LM24 Hour 19: Gearbox problems for Rebellion

With the race settling down for its final five hours and Nick Tandy holding a comfortable overall lead in the No. 1 Porsche 919, the main action during Hour 19 was in the LMP2 class. The No. 31 Rebellion ORECA spent much of the hour in the garage with a gearbox issue that forced Nicolas Prost to pit suddenly while running fourth.

While the team continues to work on the car as the 20th hour begins, it's effectively out of the running, now 15 laps down and 12th in the class. It's a disappointing end to the car's chances, after it led so much of the opening hours.

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Jackie Chan DC Racing's No. 38 crew is now leading by a comfortable margin of over two minutes, and 13 laps behind the race-leading No. 1 Porsch.

Elsewhere in LMP2, as the concentration begins to slip among the drivers, the fifth-placed United Autosports Ligier had a moment at the Porsche Curves, with American Will Owen losing control of the JS P217 and flying into a gravel trap. He managed to continue, but the signs of fatigue are beginning to show.

While there were no notable incidents or occurrences in Am, aside from Dries Vanthoor almost spinning at Mulsanne Corner in the class-leading JMW Ferrari, GTE Pro provided excitement at the end of the hour. Antonio Garcia in the No. 63 Corvette was scrapping once again with the No. 91 Porsche of Richard Lietz for second place.

Crucially, with time winding down and the pit-strategies between the GTE contenders so spread out, it was notable that the No. 97 Aston Martin held the lead at the end of the hour. Darren Turner was at the wheel, just eight seconds ahead of the Corvette behind.

Will that come into play in the final hour, when the timing of the last pit stop is paramount?