• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • BATHURST 12 HOUR
  • SUPERCARS
  • F1
  • MOTOGP
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • GT & ENDURANCE
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Bathurst 12 Hour
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • GT & Endurance
  • Karting
  • Bikes
  • Rally
Home GT & Endurance WEC

Toyota, Porsche in control at half distance in Le Mans

Mat Coch
Mat Coch
17 Jun 2018
Mat Coch
//
17 Jun 2018
// WEC
A A
0
Toyota, Porsche in control at half distance in Le Mans

The #7 Toyota TS050 – Hybrid continues to lead

Toyota has widened its advantage at the front of the 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP1 competition while Porsche has stamped its authority over both LMGTE classes.

Having led every lap of the race, the two Toyotas continue their domination of the race outright, with the #7 entry of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and Jose Maria Lopez more than a minute clear of the sister car.

There had been little between the two cars before Sebastien Buemi was handed a 60 second stop-go penalty for speeding in a slow zone during the 10th hour of the race.

It saw the #8 entry drop almost a complete lap behind the front of the race before clawing the time back as the race approached half distance.

The next closest car on track, the first of two Rebellion Racing entries, is five laps off the Toyotas’ pace.

Advertisements

Matt Campbell’s Dempsey – Proton Racing #77 Porsche 911 RSR continued to lead LMGTE-Am into the night time hours, having taken control of the class shortly after the Alex Davison entry found the wall early in proceedings.

The Gulf Racing entry of Davison, Ben Barker and Mike Wainwright continued to circulate down the order, 52nd overall and four laps off the pace.

Porsche continued at the head of the LMGTE-Pro class too, with the #92 Porsche GT Team entry heading the team’s second car.

Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA held down third in class with the #68 entry driven by Joey Hand, Dirk Muller, and Sebastien Bourdais.

Australian Ryan Briscoe ran down the order in sixth in the #69 Ford GT he shares with Scott Dixon and Richard Westbrook.

Also out of contention, Earl Bamber, Nick Tandy, and Patrick Pilet in the #93 Porsche GT Team entry which struck early dramas to run 50th overall.

G-Drive remained entrenched at the top of the LMP2 class, the #26 car of Roman Rusinov, Andrea Pizzitola, and Jean-Eric Vergne comfortably clear of the #36 Signatech Alpine Matmut effort.

Running down the order, James Allen, Jose Gutierrez, and Enzo Guibbert continued to circulate three laps off the pace in the second G-Drive entry.

The forecasted rain failed to arrive, though a number of slow zones interrupted running after a number of incidents.

The most notable was a bizarre lose from the #17 SMP Racing entry in the middle of the Porsche Curves, the car turning right sharply as it left the road and skated over the grass and into the barrier.

Matevos Isaakyan was behind the wheel and worked to repair the car at the trackside before trying to limp it back to the pits, only for the engine to catch fire just metres after being restarted.

It forced the car out of the race, while a slow zone originally covered retrieval of the crashed car before a second covered its retrieval after Isaakyan had tried to drag it home.

The race continues with sunrise set for 0600 local time (1400 AEST) as it moves into its second half.



Speedcafe Network 100 - logo representing the directory of leading suppliers to the motorsport industry in Australia

List your business today!

SicLids

Retail & Merchandise

At SICLIDS, we turn motorsport passion into cherished collectibles with our replica helmet range. Since launching in 2016, we’ve produced more than 10,000 replica helmets for fans, collectors, and sponsors worldwide – each crafted with...

At SICLIDS, we turn motorsport passion into cherished collectibles with our replica helmet range. Since launching in 2016, we’ve produced more than 10,000 replica helmets...

Discussion about this post

[postcode_search_form]

Latest from Torquecafe

Nissan set to soon close seven factories

16 February 2026

Ferrari wants to learn from what EVs are ‘doing wrong’

16 February 2026

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: Bathurst 12 Hour daily – Sunday

15 February 2026

PODCAST: Bathurst 12 Hour daily – Saturday

14 February 2026

Related Articles

The #36 Alpine Hypercars at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans

Alpine confirms WEC exit

WEC
4 days ago
WEC
0
Toyota's new TR010 Hybrid Hypercar for the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Toyota reveals TR010 prototype amid racing rebrand

WEC
1 month ago
WEC
0
ADVERTISEMENT

Platinum Partners

Latest & Trending News

The damaged Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG driven by Ralf Aron after its crash in the Bathurst 12 Hour.

Mercedes star wants answers after breaking back in Bathurst crash

Bathurst 12 Hour
16 February 2026
Bathurst 12 Hour
0
Jobe Stewart with his new ride. Image: Supplied

Erebus rookie’s first Supercars livery unveiled

Supercars
16 February 2026
Supercars
0
Macauley Jones on the DJ decks with his #96 Brad Jones Racing Toyota Supra.

BJR reveals limited-run Supra livery for Jones

Supercars
16 February 2026
Supercars
0
ACDelco's new signings Will Thompson and Jack Johnson. Image: Supplied

Craig Lowndes to support new ACDelco-backed drivers

National
16 February 2026
National
0

Every Supercars livery for 2026

Supercars
16 February 2026
Supercars
0
Chaz Mostert standing next to a fence on the side of Conrod Straight, Mount Panorama, Bathurst

Mostert explains mid-Bathurst 12 Hour walkabout

Bathurst 12 Hour
16 February 2026
Bathurst 12 Hour
0

Supercheap Auto

Pirtek Poll

POLL: Who will win the Bathurst 12 Hour?

Vote View Results Past polls
Pirtek Poll
View past polls
2025 Supercars Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Chaz Mostert
Mobil 1 Optus Racing
25 4 1 5306
2
Will Brown
Red Bull Ampol Racing
1 2 1 5244
3
Broc Feeney
Red Bull Ampol Racing
88 14 19 5240
4
Kai Allen
Penrite Racing
26 0 0 5233
5
Matthew Payne
Penrite Racing
19 5 1 4461
2025 Formula 1 Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Lando Norris (GBR)
McLaren
4 7 7 423
2
Max Verstappen (NED)
Red Bull
1 7 7 421
3
Oscar Piastri (AUS)
McLaren
81 7 6 410
4
George Russell (GBR)
Mercedes
63 2 2 319
5
Charles Leclerc (MON)
Ferrari
16 0 1 242
ADVERTISEMENT
[instagram-feed feed=2]
Support the partners that support Speedcafe
Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates KTM FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner
AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables sportsnetholidays nuevasolutions bathurst
Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.
Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Your daily racing fix - Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box

SUBSCRIBE
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.

Copyright © 2026 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team /  Advertise with us / Comments Policy / Privacy Policy /

No Result
View All Result
  • Bathurst 12 Hour
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Bathurst 12 Hour
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

[mailpoet_form id=”28″]