≠≠ As it stands at 10:24 local time the #63 Lamborghini is in the box seat. Mirko Bortolotti is about to take the lead when the #96 Porsche stops. We are just about to reach 18 hours complete, which puts us at 75 percent race distance. Just a six-hour sprint left to decide this.
≠≠ While the sister car appears to be finished, the #63 Lamborghini has returned to the lead of 'Strategy A'. Engstler ran one more lap than the #998 BMW and the Grasser team's stop was a little quicker, handing the now-installed Bortolotti the advantage.
≠≠ The #19 Lamborghini has spun and whacked the wall between Blanchimont and the Bus Stop. It's shed its bonnet, but Baptiste Moulin has been able to bring it back and we avoid another FCY.
≠≠ It feels as though there are four brands in this fight. BMW looks strongest with two cars from ROWE and another from Team WRT in the mix. Ferrari has two bullets in the gun, while there are also one-car attacks from Lamborghini and Porsche. It could change – Mercedes-AMG and McLaren are on the fringes – but at 17h30 complete this is the picture.
≠≠ There's nothing between the leaders now. The #998 BMW of Hesse os barely half a second clear of the #63 Lamborghini driven by Engstler. Pier Guidi is dropping back a little in the #51 Ferrari; he's now 14 seconds adrift of P1.
≠≠ The #96 Porsche has stopped so the #998 BMW now leads. However that car will need to pit in about 20 minutes, so we're very much dealing with two strategies here.
≠≠ Pier Guidi goes sixth in the #51 Ferrari by passing the #59 McLaren. That's P3 on the standard strategy. However he's dropped more than 13 seconds off the #998 BMW, which is the net leader. We're at 16h50 complete and it's 09:15 local time at Spa-Francorchamps.
≠≠ The #998 BMW goes around the #63 Lamborghini for P3, which is the lead of the standard strategy. That will become the actual lead when the #96 Porsche and the #33 Aston Martin stop in about 20 minutes.
≠≠ Rutronik has not stopped. The #96 Porsche is now off strategy at the head of the field. Ditto the #33 Aston Martin.
≠≠ The #21 Aston Martin has found the gravel at Bruxelles. We'll go FCY and possibly see a safety car soon. Everyone is stopping under the neutralised conditions. Good news for the #48 Mercedes, which will get back the time it lost to its earlier drive-through.
≠≠ Another round of pit stops complete and it's as you were. The #63 Lamborghini leads from the #998 BMW by about 3 seconds. Then it's the #51 Ferrari, which looks rapid in the hands of Alessandro Pier Guidi, and the #96 Porsche. 08:30 local time.
≠≠ The #50 Ferrari dips two wheels in the gravel while making its way through traffic. It then comes in for its scheduled stop, along with the sister #51 car. Ferrari are right in this race.
≠≠ The #63 Lamborghini leads by 5.6 seconds. That's about as far clear as anyone has been during this race. #998 BMW is second, #51 Ferrari runs third, #50 Ferrari holds fourth. It's just gone 08:00 local time, 15h35 complete.
≠≠ Going again at 15h15 complete. The #48 Mercedes-AMG has just completed its driver-through and dropped to the tail of the lead lap. Indeed, Maro Engel is P13 and the last of the lead-lap runners.
≠≠ The safety car is now on-track at 07:30 local time. Class leaders as we get set to go racing: Gold is the #33 Aston Martin; Silver is the #35 WRT; Bronze is the #74 Ferrari; and Pro-Am is the #100 Aston Martin.
≠≠ The #48 Mercedes-AMG has taken a drive-through for that contact with the Ford. That's a blow to one of the favourites.
≠≠ Just after 07:00 local time and we have another FCY. Thomas Drouet has pulled the HRT Ford into the gravel after very light contact with the #48 Mercedes at Bus Stop. There didn't look to be much in that but it's proved fatal to the pony.
≠≠ Herbeth's Porsche now leads Bronze. Ralf Bohn is at the wheel.
≠≠ 06:30: The latest FCY/SC period comes to an end with Pepper leading Harper, Abril, Fuoco, Müller, Farfus and Drouet who still owes us a technical pitstop. All cars are now effectively on the same strategy.
≠≠ RJN's McLaren has gone pop, prompting a slew of technical pitstops amongst the frontrunners. Indeed, only the #64 Mustang and #46 BMW have yet to change brake discs and pads.
≠≠ Sit rep: media centre fire alarm went off. No-one moved. Admin ate breakfast.
≠≠ Lionspeed's technical pitstop took 1m28s longer than the minimum 5mins. It's therefore lost the Bronze lead to Kessel's #74 Ferrari.
≠≠ Ferrari's #51 crew were a lap down early doors. But Abril now runs a net third - albeit on a lightly offset strategy - after maintaining his co-drivers' good work through the early hours and into dawn.
≠≠ #63 has taken the lead through the latest round of stops, and Bortolotti has edged clear to the tune of five seconds as we approach Hour 14.
≠≠ Nothing betwen the top two overall as we go through half distance. #998 is a guest entry here so #63 bags maximum Endurance Cup points.
