Le Mans Series, Algarve - Hour 1

Still very warm indeed - we've got a crowd of sorts in the main stand - I'd estimate around 1-2,000 so expect a claim of upwards of 15,000!

The drivers responded wonderfully to the call to sprint across the track in the mocked up 'ear of corn start' by all entirely missing the announcement and then when they got it on the second time of asking all walking across.

A very keen stunt flier is entertaining the crowd with stunts including a low pass down the pit straight below the level of the grandstand roof!

We're about ready to go.

All 32 get away cleanly on their pair of formation laps - nobody is starting from the pitlane. Track temperature is a heady 45 degrees.

A clean start sees order maintained at the head of the pack, Moreau swopping positions with Oak Racing team mate Lahaye for 5th.

Belicchi up to 16th after lap one, Jani 23rd

Ragues is tucked right up behind Panis as they finish lap one but the Peugeot pulls away with a 1:32.9.

de crem takes his expected 3 minute stop go penalty on Lap 3 - car #45

In GT2 Henzler is up to third and Westbrook goes by Lietz for 6th

Erdos dropped back to fifth in class in the early laps and the #25 car's pace seems a little blunted.

Belicchi and Jani meanwhile are both into the top ten after 3 laps! Belicchi up to 8th - 30 seconds down on the leader.

Trouble for young Olivier Lombard in the #47 Hope Polevision FLM car - he's off the circuit and being pushed by marshals.

Kirkaldy is back ahead of Henzler, Westbrook and Lietz are swapping positions regularly - GT2 is a dog fight

Formula Le Mans is a curates egg - Warren Hughes now leads, Nico Verdonck and Oliver Lombard have both stopped on circuit in the #47 and #48 FLM Orecas.

The Lola Rebellions are scything through the LMP2 front runners, past the Oak Pescarolos on Lap 10 and up to 5th and 6th overall, the gap to the leader 32 seconds

Panis is now getting away at the front of the race with the Bruni/ Vilander battle drawing away from the chasing pack in GT2.

Jani has got a gap ahead of Belicchi and is now up to fourth overall ahead of Olivier Pla as the pair complete Lap 15.

Left front puncture for Kirkaldy - The third placed GT2 car is motoring back with the tyre carcase leaving the vehicle as the car gets back to the pits. He rejoins but drops to the rear of the GT2 field.

Julien Schroyen has a spin but rejoins in the #66 Saleen.

Warren Hughes is pulling away from the FLM competition - 11th overall after 30 minutes.

The new order in GT2 is Bruni ahead of Vilander - 4 seconds the gap with Pilet 10 seconds further back but is taken for third as I type this by Westbrook, Henzler and Lietz in very close company. Pilet though has a problem and both the Felbermayr Proton cars go by, as does Rob Bell in the JMW Aston, up to 6th in GT2.

Pilet carries on around but pits next time around, Bell meanwhile is catching the remaining Porsches.

Jani takes 3rd place from Watts on Lap 25 

50 minutes and we have 5 cars on the lead lap – Belicchi pits from 6th and ragues next time around from second place

Rear deck replaced on the #13 car.

Jani pits from 3rd.

Further woes in FLM as the #49 Applewood 7 car stops on circuit from second in class – 12th overall.

Rob Bell goes by Lietz in the #77 Porsche and is closing in fast on the #88 997 of Wolf Henzer for 4th in GT2.

Allan Simonsen is drawing closer to Lietz too – is the #77 car’s 3 race old engine getting a little tired?

Warren Hughes pits from the FLM lead and 11th position overall with a near one minute lead in the class.

Leader pits after 55 minutes and 34 laps – no tyres for the Peugeot and a similar pit strategy too for Erdos in the #25 RML car, both cars getting through the pits in less than a minute  - Ragues by comparison took 1:38 and Jani 1:16.

Bell and Simonsen pit in GT2 after 58 minutes.