2021 Le Mans 24 Hours 21H Report | #7 Toyota extends lead to close on victory

Toyota remains well on track for a fourth consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours as the #7 GR010 Hybrid extends a lead it has held since the very first corner 21 hours ago

Ollie Barstow

22 Aug 2021

#7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid - Lopez, Conway, Kobayashi [credit: Andrew Hartley]

Jose Maria Lopez, Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi are less than three hours away of completing a dominant victory in the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours having led from the very first corner.

The trio have enjoyed an almost trouble-free 21 hours of racing so far and have controlled its lead over the #8 sister car, which has fluctuated to being within a lap and just over for much of the race following delays right at the start.

With Toyota concerned about some minor gremlins seeping into the new GR010 Hybrid, the two cars have turned the wick down with a view to reaching the chequered flag for what would be the firm’s fourth straight win.

Alpine has now pulled clear of Glickenhaus in the fight for third place as it now bids for a trouble-free run to home, while Team WRT maintained the 1-2 it has held down since nightfall, though it is much closer now between the #31 and #41 cars as they potentially head towards a formation finish on its debut.

GTE Pro remains in the hands of AF Corse Ferrari, with Corvette leading the challenge still, with Porsche remaining poised in second and third in case anything happens ahead.

There has been a change of leadership in GTE Am, however, with TF Sport moving ahead of the AF Corse Ferrari having recovered ground lost earlier in the race by technical problems that briefly had the Aston Martin parked in the tyre wall.

The 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours will conclude at 16.00CET (15.00GMT)