Le Mans 24: Four Hours to Go and the Audis Are Racing!

With four hours left in the Le Mans 24, the lead Audis are battling for the win.
Le Mans 24: Four Hours to Go and the Audis Are Racing!
Barring accident, either the #1 Audi hybrid or the #2 will win the 80th Le Mans 24. Audi Motorsport
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<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/1a1aaudimotorsportTWOweb.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-253091" title="WEC - 24h Le Mans 2012" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/1a1aaudimotorsportTWOweb-676x450.jpg" alt="Allan McNish in the #2 Audi e-tron quattro hybrid is leading the Le Mans 24 with four hours left to race. (Audi Motorsport)" width="750" height="500"/></a>
Allan McNish in the #2 Audi e-tron quattro hybrid is leading the Le Mans 24 with four hours left to race. (Audi Motorsport)

Three seconds separate the two Audi R18 e-tron quattros twenty hours into the 80th Le Mans 24.

Benôit Treluyer in the #1 Audi R18 e-tron Quattro leads Allan McNish in the #2 car by three seconds, and McNish is closing.

With both Toyotas retired and none of the privateers able to mount a credible threat, the leading Audis are battling between themselves for the honor of winning the Le Mans 24.

Dindo Cappello told Eurosport.com that there were no team orders; the crews had been told not to make any foolish maneuvers to wreck one another. Otherwise, have at it.

The hybrid Audis are both lapping two seconds and a fraction faster than the two Audi R18 Ultras; further, the #4 Ultra has had electrical problems affecting the transmission. The Hybrids, which Audi would prefer to see in Victory Circle, have had no mechanical problems at all.

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/AudiOneMorning.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-253093" title="AudiOneMorning" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/AudiOneMorning.jpg" alt="Barring accident, either the #1 Audi hybrid or the #2 will win the 80th Le Mans 24. (Audi Motorsport)" width="450" height="238"/></a>
Barring accident, either the #1 Audi hybrid or the #2 will win the 80th Le Mans 24. (Audi Motorsport)

The race might come down to fuel mileage. Tom Kristensen in the #2 saved fuel on his stint, going an extra two laps and gaining an edge over the #1. Allan McNish is a thirstier driver, and might lose the fuel advantage even though he might be quicker on track.

To add to the tension, there is a prediction of possible rain before the race ends.

The other really close battle is the GTE-Am class contest, where the #50 Larbre Corvette and the #67 IMSA Matmut Porsche have been trading the lead on pit stops. The Corvette leads now, but owes a pit stop.

Ryan Dalziel still leads P2 by a lap in the #44 Starworks HPD-Honda, and Gianni Bruni in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari leads GTE-Pro by three laps.