Spa 24 Hours - Hour 9

We're past midnight local time now

AF Corse report that they are running consistent 75 minute stints.

The continuing problems for the #78 BMW are related to a faulty air conditioning unit, Uwe Alzen exhausted after his double stint in the rain, and a broken gearshift sensor, which is costing the team time too.

The second placed Ferrari is now reeling in the leading BMW, the #79 car pits after completing lap 180 with Bruni just 50 seconds behind - the times meanwhile are tumbling.

Bruni leads again for the first time since the opening hours of the race with the Phoenix Audi a minute and 20 seconds back and catching, the #79 BMW emerging in third after its latest routine stop.

Bruni pits after lap 182 and the Phoenix Audi will lead the race for the first time - It takes the lead at 24 minutes past Midnight, the fourth marque to lead the race - and the third in three laps.

The BMS Porsche is closing in on the Prospeed car for 5th place.

The #67 United Audi has had another minor off and rejoined, the sister #68 car meanwhile pits from 9th, that could allow the recovering #51 Phoenix Audi back into the top 10.

#50 leads a now fully up to speed #79 by just 22 seconds with the #16 IMSA Porsche 3rd 61 seconds back and AF Corse 13 second further behind.

There's been a clash on track between the #64 Aston and #13 Prospeed Porsche, the Porsche has returned to the pits slowly and has dropped off the lead lap. The car is garaged immediately with rear end damage.

The #78 BMW is pitted too and is in for a longer than normal stop.

The #79 car though is now taking time out of the leading Audi, down under 2:30 for the first time in hours - The Audis like the drier conditions less than the rest!

The Gravity Mosler has been attracted into a tyre wall but rejoins.  The #73 WRT Audi meanwhile is past the stationary #13 and #78 cars up to 6th.

The #98 Marc VDS Ford has spent the last few hours in the top ten but is now in for what looks to be a lengthy stop.

The #51 Phoenix Audi has progressed to seventh now as the Prospeed Porsche and #78 BMW are still pit bound and plummeting down the order.

The top ten is now completed by the #68 United Audi (8th) #7 Trackspeed Porsche (9th) and #99 Marc VDS Ford (10th) 

The leading four cars are now all lapping well under 2:30 - the gap first to second steady at around 19-20 seconds - Half of the top ten - including the lead car - are GT3 runners and four of them are Audis.

The #78 BMW rejoins now down though in 15th, 10 laps off the lead. The #13 Prospeed Porsche though drops to 18th before rejoining.

The leader (Rockenfeller) pits after lap 195 - #79 will lead again, the Audi rejoins in 4th and starts the chase again.

Positions after 9 Hours

#79, 16, 2, 50, 23, 73, 68, 51, 99, 7, 60, 53, 17, 78, 98, 4, 67, 13, 1, 71, 56, 55, 64 (Pit), 91, 81, 66, 85, 86 (Pit), 59, 56, 58, 74, 100 (Out), 70, 84 (Out), #72 (Out), 69, 61 (Out), 63 (Out), 62 (Out)