Rolex 24 Hour 17: Pole winner visits campers; AXR maintains lead

Moments after cutting yet another right-rear tire in the West Horseshoe on the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R, Rolex 24 pole winner Renger van der Zande took the public road through the campground to return to the garage. The defending race winners saw another blow to their hopes of repeating, losing another four laps. The car is now 20 laps down in ninth position.

Otherwise, the uneventful hour saw Action Express Racing and Ford Chip Ganassi continue to build their respective leads.

• Hour 17 results

Joao Barbosa led every lap in the hour, giving the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R. a two-lap lead over Action Express Racing teammate Mike Conway, who took over for Felipe Nasr in the No. 31 car. Hugo de Sadeller was third in the No. 32 United Autosports Ligier, five laps down.

Ganassi Ford GTs continue to circulate at the front of the GTLM field, with Richard Westbrook in the No. 67 leading Joey Hand in the No, 66 by 4.140s.

The best racing on the track continues to be in GTD, where Jeroen Bleekemolen in the No 33 Mercedes led Katherine Legge in the No.86 Acura by 0.494s. Bryan Sellers is third in the No. 48 Lamborghini, 4.454 seconds back.