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Hour 12: Audi 1-2 at Halfway

The number three Champion Racing R8 leads the Le Mans 24 Hours at the halfway point

German Marco Werner increased his advantage back to one lap after the sister Champion Racing Audi of Allan McNish completed a scheduled stop. Slow punctures were revealed as the reason for the car unscheduled stop in the previous hour.

The major change came three laps further back in third place, where the Pescarolo Sport of Eric Comas moved back onto the final podium position after trouble hit the Dome of Ryo Michigami.

Comas had managed to move onto the same lap as Michigami on pace alone at one point in the hour, but the Frenchman finally took the position on the timesheets when the Dome's engine cover came off for an ECU change. Comas ended the hour being the fastest car on track, five seconds per lap quicker than McNish in second.

LMP2 continued to be led by the Paul Belmondo Racing pair of Courages, with the #36 car of Adam Sharpe leading the #37 of Didier Andre by a lap.

The GT1 battle was still tight - Peter Kox's Aston Martin holding off Oliver Gavin by a minute and a half after both cars completed scheduled pitstops without drama.

The GT2 battle continued to be led by the Porsche of Mike Rockenfeller, however oil appeared to be catching out some of the other GT2 runners at the Mulsanne corner. The TVR Tuscan of Piers Johnson and the Panoz Motorsport car of Patrick Bourdais both spun before rejoining.

Pos # Drivers Make Class On Hour 12
1 3 Lehto, Werner, Kristensen Audi R8 LM P1
2 2 Biela, Pirro, McNish Audi R8 LM P1
3 16 Collard, Boullion, Comas Pescarolo Judd LM P1
4 5 Michigami, Ara, Kaneishi Dome Mugen LM P1
5 4 Montagny, Gounon, Ortelli Audi R8 LM P1
6 9 Hignett, Stack, Kurosawa Zytek 04S LM P1
7 58 Enge, Kox, Lamy Aston Martin DBR9 LM GT1
8 64 Gavin, Beretta, Magnussen Corvette C6-R LM GT1
9 7 Minassian, CampbellW., Wallace DBA Judd LM P1
10 63 Fellows, O'Connell, Papis Corvette C6-R LM GT1
11 17 Loeb, Helary, Ayari Pescarolo Judd LM P1
12 59 Brabham, Sarrazin, Turner Aston Martin DBR9 LM GT1
13 18 Short, Barbosa, Ickx Dallara Judd LM P1
14 10 Lammers, Julian, Bosch Dome Judd LM P1
15 12 Schwager, Frei, Vann Courage Judd LM P1
16 50 Goueslard, Dupard, Vosse Ferrari 550 Maranello LM GT1
17 71 Hindery, Rockenfell., Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
18 61 Fomenko, Vasiliev, Bouchut Ferrari 550 Maranello LM GT1
19 90 Bergmeist., Long, Bernhard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
20 76 Dumas, Dumez, Narac Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
21 80 Overbeek, Pechnick, Neiman Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
22 36 Gosselin, Ojjeh, Sharpe Courage C65 Ford LM P2
23 37 Belmondo, Andre, Sutherland Courage C65 Ford LM P2
24 89 Nielsen, Thyrring, Ehret Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
25 72 Policand, Campbell, Alphand Porsche 911 GT3 RS LM GT2
26 25 Erdos, Newton, Hughes Lola MG LM P2
27 92 Macari, Eriksson, Wilson Ferrari 360 Mo. GTC LM GT2
28 30 Bennett, Mitchell, Mullen Courage Judd LM P2
29 91 Pompidou, Blanchema., Yamagishi Porsche 911 GT3 RS LM GT2
30 83 Collin, Felbermayr, Shep Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM GT2
31 35 Hillebrand, Hahn, Pickering Courage C65 Judd LM P2
32 78 Sellers, Franchitti, Bourdais Panoz Elan LM GT2
33 24 Terada, Roussel, Binnie WR Peugeot LM P2
34 95 Hartshorne, Stanton, Johnson TVR Tuscan 400 R LM GT2
35 31 Amorim, Iannetta, Pillon Courage - CG LM P2
36 8 Verdon Roe, Krumm, Primat Dallara Nissan LM P1

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