Communiqué N° 08 - Sunday 18th June

22h00 - 0h00 : Problems for McNish-Aiello-Ortelli

The 3 Audis were still in the first 3 places with 7 lin front of 9 and 8. However, the 98 winning crew (Porsche) had their first taste of trouble when No.9 had to have the rear end and gearbox replaced. The front brake discs were also changed and the whole took a time of only 6 mn 40 secs !.
When McNish went back out he was in fourth place 2 laps behind the leaders and quickly caught and passed the third-placed Panoz setting the fastest lap so far in 3 mn 37.995 secs.

The Rafanelli Lola came back to the pits in a sorry state after its accident and the mechanics had to change the right-hand front suspension, the flat bottom and oil lines all of which took over 50 minutes.

At the same time the only remaining Reynard-ROC went out with a blown engine after 6 hours racing.
Another car with problems in the LMP 675 Category was the No.32 Lola-Nissan leading the class which went off at around 22h55 damaging the rear suspension but it was able to regain its pit. The No 36 WR was stopped with electronic gremlins and No.35 had to have a steering arm changed.

The No.2 Cadillac dropped back after a rear hub carrier broke which stopped it for over 40 minutes while in third was No.3, the Dams entry of Bernard-Collard-Montagny.

The C52 Courage entered by Pescarolo continued on its merry way apart from going straight on at the Motorola chicane. It had been in eleventh place at 22h00 but was now up to eighth previously occupied by the No.15 BMW which had to have its clutch changed at 23h30.

The Vipers continued their LM GTS domination even if No.53 had to go straight on at one of the chicanes No.51 leading 52 and 53. The Corvettes were one lap down with No.63 ahead of No.64.
 

Muller-Luhr-Wollek untouchable

The Dick Barbour Racing Porsche continued to increase its lead in the LM GT Category. The No.72 Porsche was back on the track after over an hour's repairs but the Spanish team's joy was short­lived as the car retired with a blown engine just before midnight.