Laurent, Jackie Chan DC Racing Take Overall Lead at Le Mans

Nineteenyear-old Thomas Laurent has moved into the overall lead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Jackie Chan DC Racing, putting the LMP2 team in contention for a shock victory at Circuit de la Sarthe.

Five of the six LMP1 runners hit trouble during the first half of the race, leaving the No. 1 Porsche 919 Hybrid to run unopposed at the front of the pack, building a 13-lap lead over the field.

Drama struck in the 21st hour when Andre Lotterer began to slow when leading, citing a loss of oil pressure that ultimately forced him to park up at the side of the track and retire from the race.

This made the leading active car the No. 38 Oreca 07 Gibson, with silver-rated Laurent ultimately moving into P1 with just over three hours to go when the No. 1 Porsche was listed as an official retirement and removed from timing and scoring.

Porsche’s hopes of victory now rest entirely on the No. 2 car, which, despite spending an hour in the garage last night when undergoing an MGU fix, is now on the hunt to make up the two-lap gap to the No. 38 Oreca at the front of the pack.

Brendon Hartley is currently behind the wheel of the No. 2 Porsche, running second on track after jumping ahead of the No. 13 Vaillante Rebellion Racing Oreca while it served a stop/go penalty for a pit stop infringement.