6H - 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours: Toyota dominant as #8 takes control

Toyota has established a substantial lead in the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours after six hours of racing wiyh the #8 TS050 Hybrid pulling clear of the sister machine after #7 ran into brake problems.

Overwhelming favoutites coming into the endurance classic - being held in later than usual in September due to the COVID-19 crisis  - as one two of only five LMP1 entries and the only manufacturer effort remaining, the #8 car of Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakahima and Brendon Harley lead by more than a lap.

The two Toyotas had been closer but the #7 of Jose Maria Lopez, Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway was brought into the pit lane prematurely to fix the braking system during a long safety car period to fix barriers damaged by a large accident for Tristan Gommendy in the Duqueine Oreca.

The long stop briefly promoted the #1 Rebellion into second position before being overhauled again as the French team looks towards hoping reliability will allow it to get back on terms deeper into the race.

In the LMP2 class, Jean-Eric Vergne established the lead in the G-Drive Aurus, helped in part by two of his main rivals - the Jackk Chan DC Racing Oreca and the sister G-Drive Algarve Oreca coming to a halt.

Other problems during the first half of the race included Bruno Spengler spinning the ByKolles LMP1 car and losing the rear wing, though he would rejoin after repairs.

James Calado held the GTE Pro lead in the AF Corse Ferrari as the Italian manufacturer demonstrated keener pace versus hot favourites Aston Martin early on. In GTE Am the Iron Lynx Ferrari of Andrea Piccini held the lead.