LM24 Hour 23: Bernhard puts Porsche back in charge

With just one hour left to run in the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours, the No. 2 Porsche 919 Hybrid leads the race for the first time. The comeback from 56th overall in the early hours was completed when Timo Bernhard breezed past the No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA on the run down to Indianapolis to reclaim the lead for Porsche LMP Team.

After a remarkable turn of events, barring any late dramas, Porsche will win its 19th Le Mans 24 Hours. Order restored.

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Third overall and second in LMP2 continues to be the No.35 Signatech Alpine, comfortably over the delayed No. 13 Rebellion, which lost further time with a starter issue at its penultimate stop.

In GTE Pro, the race remains very much alive. The No. 63 Corvette, No. 97 Aston Martin and No. 91 Porsche are all in the running, and it will come down to a battle to the flag after their final stops.

It's the polar opposite situation in GTE Am, where JMW Motorsport can now cruise to the flag with a safe lap lead.

The only real drama in the penultimate hour came elsewhere in Am, when the Larbre Corvette came into contact with the No. 65 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari. It was a bitter disappointment for the IMSA champions, after Alessandro Balzan suffered suspension damage to its rear-left corner, forcing into the garage for the final hour.

It wasn't in the running for a noteworthy result, but a clean finish would have been a reward for a solid performance from the team.