Le Mans 24 Hours, Hour 22

Right rear puncture on the Signatech Oreca 03 Nissan. Franck Mailleux still far away from the pit as he is only on the Mulsanne.

ProSpeed back out on track after a 54 minutes long pit stop.

12:05 Looks like the Signatech Oreca Nissan will not make it. Mailleux has stopped it out on the track between Mulsanne Corner and Indianapolis. Engine temperature went sky high according to Mailleux.

Quite a surprise though as the car is back on track a few minutes later!

12:09 Heavy rain reported at Arnage.

Steering wheel alignment for the Level 5 Racing Lola at the same time the Signatech Oreca suffered its problem. The #26 is now back in the pit.

Rain on the pit straight as well now. Slippery track flags are back out.

Signatech Oreca 03 Nissan is already back in the pit after repairs - just enough time to stay in front of the Level 5 Racing Lola.

Pit stops for the #9 Peugeot and the #41 Greaves Motorsport Zytek.

12:18 Offs for the Kronos Racing Lola Aston coming onto the straight, the Oreca Peugeot going off at Indianapolis. Loose bodywork flying into the air as it rejoins the track.

Duval lost it coming into Indianapolis - that could have been a lot worse.

Tom Kimber-Smith into the gravel trap at the Dunlop 'S'. Eight lap lead over the Signatech Oreca though.

Kimber-Smith already back on track - lost just a bit of time.

Full wets go on the JMB Racing Ferrari 430, just as the #80 went a bit wide at the Mulsanne corner.

12:26 Oreca Peugeot rejoins the race, dropped to sixth place, Bleekemolen didn't quite manage to get onto the same lap.

Davidson is four laps down on Lotterer but catching him on track, doubtless to put some pressure on Lotterer in these tricky conditions.

The Greaves Zytek is brought into the box to give it a once over after the spin into the gravel, with an eight lap lead there is no need to take any chances.

JMW struggle to leave the pits with no clutch and daren't risk Bell crossing the line, so the crew run down to push it back and try again.

Davidson does manage to pressurise Lotterer at the second Mulsanne chicane and the Audi runs wide turning in, inside the bollards but safely back to the track.  It is still slick weather despite the drizzle, the leaders still in the high 3:30s. 

12:37 - Jorg Muller turns left at Mulsanne corner, not right and parks up, evidently certain that he couldn't have got the car home.  RLM noted that the team were getting ready for the car so were aware that there was a problem.

12:39 Lotterer pits from the lead and despite heavier rain it looks like slicks again.

Milner is 18 seconds behind Vilander and will be challenging for the lead in GTE Pro soon.

Lotterer is weaving on the straights, presumably to get heat into the tyres.  Lap times are creeping up.

In fact Lotterer is still on the same tyres, they weren't changed last time, as evidenced by the 51 second stop.

Vilander is feeling the heat, with Milner breathing down his neck just seven seconds back the Ferrari almost kisses the tyres at Arnage but he keeps it pointing in the same direction.  It is getting really wet.

With just 2:12 to go Collard has a big crash into the tyres at the Porsche curves entry, the car is a wreck and Collard walks.  Another retirement, from an excellent fifth place after a superb run. A real shame. There are tears galore in the team's garage - Maddie Pescarolo is distraught - Henri looks stunned.

12:53 The #73 Vette takes the GTE Pro lead.

Pagenaud meanwhile is reeling in the Audi - 14 seconds on the last lap.

It looks like the #55 BMW may be another retirement - That means, astonishingly, that the #65 Lotus is the third highest finisher in the full season ILMC class. 

12:57 It has stopped raining in the pit lane - This race simply won't quit.