LM24 Hour 22: Porsche fighting back

The chase for the lead continues with two hours to go in the 85th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, Timo Bernhard in the No. 1 Porsche blasting past the No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA to get back on the lead lap during the 22nd hour.

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The gap at the end of the hour was just over three minutes, with Bernhard pushing hard to recapture the race lead for Porsche. But a slow zone in the final few minutes of the hour, prompted by the Algarve Pro Ligier getting beached in a gravel trap, continues to pile the pressure on the factory team.

Behind the leader in LMP2, the race for second has heated up, with Pierre Rauge in the No. 35 Alpine has taken the place from the No. 13 Rebellion after the latter team had to change the rear-end of the car in the pits, though Nelson Piquet Jnr in the chasing ORECA is lapping far quicker than the Alpine ahead.

In GTE, Corvette Racing leads the way in Pro, after Daniel Serra pitted in the final minute in the hour to promote Jordan Taylor in the No. 63. The No. 91 Porsche is still very much in this race though, a minute back from the Corvette. The final two hours, and the strategies that will play out during them, will be crucial.

GTE Am, as it has been for hours, is spread out, and is JMW Motorsports to lose.