2012 Le Mans 24 Hours � Race Facts by the Hour

24h Le Mans � Race Facts (Hour 22)

• Eventful 22nd hour saw mixed fortunes for Audi crews

With just two hours to go in the world's most famous endurance race, events took a dramatic turn in the Le Mans 24 Hours. In spite of two accidents, Audi still maintains the lead.

Within five minutes, Audi suffered two setbacks. At 12.05 p.m., Marc Gené crashed the fourth-placed #3 Audi R18 ultra in the first chicane of the Mulsanne straight. Just minutes later, Allan McNish who was in the lead with the #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro crashed in the Porsche curves when he lapped a backmarker.

Both drivers managed to limp back to the pits and get their cars repaired. Allan McNish dropped to second place two laps down on Benoît Tréluyer. Marc Gené lost one position as well and was listed fifth 13 laps behind the leader. With two hours to go, Audi maintains positions 1-2-3.


Positions after 22 hours

1 Audi #1
2 Audi #2 -2L
3 Audi #4 -4L
4 Lola-Toyota #12 -11L
5 Audi #3 -13L
6 HPD-Honda #22 -21L
7 HPD-Honda #44 -23L
8 Oreca-Nissan #46 -24L
9 Oreca-Nissan #49 -24L
10 Oreca-Nissan #26 -27L


Time : Fact    

12:05 : #3 Gené crashes in chicane 1, front damage, brings the car back to the pits

12:09 : #4 pit stop from P3, diesel

12:10 : #2 pit stop after McNish crashes in the Porsche curves, front damaged

12:10 : Safety-Car on track

12:14 : #3 is pushed into pit garage for repairs

12:20 : #2 back at the track after repair stop, front and rear body work changed, lost one lap (P2)

12:25 : #3 back at the track, right suspension and front end bodywork were changed (P5)

12:42 : Restart: #1 P1, #2 P2, #4 P3, #3 P4

13:00 : #1 P1 +1L #2 P2 -1L #4 P3 -3L #3 P5 -10L