Le Mans 24 Hours 2026: Toyota holds slim lead at eighth hour, No.15 BMW hits trouble
Toyota leads BMW eight hours into the race
Eight hours into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the No.8 Toyota, with Sébastien Buemi at the helm leads ahead of the No.20 BMW.
After suffering a slow puncture earlier in the race, the No.7 Toyota has been one of the standout movers. Around five and a half hours in, Kamui Kobayashi attempted to overcut the No.35 Alpine but found himself stuck behind the No.101 Cadillac.
Despite the hinderance, Kobayashi was able to pit and emerge ahead, of the Alpine in 10th, as was the No.83 Ferrari.
Kobayashi later caught the No.101 Cadillac of Jordan Taylor in seventh and the pair had a brilliant tussle with the pair swapping places five times in less than a lap, with Kobayashi ultimately prevailing.
Having suffered a fair few disruptions in the early evening, the No.51 Ferrari with James Calado now at the wheel has stayed out of trouble and is currently running in seventh.
Genesis has repeatedly voiced its prioritisation of mileage and reliability in the run up to Le Mans. After surprising everyone by getting both cars into Hyperpole, the team has had a steadier time in the race.
Unable to keep pace with the likes of Ferrari and on a different strategy to Toyota, the two Genesis cars are currently running in 10th and 11th.
Just under six hours in the No.15 BMW clipped a DKR Engineering LMP2 backmarker which caused damage to the right rear corner and a subsequent puncture.
Repairs were conducted and Kevin Magnussen was able to begin his stint, three laps off the lead. Seven and a half hours in, the car returned to the pits for further repairs and is currently last of the Hypercar runners.
Around seven and a half hours in, the No.54 Ferrari spun off at the Esses after contact with the No.88 Mustang.
The incident engendered the safety car and neutralised the field. The No.12 Cadillac was the only member of the leading quartet to fit fresh tyres and is currently running in third.
In LMGT3, the No.61 Iron Lynx Mercedes was the first retirement of the race, while the No.91 Porsche had a damaged tyre, returned to the pits under the safety car and emerged in seventh place. The No.27 Aston Martin currently leads ahead of the No.74 Ferrari.
Five hours and 14 minutes in, Francois Perodo had in the No.183 AF Corse a spin at the Porsche Curves.
Julien Andlauer currently leads LMP2 ahead of Bijoy Garg and Pietro Fittipaldi.
Eight hours into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the No.8 Toyota, with Sébastien Buemi at the helm leads ahead of the No.20 BMW.
After suffering a slow puncture earlier in the race, the No.7 Toyota has been one of the standout movers. Around five and a half hours in, Kamui Kobayashi attempted to overcut the No.35 Alpine but found himself stuck behind the No.101 Cadillac.
Despite the hinderance, Kobayashi was able to pit and emerge ahead, of the Alpine in 10th, as was the No.83 Ferrari.
Kobayashi later caught the No.101 Cadillac of Jordan Taylor in seventh and the pair had a brilliant tussle with the pair swapping places five times in less than a lap, with Kobayashi ultimately prevailing.
Having suffered a fair few disruptions in the early evening, the No.51 Ferrari with James Calado now at the wheel has stayed out of trouble and is currently running in seventh.
Genesis has repeatedly voiced its prioritisation of mileage and reliability in the run up to Le Mans. After surprising everyone by getting both cars into Hyperpole, the team has had a steadier time in the race.
Unable to keep pace with the likes of Ferrari and on a different strategy to Toyota, the two Genesis cars are currently running in 10th and 11th.
Just under six hours in the No.15 BMW clipped a DKR Engineering LMP2 backmarker which caused damage to the right rear corner and a subsequent puncture.
Repairs were conducted and Kevin Magnussen was able to begin his stint, three laps off the lead. Seven and a half hours in, the car returned to the pits for further repairs and is currently last of the Hypercar runners.
Around seven and a half hours in, the No.54 Ferrari spun off at the Esses after contact with the No.88 Mustang.
The incident engendered the safety car and neutralised the field. The No.12 Cadillac was the only member of the leading quartet to fit fresh tyres and is currently running in third.
In LMGT3, the No.61 Iron Lynx Mercedes was the first retirement of the race, while the No.91 Porsche had a damaged tyre, returned to the pits under the safety car and emerged in seventh place. The No.27 Aston Martin currently leads ahead of the No.74 Ferrari.
Five hours and 14 minutes in, Francois Perodo had in the No.183 AF Corse a spin at the Porsche Curves.
Julien Andlauer currently leads LMP2 ahead of Bijoy Garg and Pietro Fittipaldi.
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