some point because they just degrade over the race and will not last the full 24 hours, so about half way was the logical time to do so.

The track is in good shape again approaching 4:30am. Laptimes have come down by a couple of seconds – some even setting their fastest laps of the race! (007 and 72 GT1 cars and – on another sidenote, only about 30/40 secs slower than LMP1 cars!)

Dean – in for fuel at 5am, there isn’t much change in the order: 97, 76, 87, 93, 99, 78, 83 and 82; two laps behind 83 car.

Only to be promoted to 7th as a result of GPC’s #83 Ferrari’s front wheel falling off as he exited the pit lane having had a pit stop.

Tomlinson climbed aboard for a double stint as day broke at 6am – and there’s various Team LNT bodies catching what sleep they can in the garage, in the trucks, basically anywhere they can. Of course, it’s not easy to sleep when you’re by a noisy Le Mans pit straight…

More fortune seems to be heading in the direction of the Orange Panoz when shots of a damaged #97 Ferrari appear in the pits on TV. This car had dominated the class most of the race, yet has apparently been involved in a self-inflicted accident.

As the what-was-strong 430 slips down the timesheet, it’s remaining in its garage for repairs. And remain there it does enough for Tomlinson to take 6th and consistently ticking off the laps, 4:15’s and 4:16’s.

It’s also at this point when the rear left wheel comes off the overall leading number 2 Audi, taking it out of the race.

Rob Bell is back on board at 7:45am with the running order now as follows:

87 (227 laps), 76 (226), 93 (222), 99 (221), 78 (217), 82 (214), 97 (211) 83 (204).